Part 23 (2/2)
They were about to leave when she arrived at Mrs. Joubert's house.
Their preparations were conducted in perfect silence, except for an occasional whispered command, while outside, guard was kept by an alert figure, slender and upright, the figure of the aged hostess of the spies, who, it is said, was never visible to the spies and never slept by day or night as long as these men were being sheltered under her roof.
A brave and dauntless woman she was, knowing no fear for herself, but filled with concern for the fate of the men whose capture meant certain death, for it was whispered in town that on the head of Koos Naude, Captain of the Secret Service, a price of 1,000 had been fixed.
The men left Pretoria that night for the ”nest” of the spies in the Skurvebergen, west from Pretoria, and from there they proceeded to where they expected to find the Generals.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE CASE OF SPOELSTRA
There were so many events of importance during the month of July 1901 that there is great difficulty in choosing the right material from Hansie's diary.
No wonder that that period seems to have been in a state of chaos, for the things to which we attached the greatest importance ”ended in smoke,” and seemingly small incidents a.s.sumed gigantic proportions before the glorious spring broke over the country.
Hansie was busy preparing for her tour of inspection through the Camps, though to tell the truth she rather dreaded it, because she was far from strong, but she realised that this was an opportunity not to be despised.
General Maxwell frequently impressed it on her that she was the only exception, that no one else who had applied for leave to visit the Camps had been granted permits--it was against the regulations, and he was only sending her because he knew he could depend upon her. He wanted to know _the truth_, and she, with her knowledge of the country and people, would be better able to draw up reports than any one else he knew.
Very flattering, but Hansie's heart sank when she thought of Irene.
What awaited her on this tour?
On July 27th, when she paid him her last visit in connection with her pa.s.sports, he asked her, as she was on the point of leaving him, whether she did not think the Boers ought to surrender now.
Now, Hansie had firmly made up her mind not to be drawn into argument with him again, but this question took her so much by surprise that she flared out with:
”Don't you think the English ought to give in? Why should the Boers give in? We are fighting for our own, and England is fighting for what belongs to another. Why should England not give in?”
With some asperity he answered:
”I suppose it is a question of 'Eendracht maakt Macht,' or whatever you call it.”
”Eendracht maakt Macht?” she exclaimed. ”I really fail to see the connection.”
”Well,” he answered, ”isn't Might _Right_ all the world over?”
”No, indeed!” she cried vehemently. ”Might is right in England, and your motto is an apt one, but in South Africa might is _not_ right.
_Our_ motto, 'Eendracht maakt Macht,' means 'Unity is Strength.'”
The General seemed much surprised and did not look pleased at her a.s.surance that he had been misinformed as to the correct translation--he had been told on ”good authority” that the Boer motto was the same as the English.
”If might had been right,” she continued, ”the war would have been over long ago--our poor little forces would have been crushed--but unity is glorious strength, an _inspired_ strength.”
Alas, alas, that she was so soon to find out how a want of unity can bring disaster and defeat!
”It is very stupid to argue with him. Surely he cannot expect to find my views changing on account of the duration of the war!”
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