e, led to the publication of her
brother's book, _Mijn Kommando en Guerilla-Kommando leven--On
Commando_, in the English edition--which was begun in Ladysmith and
written in the Indian Fort at Ahmednagar and smuggled out to Holland
under conditions of such romantic interest: the first book on the war,
written _during_ the war and devoured by the public in Holland long
before it was allowed to reach South African shores--a book famed for
its moderation and its truth, direct, sincere throughout.)

* * * * *

That Saturday night poor Mrs. van Warmelo never closed her eyes. She
feared, and she had good reason to fear, that her son would pass
through Johannesburg, and be transported to some foreign isle, before
a word of greeting and farewell could be made by her. The thought of
the morrow's Sabbath rest and inactivity intensified her fears.

The first thing she said to Hansie next morning was:

"You must go to General Maxwell and ask whether there is no news for
us."

"But, mother, this is Sunday!"

"I know that. You will have to go to his house."

"Oh, I could not possibly do that. What does he care about our
anxieties? Besides, I think it would be most indiscreet."

"I don't care," shortly.

In the end Hansie had to go, and when once she had made up her mind
she looked forward with some pleasure to her little adventure, for
there was no one of the officials known to her for whom she had a more
sincere regard than General Maxwell. His house was but a few minutes'
walk from Harmony, and Hansie, looking up at the gathering clouds,
hoped that she could be home again before the approaching storm broke
loose.

Our "brave" heroine _trembled_ when she rang the bell, for all her
distaste of the task had returned with redoubled force, but her
self-confidence was soon restored under the genial warmth of the
General's greetings.

He did not seem to be the least annoyed or displeased at this
intrusion on his Sabbath privacy. And he was quite alone--not, as
Hansie had feared to find him, surrounded by a crowd of officers.

He told her that though he had not been able to get news of her
brother direct, he knew that a large number of prisoners had arrived
at the Johannesburg Fort from Ventersdorp. He thought her brother
would probably be amongst them, and gave her special permits to
Johannesburg and back, and also a letter of introduction to the
Military Governor in Johannesburg, asking him