nse to the Colony, and in no wise to the advantage of the burghers
and volunteers themselves, whose farms or businesses are likely to
suffer through their prolonged absence. Of late, however, operations
have been mainly confined to hunting down stray groups of the enemy by a
system of patrols--with poor results--perhaps killing a Kafir or two by
a long and lucky shot, for the savages have learnt caution and
invariably show the invaders a clean pair of heels.

But no one imagines the war at an end, and that notwithstanding a
proclamation issuing from the office of the Commissioner of Crown Lands
offering free grants of land in the Gcaleka country conditional upon the
residence of the grantee on his exceedingly perilous holding. This
proclamation, however, is regarded as a little practical joke on the
part of the Honourable the Commissioner. Few, if any, make application,
and certainly none comply with the conditions of the grant. The while
patrolling goes on as vigorously as ever.

Eustace and his travelling companions had reached the camp of the
Kaffrarian Rangers in due course. Hoste, indeed, would have been
elected to a subordinate command in the troop had he taken the field at
first, but now his place was filled up and he must perforce join in a
private capacity; which position he accepted with complete equanimity.
He could have all the fun, he said, and none of the responsibility,
whereas in a post of command he would have been let in for no end of
bother. So he and Eustace chum up together, and share tent and supplies
and danger and duty, like a pair of regulation foster-brothers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our patrol rode steadily on, keeping a sharp look out on all sides. Its
instructions were to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy and his
cattle, rather than to engage him in actual conflict. Should he,
however, appear in such moderate force as to render an engagement
feasible with a fair chance of success, then by all means let them teach
him a lesson--and ardently did the men hope for such an opportunity.
They numbered but forty all told, all more or less experienced
frontiersmen, who knew how to use their rifles--all well versed in the
ways of bush fighting, and thoroughly understanding how to meet the
savage on his own ground and in his own way. In short, they reckoned
themselves well able to render account of at least six times that number
of the