Guy Boothby

“ Five years had passed since that memorable day when James Laverton saved Piet Voest from drowning. Though they had made but little change in that quiet farm on the veldt, in the great world outside unmistakable signs of an approaching storm were to be observed. Mysterious strangers were continually passing to and fro among the Dutch farmers, circulating seditious literature, and reminding their hearers of the ties of blood that existed between themselves and the Transvaal, and also of the victories of '81. ”

“ A large proportion of the Dutch colonists might be uneasy, the two Republics might be making their preparations for the coming struggle, but to all outward appearances the old Colony herself was as quiet and contented as she had ever been. Month after month went by, and still there was no change, until men began to think that their suspicions had been groundless and that war would never come.
It was at this stage of his life that honest old John Tuckett found good reason to thank Heaven for the happy chance that had brought James Laverton to his door. ”

“ By the time Piet remounted his horse to resume his ride, he had come to the conclusion that he hated the young Englishman more than anyone else in the world. Deeming it possible that he might get a shot at a spring-buck on the veldt, he had brought his rifle with him, and as he thought of what he called the other's impudence, he patted the stock affectionately. A mile or so further on he reached the place where it became necessary for him to decide whether he should continue on the track, or turn off to the right in order to avail himself of the short cut which James had forbidden him to use. ”

“ Are you such a coward that you haven't the pluck even to be faithful to your own villainy?"
"Very well," answered Piet, "I will go; but remember I'll give you no further chance, and you die at daybreak. I sha'n't be here to see it, as I am on the way to the Front with my men; but there are those here who will take very good care that the sentence is carried out. Good-bye, James Laverton; and if you want anything to think about, console yourself with the reflection that Mamie's future shall have my most careful attention. ”

“ Piet replied sullenly.
"If you are prepared to accompany us, nothing more need be said," continued the Landrost, after a moment's pause. "Should you decline, you must not complain if you are punished. I am waiting for your decision."
James looked at Mamie and pressed her hand in his. What was he to do? To go with them and take up arms against his Country, that Country of which he was so proud, would be to brand himself a traitor, not only in his wife's eyes, but before all men. It would show that he was afraid of Piet, and John Tuckett would know him for a coward. ”

“ If you still decline, you must pay the penalty of your folly and be shot at dawn."
Her worst fears being realised, Mamie was nearly beside herself with terror. She clung to her husband, refusing to be separated from him even for a moment. She would have gone on her knees and have implored Piet to show mercy, but James would not hear of it. "No, no, dear," he said, "I will not let you ask anything at his hands. If he kills me, he will be punished for it sooner or later." ”

“ To a youth so accustomed to the exigencies of veldt life that was nothing. He put his horse to the water without a second thought. Once on the other side, he climbed the steep bank and approached the fence that James had repaired. At the same moment the latter came into view and hastened towards him.
"Didn't I tell you only the other day that I would not let you come this way, Piet?" he began. "What makes you do it when you're told not to?"
"Because I have as much right here as you have, and a good deal more," the other answered. "The river is free to everybody." ”

“ When he observed the pride with which Mamie referred to the straightness of his rival's ploughing—for, lad though he was, he could run as good a furrow as old Tuckett himself—or to the way in which he rode a colt, shot a spring-buck, or made his bull's-eye three times in succession at a thousand yards, his heart came near to bursting by reason of the load of venom it was being called upon to carry. On the other hand, James entertained no ill-will towards Piet. ”

“ The words had scarcely left his lips, when, as if to give the lie to his assertion, a faint sigh escaped the supposed corpse.
"No, no! you are wrong, Piet!" cried the girl, and as she said it, she, in her turn, slipped from the saddle and approached the boy. "He is not dead, but if we don't do something to help him, he very soon will be. He wants water. Run to the spring at the foot of the kopje and bring some in your hat." ”

