Report had reached them that Mafeking was in the hands of the Dutch, that the only survivor of the garrison had escaped in woman's clothes, had been wandering on the veldt for days, and had finally been taken in here.

"Ach!" said the old _vrow_, "I would be afraid to meet him.

Is he really here ?" This remark she made to Mrs.Keeley's brother, who could hardly conceal his amusement, but, to reassure her, displayed the cart and mules by which I had come.

If in England we had heard of the arrival of a "unicorn" in an aeroplane, we should not have shown more anxiety or taken more trouble to hear about the strange creature than did they concerning myself.
Their curiosity did not end here.

What was Mr.Keeley doing in Mafeking?
Was he fighting for the English?
How many head of cattle had they on the farm?
And so on _ad libitum_.