Part 30 (1/2)

The afternoon again was spent in roaming disconsolately about the streets of Pretoria, weary and discouraged.

Suddenly Hansie exclaimed:

”Oh mamma, how stupid we have been! Why, we never thought of D. He is the only one who can help us. Let us go to him.”

Mrs. van Warmelo's tired face beamed at her daughter.

”_Of course_, but I dare not go to him direct--that would be indiscreet indeed. Let us send some one for him.”

”F.?” Hansie suggested.

”Yes, he would do.”

They were walking rapidly to an office on Church Square, when they met the very man they were in search of.

”This is wonderful!” Hansie exclaimed. ”We were just going to ask F.

to call on you, as we have a great request to make.”

Talking in rapid whispers, the trio walked across the Square. The man's face was inscrutable at first, but his curt and business-like way soon gave place to a look of thoughtful contemplation.

”This is about the most unheard-of request that has ever been made to me. I know the book exists, but I have never seen it--I shall have to think about this. When must you have it?”

”Before six o'clock this evening,” Hansie answered.

”Will you leave me now?” he said. ”I must think. If by any chance I am able to procure a copy, you will find it under your front door between 5 and 6 o'clock.”

Well satisfied, the two ladies proceeded on their way home, when they were met by Consul Nieuwenhuis, who invited them to have tea with him at Frascati's.

Hansie looked at her mother.

”I think we have earned it--don't you?”

Mrs. van Warmelo nodded and laughed.

Arrived at Frascati's they found a regular gathering of the Consuls, gaily chatting while they partook of the good things set before them.

”Oh, mother!” Hansie said regretfully, when they had parted from their friends. ”What a pity we could not tell them anything! How they would have enjoyed sharing our sensations! I can tear the very hair out of my head at having to keep all these adventures to myself!”

They then went to Mrs. Joubert's house to tell the spies that there was just a chance that one of the people they had seen that day would get the time-table for them.

Mrs. van Warmelo, with her usual prudent forethought, asked to see Mr.

Greyling only, knowing that it was safer to deal with one man than with several, so she was shown into the drawing-room while he was being brought from some unknown back region, with much caution and bolting of doors and drawing of blinds. It was amusing, when he entered the room, to see him going straight up to Mrs. Joubert and shaking her heartily by the hand. As a matter of fact, these enterprising young men enjoyed her hospitality, slept under her roof, and partook of the food she secretly prepared for them without ever setting eyes on their hostess.

She was not supposed to know of their existence, and as she was close and silent as the grave, no one ever got anything in the way of information out of her.

It was good to see Mr. Greyling again.

He said that Captain Naude was with General Botha near the Middelburg line and had been prevented from coming into town that month.

Very little fighting was being done on account of the poor condition of their horses after the severe winter. The men were in splendid health, and the same spirit of determination and courage which had always characterised them possessed them still.