any case, because of his
youth, makes no difference to the blackness of his deed, except
perhaps to add to the bitterness of his remorse when afterwards he was
apprised of this fact.[4]

The death sentence was commuted, and instead he was sentenced to
several years' hard labour; he was, in fact, still "doing time" in
Pretoria and Johannesburg two years after peace had been declared.

Of the women who were the cause of his downfall I can only say that
they were never in any way connected with the "Petticoat Commando."

* * * * *

When the news of Jannie Joubert's arrest became known, Mrs. van
Warmelo positively forbade her daughter to go to Mrs. Joubert's house.

There was nothing to be done, and although they had every reason to
believe that their names were on the list of the betrayed, nothing
could be gained by exposing themselves to unnecessary danger.

It was told Hansie, the day after the last sweeping arrests had been
made, that Mrs. Joubert's carriage had been standing before the
Military Governor's office for some time.

This information brought the reality of the situation vividly to her
mind.

What was the old lady doing there? Pleading for her son? Was there no
way of helping her? These questions preyed on Hansie's mind, until
she obtained permission from her mother to visit Mr. Jannie's sister,
Mrs. Malan.

Mrs. Malan was in bed with influenza, she said, but it was quite
evident that acute distress of mind had a large share in her
indisposition.

On Sunday night, after the fateful morning of the last betrayal, the
Jouberts were surprised by a visit from the Provost-Marshal himself,
accompanied by another officer.

They asked permission to search the house for the ammunition which
they knew to be concealed there. Ammunition! Jannie said he knew of
none, except a boxful of cartridges standing in the loft. They had
been found lying about the house and were stowed away when the English
had taken possession of Pretoria. He took the officers up to the loft
and showed them the box, but they were not satisfied, and ordered him
to appear before the Provost-Marshal the next day, to give a
satisfactory explanation.

A search was also made for documents, but nothing was found except an
old heliographic chart which his father, Commandant-General Joubert,
had used long ago in Kaffir wars.

Jannie Joubert went the following day to give an account of himself,
and the next thi