‘I accept your kind offer on one condition,’ replied Steve, turning to the smiling young man, ‘and that is, that you will accept this little offer in token of my gratitude,’ and he took off his only extravagance—his gold watch and chain—and handed it to the young man, who received it as graciously as he had given his horse.
Steve was indeed glad to be the owner of the beautiful horse, all the more so as he had learned to love the animal that had borne him so enduringly and so swiftly, and had given him his heart’s desire—the opportunity to strike a blow for his country.
Mijnheer Meyer and his son stayed for a week in Pretoria, during which they and Steve were almost inseparable, as a great friendship had arisen between the young men, and the old man had learned to love Steve as a son.
But soon the order came for all Burghers to return home: amongst others, Mijnheer Meyer and his son—as only a guard of a few score Burghers was to be retained for a little while longer; and a temporary parting came for the new-found friends.
I can conclude this chapter in no more fitting way than by quoting here—
THE SONG OF THE BOER
O’er hill and o’er dale,
O’er mountain and vale
Went a cry:
‘For our dear country’s right,
Ye must arm for the fight,
To do or to die!’
And ev’ry man heard,
And straight booted and spurred
To war ’gainst the ‘Queen of the Sea’;
‘For our children and wives
We will lay down our lives,
Or live to be FREE—to be Free!’
Chorus.—Then ride! ride! ride!
The Asvogel screams o’er the lea,
And to-night I may rest,
With his beak in my breast,
While my children may orphans be.
With cannon and drum,
The invader hath come
In his might;
But our courage ne’er fails,
Nor no heart ever quails
At the perilous sight.