“Oh, he’s top-heavy—the little fellow is more to be feared. Do you remember the Lieutenant at Madeira?—he was among that group.”

“What! Lieutenant Gobo?”

“The same; and I heard this morning that a party of Portuguese had arrived in Pretoria last week on a political mission. They are in favour with the Government here, and if that little beggar has recognised us, he may play us a trick.”

“Well, then, let us get under way.”

“All right; you remain here by the waggon while I go for Miss Anstrade.”

Before noon the oxen were inspanned, and the waggon moved off. After a “scoff” of ten miles they outspanned, and while they were having their meal under the shade of a canvas awning, or “scherm,” stretched from the top of the tent, two horsemen rode slowly by.

They were Piet Coetzee and Lieutenant Gobo.


Chapter Sixteen.