as a personal favour to
assist the ladies in their quest.

"If I were you, I would not wait for definite news, but go to-morrow
on the chance of finding him. Delay might bring you great
disappointment. But, tell me, Miss van Warmelo, are you not glad that
your brother has been captured and is out of danger now?"

"Glad? No, how can I be glad? It means a man less on our side--and _he
is a man_, I can assure you. If all the Boers were as brave and
true--and such unerring marksmen--the war would soon be over."

The Governor looked disturbed.

"It seems to me a strange thing for a girl like you to feel so
strongly. Are all your women such staunch patriots?"

"Not all, perhaps, but there are many who feel even more strongly than
I do."

The General kept her there and talked of many things, asked her
innumerable questions on the country and its people, and drew her out
upon the subject of the war.

Outside, the elements were raging, for the storm had broken loose, and
the rain came down in torrents, while the crashing thunder pealed
overhead.

Hansie looked anxious, and the Governor said:

"It will soon be over. Are you afraid?"

"Oh no, I love our storms; but my mother is alone at home, and she
does _not_."

She told him, toying with her permits, of her curious collection of
passes and other war-curios, and he left the room with a friendly--

"Perhaps I can find something for you too," returning with a button
from his coat and a colonel's crown.

"The storm is over; let us see what damage has been done," and he led
the way into the garden, showed her the flowers, asked the names of
shrubs unknown to him.

* * * * *

"Oh, mother, the English must not be so good to us! It is not right to
accept favours at their hands, for it places us in a false position.
Don't ever ask me to go to General Maxwell again."

"Of course not. I quite agree with you, but I am very glad to have
those permits. Did you ask about the portmanteau and box?"

"Yes. He said it was all right, and promised to give permits, so that
they need not be examined."

They did not leave for Johannesburg, after all, on Monday, for a full
list of the names of prisoners from Ventersdorp arrived, but there was
no van Warmelo among them.

Telegrams were sent right and left, but there was something strange
about the whole affair, and no satisfactory answers could be got until
five days after the first tidings had rea