Roux bowed low, and ran back into the church, presently issuing with
three comrades, who all threw down their arms and made abeyance.

_The "Colonel":_ "Are these men able to speak English?"

_Roux:_ "No, sir."

_The "Colonel":_ "Ask them if they are willing to surrender
voluntarily to His Majesty the King of Great Britain?"

The burghers, in chorus: "Yes, sir; thank you very much. We are so
pleased that you have come at last. We have wished to surrender for a
long time, but the Boers would not let us get through. We have not
fought against you, sir."

_The "Colonel":_ "Very well; now deliver up all your arms."

And whilst the pseudo-colonel pretended to be busy making notes the
burghers brought out their Mausers and cartridge-belts, handing them
over to the masquerading "Tommies."

Roux next said to the "Colonel": "Please, sir, may I keep this
revolver? There are a few Hollanders in the hut yonder who said they
would shoot me if I surrendered; and you know, sir, that it is these
Hollanders who urge the Boers to fight and prolong the War. Why don't
you go and catch them? I will show you where they are."

Resisting an impulse to put a bullet through the traitor's head, the
"Colonel" answered briefly: "Very well, keep your revolver. I will
catch the Hollanders early to-morrow."

_Roux:_ "Be careful, sir; Ben Viljoen is over there with a commando
and a pom-pom."

_The "Colonel"_ (haughtily): "Be at ease; my column will soon be round
him and he will not escape this time."

The women-folk now came out to join the party. They clapped their
hands in joy and invited the "Colonel" and his men to come in and have
some coffee.

The "Colonel" graciously returned thanks. Meanwhile a woman had
whispered to Roux: "I hope these are not Ben Viljoen's people making
fools of us."

"Nonsense," he answered, "Can't you see that this is a very superior
British officer?" Whereat the whole company further expressed their
delight at seeing them.

The "Colonel" now spoke: "Mr. Roux, we will take your cattle and sheep
with us for safety. Kindly lend us a servant to help drive them along.
Will you show us to-morrow where the Boers are?"

_Mr. Roux:_ "Certainly, sir, but you must not take me into dangerous
places, please."

_The "Colonel":_ "Very well; I will send the waggons to fetch your
women-folk in the morning."

Roux gathered together his cattle and said: "I hope you and I shall
have a whiskey together in your camp to-m