第31部分(第4/7 頁)

k　her　conduct　in　this　matter；　and　indeed　throughout　all　these　troubles；　little　less　than　heroic。　But　of　such　stuff　is　she　made。

As　it　chanced；　however；　this　particular　adventure　came　to　nothing。　The　authorities　got　wind　of　it；　and　if　I　recollect　right；　my　friend　Beaumont　the　Magistrate　arrived　on　the　scene　with　a　message　from　the　Government　at　Maritzburg　or　elsewhere　to　the　effect　that　our　proposed　attack　on　the　Boers　was　forbidden；　and　that　if　we　insisted　on　carrying　it　out　we　should　be　repudiated；　that　our　wounded　would　be　left　to　lie　where　they　fell；　and　that　if　the　Boers　chose　to　shoot　any　of　us　whom　they　took　prisoner　no　remonstrance　would　be　made；　and　so　forth　and　so　forth。　It　was　a　peculiar　errand　that　he　had　to　perform；　but　the　British　lion　was　a　humble　animal　in　those　days；　its　tail　was　tucked　very　tightly　between　its　legs。　Also　the　authorities　were　naturally　anxious　to　prevent　the　war　from　spreading　to　the　civil　population。　So　our　proposed　coup　came　to　nothing。

Now　followed　a　period　of　great　alarm。　We　were　surrounded　by　the　enemy；　and　from　hour　to　hour　never　knew　on　whom　or　where　the　blow　might　fall。　Every　night　at　Hilldrop　we　placed　Kaffirs　on　the　surrounding　hills　that　they　might　warn　us　of　the　approach　of　the　enemy。　Well　and　faithfully　did　these　men　fulfil　their　duty；　indeed；　we　were　kept　advised　of　all　that　happened　through　the　Zulu　natives　dwelling　on　our　farm。　Also　my　old　body…servant；　Mazooku；　had　joined　me　on　my　return　to　Africa；　and　with　his　friends　night　and　day　guarded　us　as　a　mother　might　her　child。　Night　by　night；　sometimes　in　our　clothes；　we　slept　with　about　six　horses　saddled　in　the　stable；　loaded　rifles　leaning　against　the　beds；　and　revolvers　beneath　our　pillows。

Next　came　a　rumour；　apparently　well　substantiated；　that　the　e