“ Here he stopped and prepared to speak his mind, not knowing, of course, that they had been followed by Daft Danny, who had a trick of following Mamie about. Meanwhile Piet, not believing in a useless waste of words, had come to the point.
"I've been thinking, Mamie," he said, "that it's time you had a husband. You can't deny the fact that you're getting on, and—well, the long and short of it is, if old Oom Jan and Tant' Tuckett will go down to Capetown to live, I'll let bygones be bygones and marry you myself. But James will have to go." ”

“ She contrived by numberless little artifices to be brought into contact with him throughout the day, made herself more pleasant to him even than she usually was, and brought all her armoury of charms to bear upon him, until the poor fellow scarcely knew what to do for love of her. ”

“ Reaching the homestead, he told his news, permitting them to draw the inference that the life of the boy they had rescued was of small account. A cart was immediately despatched to bring the sufferer in, and in less than half an hour the lad was comfortably installed in the little room at the end of the verandah. Worthy Mrs. Tuckett—and no kinder woman ever breathed the breath of life—was touched with compassion as she regarded the waif. ”

“ Another year had passed away, and those twelve months had wrought more changes in John Tuckett's farm than any others that had preceded them. Old John's health had given way, and he and his wife had departed to Capetown, that he might have the benefit of medical advice. James and Mamie were married, and, in order that their happiness might be the more complete, a baby son had come into existence, who promised, so his mother declared, to be as fine a man as his father. As for Piet Voest, shortly after Mamie's marriage he had left the district. ”

“ He was still in this position when the door was unlocked and Piet Voest entered the room.
"I have come to see whether you have changed your mind," he said, with affected cordiality. "What is the use of holding out against us, Laverton? The English troops have been defeated in all directions, and nothing can stop us now. We shall sweep them into the sea, and be in Capetown in a month. Think of your wife and child, if you won't think of yourself, and join us before it is too late."
"Leave me," James answered, rising and pointing to the door as he spoke. ”

“ At last he found himself on the trek with the party of Boers to which I have already alluded. His life with these people was one of continued ill-usage. He was thrashed by everyone, and for the smallest offence, until, unable to bear it any longer, he made up his mind and ran away. Whither he was going, and what he was going to do when he got there, he had not the least idea. His only desire was to get out of the reach of his enemies and never to set eyes on them again. ”

“ The African sun, particularly upon the veldt, is not to be trifled with, and those who walk bareheaded in its rays must be prepared to pay the penalty of their folly. Seated on their horses, looking down at him, were a girl and boy of about his own age—that is to say, between thirteen and fifteen. ”

“ If there's anything you'd like to say before you go, you'd better be quick about it. There isn't much time to spare. You can't see your wife, because she's bolted; but if there's anything else you want in reason, I'll do my best to oblige you, rooinek and traitor though you are. ”

“ Look where you will, it will be difficult to find a better."
"It's very possible he might make as good a husband as any in the land," he said. "But, as I have said before, if he wants my girl, he must speak to her himself and then come on to me."
In the meantime Mamie and Piet had accomplished a considerable portion of their walk. By some strange coincidence they finally found themselves on the river bank at the exact spot where Piet, some years before, had received the greatest humiliation of his life. ”

“ On the following morning, James was preparing to go out on the farm, when a man rode up to his homestead and asked to see him. When James appeared, he handed him a paper, commanding him in the name of the Presidents of the Federal Governments to present himself next day at the nearest town, mounted and equipped, and with food for three days, for service against the English. The document was signed by the newly appointed Field Cornet of the district, and was similar to those used in the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. ”

“ All through the next day he pushed on, only to fall exhausted at the foot of the kopje where Mamie Tuckett and her companion had found him. What his fate would have been, had they not chanced to pass that way, no man will ever be able to say. The fact, however, remained that they had passed, and now the question was, What were they going to do with him? The girl had apparently already decided the matter. Turning to Piet, she bade him ride on to the homestead and tell them of their discovery. ”

“ Sad though it may seem, he was at last compelled to admit to himself that he was getting an old man, and, though he took as much interest in his property as before, he found that he was not able to play such an active part as he had once done in the actual working of it. ”