However, Mr.P.assured me this was their usual habit, and that this particular bird knew its business, having taken several prizes; so, as it eventually disappeared, I thought no more about it.
The next day Mr.P.left for Cape Town, and passed out of our ken, but we were soon to be reminded of him in an unpleasant fashion.
On going into the dining-room to lunch one day, I saw little Mr .-- --, a kinsman of Mrs.Fraser's, and particularly short of stature, with an axe in hand, in the act of taking up the boards in a corner of the room, revealing as he did so a sort of shallow cellar, with no light or ventilation.

Watching the operation was another man, an Englishman, the dispossessed manager of a local store, who had sought a temporary lodging at the hotel, and was a big, strong individual, over 6 feet in height.

I inquired in amazement, of this strangely assorted pair, what they were trying to do.

"We are going to hide, Lady Sarah," chirped the former.

"The Boers are on the premises." So saying, he was about to descend into the cavity, and evidently expected the companionship of his tall friend.