"Poetry?"
There was no answer.
"I am one of Lord Kitchener's body-guard," he went on presently. "We are encamped near Berea Park on the other side of your fence. We were in Middelburg last week and I saw one of the Boer Generals, General Botha."
Hansie's heart bounded. She looked at the man incredulously.
"Indeed! How was that possible?"
"Quite simple, miss. Lord Kitchener invited the General into town to have an interview with him. His brother—I think his name is Christian—came with him. I acted as their orderly."
"Tell me more, tell me everything," the girl's voice shook with ill-controlled emotion.
"There were five or six other men with them. They arrived at about nine in the morning and stayed until half-past four that afternoon. They had lunch with Lord Kitchener. A fine man the General is, well set up, big and broad-shouldered."
"Yes, I know." Hansie could not withhold those words.
"You know!" he exclaimed in great surprise. "Do you know General Botha?"