"I tell you what we'll do," said Delange. "I'll give you one of mine for yours, which can then remain here till it gets well. Should you come round here again one day we can then change back again."
"But suppose the animal dies?"
"Oh, I'll risk that. What is one horse more or less?"
I gratefully accepted this generous offer, and soon had my new acquisition saddled. It was a lively little nag, and all my weariness passed away as I felt it bound between my knees. Delange remained here, and my comrade and I continued our journey alone, making for Vrede.
"There's a Jew a few miles from here," said the farmer as he bade us good luck, "whom we suspect of treason. You should try and trap him and take him with you to Vrede."
Towards dusk we reached the Jew's store. We rode up to the building and he came to the door, an intelligent-looking man.
"Good evening," I said in English, "are there any Boers about?" We were both dressed after the English style.
When the man's wife heard English spoken she also came to the door and stood by her husband's side.
"Well, can't you answer?" The fellow's face was a study. He and his wife looked at each other, evidently feeling that some danger was threatening them.
"Sir," he said at last, speaking with an effort, "I have seen no Boers."