Gray assisted Vanbloem in removing certain comforts from his wagon to the deserted mission-garden; Amayeka came out under the dripping trees, and received them from her master's hand, for the poor girl was now in the capacity of a domestic. God was gracious. Vanbloem held a living girl in his arms ere the night had passed; but it was impossible for his wife to be removed, and he would not leave her desolate. How Lyle cursed the woman! "Oh!" thought Gray, "that I might stay with them, and wait my doom from the hands of my countrymen." He liked Vanbloem; he had told him his history, and now proposed remaining with him, and stating to Vander Roey his resolution not to turn traitor. "And," said Vanbloem, "what reply do you expect?" "Perhaps," said Gray, very quietly, "he may order me to be shot on the spot." Vanbloem looked at the young deserter. "You are no coward," thought he. "You are wrong," he continued, speaking aloud; "he would not shoot you, but they would brand you with a coward's name. I pity you from my soul. May God have compassion on you, and help you! I see the finger of Providence in what has just occurred to myself. I will remain in the desert with my wife and Amayeka." Gray led the young Dutchman to a retired spot, and poured forth his whole soul to him. "I leave Amayeka," said he, "to you and your kind English wife; tell her never to forget poor Gray, the deserter." Vander Roey felt that Vanbloem would never join his band again. They parted friends, however, the latter resolving, if opportunity required it, to act as intercessor between the Government and his countrymen. Sir Adrian was indeed utterly confounded at hearing that Lyle was alive, at liberty, and at work in such a field. His career from the time he had left the Cape had been, as I have shown, short and mischievous. He had been foremost as a Chartist leader, had organised bodies of men in Wales and Cornwall; but had, at a fortunate moment for his country and the people he had misled, been seized by the Government, tried, found guilty, and transported, ere the wretched men under him had recovered their breath, after their frantic but useless demonstrations. Well, there was enough work before Sir Adrian for the cleverest and most active of governors. In front were thousands of savages at war with troops and colonists; to the north-eastward, with a space between of 400 miles, through a difficult country, was a sullen, determined enemy, well prepared with arms and ammunition, bent alike on revenge and the establishment of privileges "dearer to these Boers than life."