"Indeed! What does he say?"
"He writes that Dietlof has been made a prisoner, and he encloses a telegram from the Assistant Provost-Marshal at Ventersdorp, in the name of General Babington, to say that Dietlof is well, as was Fritz when last seen. See for yourself."
Hansie grabbed—yes, grabbed—the papers from her mother's outstretched hand.
"'When last seen?' Mother, what can that mean? Why have the boys been separated?"
"That is what I should like to know," her mother answered. "I wonder how we can find out. We must ask to see General Maxwell at once."
That afternoon the two women called at the Government Buildings and were shown into the Governor's office.
He seemed to be expecting a visit from them, and Mrs. van Warmelo apologised for troubling him, reminding him of the promise he had made on the occasion of their very first visit to him, that he would help them if they came to him in any trouble.
This he remembered perfectly.
"What is it you want me to do?" he asked.
"If you will be so good, we want a permit to visit our prisoner in the Johannesburg Fort, where he will probably be kept until he is sent to Ceylon or where-ever he may have to go."