.

THE PARTING.
The Boers, who ostensibly had come to the kloof to see the shooting match, although, in fact, for a very different purpose, now began to disperse.

Some of them rode straight away, while some went to wagons which they had outspanned at a distance, and trekked off to their separate homes.

I am glad to say that before they left quite a number of the best of them came up and congratulated me both on the defence of Maraisfontein and on my shooting.

Also not a few expressed their views concerning Pereira in very straightforward language.
Now, the arrangement was that my father and I were to sleep that night at Marais's stead, returning home on the following morning.