Vrouw Prinsloo, go straight to the commandant ad tell him all this story.

Or, if he will not listen to you, scream it out at the top of your voice so that everyone may hear, and then come back and tell us the result.

Of one thing I am sure, that if you do this, even if there was any thought of my being shot tomorrow morning, it will be abandoned.

You can refuse to say who told you the tale." "Yes, please do that," muttered Hans, "else I know one who will be shot." "Good, I will go," said the vrouw, and she went, the guards letting her pass after a few words which we could not hear.
Half an hour later she returned and called to us to open the door.
"Well ?" I asked.
"Well," she said, "I have failed, nephew.

Except those sentries outside the door, the commandant and all the Boers have ridden off, I know not where, taking our people with them." "That's odd," I answered, "but I suppose they thought they had not enough grass for their horses, or Heaven knows what they thought.
Stay now, I will do something," and, opening the door, I called to the guards, honest fellows in their way, whom I had known in past times.
"Listen, friends," I said.