warm reception.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

TREATS OF HOPES, FEARS, AND PROSPECTS, BESIDES DESCRIBING A PECULIAR
BATTLE.

Mounted on a pair of sturdy ponies Hans Marais and Charlie Considine
galloped over the plains of the Zuurveld in the direction of
Grahamstown. The brothers Skyd had preceded them, Edwin Brook was to
follow.

It was a glorious day, though this was nothing unusual in that sunny
clime, and the spirits of the young men were high. Excitement has a
tendency to reproduce itself. Hans and his friend did not feel
particularly or personally interested in the arrival of the Royal
Commissioners, but they were sympathetic, and could not resist
surrounding influences. Everywhere they overtook or passed, or somehow
met with, cavaliers on the road--middle-aged and young--for old men were
not numerous there at that time--all hastening to the same goal, the
"city of the settlers," and all had the same tale to tell, the same
hopes to express. "Things are going to be put right now. The
Commissioners have full powers to inquire and to act. We court
investigation. The sky is brightening at last; the sun of prosperity
will rise in the `east' ere long!"

In Grahamstown itself the bustle and excitement culminated. Friends
from the country were naturally stirred by meeting each other there,
besides being additionally affected by the object of the meeting.
Crowds gathered in the chief places of the fast rising town to discuss
grievances, and friends met in the houses of friends to do the same and
draw up petitions.

At last the Commissioners arrived and were welcomed by the people with
wild enthusiasm.

Abel Slingsby, an impulsive youth, and a friend of Hans Marais, who had
just been married to a pretty neighbour of Hans in the karroo, and was
in Grahamstown on his honeymoon, declared that he would, without a
moment's hesitation, throw up his farm and emigrate to Brazil, if things
were not put right without delay.

"No, you wouldn't," said his pretty bride, with an arch look; "you'd
take time to think well over it and consult with me first."

"Right, Lizzie, right; so I would," cried Slingsby, with a laugh. "But
you must admit that we have had, and still have, great provocation.
Just think," he added, with returning indignation, "of free-born British
subjects being allowed no newspaper to read except one that is first
revised by a jealous, despotic Governor, and of our being obliged to
procure a `pass' to