Now, Boers are simple pastoral folk, but they are not quite so simple as to be deceived by a move like this, and hereon followed a very instructive little scene.

To a man they had been willing enough to give their verdict for the execution of Silas, but they were by no means prepared to record it in black and white.

As soon as they understood the object of their feared and respected commandant, a general desire manifested itself to make themselves individually and collectively scarce.

Suddenly they found that they had business outside, to which each and all of them must attend.

Already they had escaped from their extemporised jury-box, and, headed by the redoubtable Hans, were approaching the entrance to the waggon-house, when Frank Muller perceived their design, and roared in a voice of thunder: "Stop! Not a man leaves this place till the warrant is signed." Instantly they halted, and began to look innocent and converse.
"Hans Coetzee, come here and sign," said Muller again, whereon that unfortunate advanced with as good a grace as he could muster, murmuring to himself curses, not loud but deep, upon the head of "that devil of a man, Frank Muller." However, there was no help for it, so, with a sickly smile, he put his name to the fatal document in big and shaky letters.