Next, out of the farther corner of the place, they extracted an old saw-bench, and set it at the top of the open space.

Then Bessie understood what they were doing: they were arranging a court, and the saw-bench was the judge's chair.

So Frank Muller meant to carry out his threat! Shortly after this all the Boers, except those who were keeping guard, filed into the place and began to clamber on to the buck-waggon, seating themselves with much rough joking in a double row upon the broad side rails.

Next appeared Hans Coetzee, his head bound up in a bloody handkerchief.

He was pale and shaky, but Bessie could see that he was but little the worse for his wound.