Part 11 (1/2)
CHAPTER SIX
FACE TO FACE WITH PRESIDENT KRUGER
More than five minutes of unbroken silence elapsed after Mr Hunter had finished that portion of his narrative which dealt with the troubles of the Uitlanders He had summed the whole position up, discussed every point, and had finally shown that the dispute between the Transvaal Govern vast proportions, which threatened to involve the English Govern the claireat conspiracy existed he had proved almost beyond a doubt, and now, like the patriotic reat White Queen would meet their troubles, and how on every side and from every colony they would stretch forth their hands and join the should part theained her para he had sprung fro up and down the verandah with a steripped between his teeth and his hands were thrust deeply into his trouser pockets
Against the shady wall, lounging full-length in big cane chairs, Jack and Wilfred stared thoughtfully over the verandah rail, and away over the rolling veldt which stretched between Mr Hunter's house and his neighbour's They had both listened without an interruption to the details of the rise and origin of the Boers, and of their subsequent fortunes, and now they satwhether the conspiracy spoken of could really be a fact, or whether, after all, it was not so hi a tale hich to alarm you,” repeated Mr Hunter at thissuddenly in front of the two lads, and fixing thehts and was replying to them ”What I have said is strictly true A day of trial and tribulation is fast co for the British Empire, and you will see that her sons will answer the call 'To arms!' with the enthusiasm that I have predicted
”Very soon, I fear, the Transvaal will be an unsafe country for Englishners of all nationalities who make up the Uitlander population, are compelled to fly over the borders, it will mean ruin for us all Take my own case, for example
When I had served my time with the British ar heard rumours of the hidden wealth of the country
First I obtained employment at Kimberley Then, when I had saved a little pile, I came up here and invested the money in an old shanty, built for the most part of biscuit-boxes, with a presentable plank here and there to hold theether Fortunately I had a friend in Durban, a cousin as a nments of useful articles, food and other lishdeh, and in the first year I had le-handed, and had a large su off all oods Next year my wife became my partner and helper in more ways than one We carried on the store between us, and from that date we have prospered beyond our wildest hopes I have built this house and the large buildings of the store
There are funds of mine invested in the dias here, and every year alhts in other parts
”Thus you will see that a ill mean practical ruin for all, unless, of course, we beat these Boers and annex their country Even then we cannot fail to be heavy losers
”If it does co as possible, and then I shall enlist in some of the volunteer corps of Colonials, which are certain to be called for Possibly I shall obtain a commission, and in any case, et son
”And now to return to you, Jack I strongly advise you to leave for England Unfortunately you have quarrelled with Piet Maartens, who is a dangerous young fellow; and now, by no fault of your own, you have becoer froet away”
”Yes, I realise that I shall be no special favourite of the Boers after this,” Jack replied quietly; ”but, whatever happens, I a to clear out of the country for Piet Maartens or any of his class There is a deep gaht to be passed on to the British consul here, and so to the Government Also, there is likely to be some kind of a row pretty soon, and by what you have toldone At any rate there is likely to be so to stay to see the fun Johnny's Burg is likely to be too hot for et a bullet between my ribs, I think I will slip away at once for Kimberley, where I am certain to be safe”
”Do so, Jack, and at once too,” said Mr Hunter earnestly ”Take o immediately Call on Toive you so to do If there is trouble here I rite you, and arrange where you are to azine, I will see that the consul hears all about it Now let us go into the dining-roo to eat There is a train for Bloemfontein in two hours' time It will be dark then, and you can easily slip away When you arrive you ly they left the verandah and joined Mrs Hunter in the dining-room, where dinner was already laid About half an hour later, as they were in the er would or would not grant concessions to the Uitlanders, Tom Thumb, the Kafir boy, entered the room hurriedly, and cried in a low voice, ”Baas, de Zarps outside, and that angry man, Piet Maartens, him knock at door De Zarps all round de house I know 'cos I look through de ”
”Then they are after you, Jack,” exclai for a moment, lads, while I think hoe can escape those fellows”
”I'll tell you, Mr Hunter,” said Jack calmly ”They know you dine about this tilass and seat at once, and h I was not here
I'll slip out and get away somehow When he comes you will not knohere I aain soon Don't forget to send s on to Kimberley, Mr Hunter”
A moment later he had slipped out of the roolass and plate, and had made it appear that he had never been there Meanwhile there was loud knocking at the door
Jack darted through the hall, seized a broad-brimmed and somewhat shabby hat which Mr Hunter sometimes wore about the country, so as to ner, and ran up the stairs As he got to the top the front door was flung open by another Kafir, just as To-roo dish in his hand
”Mr Hunter in?” asked Piet Maartens roughly, stepping into the hall and rudely staring into the dining-room ”Tell him I want him”
”Baas at dinner; finish in half-hour,” said To in his way
At this moment Mr Hunter called out to the ”boy” to show Piet in, and a -room
”I've a warrant here for the expulsion of John So with you,” he said with a malicious smile ”Where is he? I call upon you to hand him over!”
Piet Maartens stared round rudely, and strutted up and down the room as he spoke, as if the house were his and not Mr Hunter's
”John Somerton?” asked Mr Hunter quietly ”Why, what can he have been doing? Surely there is some mistake?”
”Mistake or not, I have a warrant here,” repeated Piet, still with the same malicious smile, ”and I call upon you once more to tell me where he is”