.

THE COURT-MARTIAL.
One hour, two hours, three hours, and then suddenly from the top of a rise the sight of the beautiful Mooi River winding through the plain like a vast snake of silver, and there, in a loop of it, the flat-crested koppie on which I had hoped to make my home.

Had hoped!--why should I not still hope?
For aught I knew everything might yet be well.

Marie might have escaped the slaughter as I had done, and if so, after all our troubles perchance many years of life and happiness awaited us.

Only it seemed too good to be true.
I flogged my horse, but the poor beast was tired out and could only break into short canters, that soon lapsed to a walk again.