But soon the order came for all Burghers to return home: amongst others, Mijnheer Meyer and his son--as only a guard of a few score Burghers was to be retained for a little while longer; and a temporary parting came for the new-found friends. I can conclude this chapter in no more fitting way than by quoting here-- THE SONG OF THE BOER O’er hill and o’er dale, O’er mountain and vale Went a cry: ‘For our dear country’s right, Ye must arm for the fight, To do or to die!’ And ev’ry man heard, And straight booted and spurred To war ’gainst the ‘Queen of the Sea’; ‘For our children and wives We will lay down our lives, Or live to be FREE--to be Free!’ CHORUS.--Then ride! ride! ride! The Asvogel screams o’er the lea, And to-night I may rest, With his beak in my breast, While my children may orphans be. With cannon and drum, The invader hath come In his might; But our courage ne’er fails, Nor no heart ever quails At the perilous sight. Now the roar of the battle And musketry’s rattle Goes up to the vault of the sky; While the plain gleameth red With the blood of the dead, And the blood of those doomed to die. CHORUS-- But the God of Battles had fought on our side, And our country so loved is free; For the strength of His arm doth with us abide, And we thank Him on bended knee. He hath scattered our foes in the pride of their ways, And shielded the lowly Boer; To Him be the glory, to Him be the praise For ever and ever more. CHORUS.--Then ride! ride! ride! For my loved ones are waiting for me, And to-night I shall bide With my vrouw by my side, And my little ones round my knee.[1] [1] The above is a composition of Mr Luscombe Searelle’s, which was published in _The Press_ of Pretoria some time ago, and is taken over from that paper. CHAPTER XXIV IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH After peace was once more partially restored, our hero resolved to pay Johannesburg a visit and see how the _City of Gold_ looked after its effort to amuse itself, _à la_ South America, with an abortive revolution. It was not until Tuesday, the 18th February, that he was able to carry out his resolve--the evening of which day found him comfortably dining at a leading Rand hotel. Steve found excitement, although cooled to a great extent, still running high. Arguments, pro and con, on late events were still the chief, if not the only, conversation indulged in during leisure moments.