"You are the bearer of this letter, Mr. Meyring, from my friend, Mr. Chambers?"
"Yes, sir, and of this also, which I did not care to give into any hands but your own."
Mr. von Rensburg took it a little surprised. The first had been so simple and matter-of-fact that he had not suspected for a moment that Yorke was not, as it stated, an employé at the mine. He looked scrutinizingly at Yorke when he had read the second letter.
"I will not ask who you are, Mr. Meyring, or whether that is your real name. It is just as well not to know more than I can help. I understand you want to cross into Cape Colony, and may be glad of my advice as to the best road to take. In the first place, may I ask how you came here—by rail?"
"No, sir, we drove. I have a friend with me, and it is open to us either to drive from this point, or, as we have two horses, to ride, or to go on foot, though naturally we would rather not adopt the last plan if it could be helped."
"That I can well understand," the other said with a smile; "and indeed it would be the worst method; it would be far more natural for you to be driving or riding than going on foot. Now, tell me exactly how you stand. You, I see, are dressed as a young farmer in comfortable circumstances. How about your friend?"
"He is dressed as a farm-hand, sir; and I have also a Kaffir with me to look after the horses."
"Is your companion Dutch?"
"Yes, sir."
"You are not, I think. You speak Taal very well, but I fancy I can detect that it is not your own language."