ed audibly, and Hans Schloss, whose self-conceit and
density were almost as pronounced as his fatness, failed to see the
thinly-veiled sarcasm, and joined in heartily, dropping one hand upon
his thigh and assuming such an attitude of importance that his
companions roared at the sight.

"Two days more, and we shall be over the border," another of the Boers
cried, when the laughter had died down, "and then there will be good
work for all of us. For years we have waited, and now our dreams are to
be realised. Even now most of the Uitlanders will have left us, and
those who have not gone are hurrying as fast as possible to the
frontiers. Well, they had better do so, for after 11th October it will
be an evil day for any of them should we catch them. Only a few who
have permits signed are to be allowed to stay, and those we will set to
work at native labour. It will be more fitted for them."

"Yes," chimed in another with a hoarse chuckle, "they shall be set to
work at our trenches, and if an English bullet should pick them out,
then all the better. But softly, Carl! In two days' time we shall be
rid of the Rooineks, 'tis true, but they are a stubborn nation, and
these boys they send against us are filled with pluck. Our leaders have
asked us to believe otherwise, but we, who have lived in the towns, know
that it is not always so. They will fight us, and to the death. But we
shall beat them, and then what a prospect there will be before us!
Ourselves one of the big Dutch states of Africa, we shall have ships
upon the sea, while here the natives will slave to dig out the gold and
diamonds. Independence is a great thing, but for us who have seen
something of the world besides a lonely farm, wealth and riches in
abundance are more to be desired. And we shall get them by the help of
these Kafirs, while we live the same old peaceful life. Then we shall
sail over to London--if England still exists--and our old enemies will
be glad to welcome the Boer millionaires who have come to visit them and
help them with their gold."

What other wild dreams this bearded young man would have spoken of is
difficult to guess, for at this moment a commando of Boer horsemen
trotted up on the road. Within five minutes all had halted, and were
seated upon the ground or boulders lying thickly everywhere, smoking
their pipes and conversing in loud tones while they waited for the
arrival of their friends who were following them, and for