When we awoke all was peaceful, and there was every indication of a piping hot day.

Mrs.Keeley was very calm and sensible, and did not anticipate any rudeness.

We decided to receive the burghers civilly and offer them coffee, trusting that the exodus of all the cattle would not rouse their ire.

Our elaborate preparations were wasted, for the Boers did not come.

The weary hours dragged on, the sun crawled across the steely blue heavens, and finally sank, almost grudgingly, it seemed, into the west, leaving the coast clear for the glorious full moon; the stars came out one by one; the goats and kids came wandering back to the homestead with loud bleatings; and presently everything seemed to sleep--everything except our strained nerves and aching eyes, which had looked all day for Boers, and above all for news, and had looked in vain.
We still continued to have alarms.