Mr Daveney finding it impracticable to reach the lower districts in safety, and earnestly requested by Sir Adrian Fairfax to accept an appointment of trust and responsibility, if only for a time, had taken up his abode here. The whole fabric had been run up within six weeks, despite untoward weather; a few days of sunshine made the little habitation of wattle, clay, thatch, and whitewash fit for the reception of his family. The ladies occupied one bed-room, a small office served the Commissioner--for such was Mr Daveney's new appointment--for a reception and sleeping apartment. The common sitting-room opened as usual from the verandah, and the simple cookery was carried on by the old Malay in the hollow of a tall rock, backing the premises. A couple of tents added materially to the accommodation and comfort of the tenement. The intense anxiety of Eleanor's mind had produced a low fever, which kept the unfortunate young creature on her couch--wasted to a shadow, she lay beneath a little casement, her only rest snatches of fitful sleep, her only enjoyment the fresh air, that brought sweet odours with it from the heath-clad hills. Her mother and sister watched day and night by turns beside her. The Trails were again their neighbours, and were a great solace to the afflicted invalid. "It is a sad strait for one so young to come to," said Eleanor to Mr Trail one day, "to wish to die." "Sad, indeed," replied the good missionary; "sad, because so sinful." "Ah, me!" said the sufferer, "this suspense is killing me--is it not natural that I should long to be where the tears will be wiped from off all faces?" "Patience, Eleanor, patience," whispered Mr Trail. "God has His own means of bestowing happiness; you _have_ been sorely tried, my poor child; but you are young, a long future may lie before you." And the invalid lifted up her large luminous eyes to Heaven with the most hopeless expression of despair. Hark! horses are galloping past the dwelling--the rattle of accoutrements announces that soldiers are on their way. They soon go by; there are but few--it must be an express. And the question passes along the tented line, "Is Lee taken?" "Not yet; but the dispatches from Sir Adrian relate that a clue is obtained to his discovery." In a word, Hermanus the stutterer, who, rebel as he was, hated English traitors, succeeded in persuading his comrades that Lee and Brennard had never had any view but self-aggrandisement. It was therefore resolved in council to purchase their own pardon by delivering up the trader and the convict. Poor Gray had been carried off with the wounded to the hospital tent, and found to be seriously, though not mortally, hurt. He had not an enemy among the Boers; but it was proved that he had consented to serve a gun, and despite the decided step he had taken to avoid firing upon his countrymen, there was no evidence to show whether the act was the result of panic, or repentance.