"I don't mind that," answered Ned. "Before I arrived in Johannesburg I did not know what hatred or revenge meant. It was Kruger and his Boers who planted these passions in my heart on my first visit. During my absence the plants did not thrive much. Now that I have returned, however, the Transvaal air seems to have revived them suddenly." "Yes," said Philip Martin. "Hatred, envy, deceit, revenge, greed, and gracelessness are plants that grow well and quickly in the South African Republican garden. They are fine Dutch bulbs, and take kindly to the Transvaal air. Since you have given me the news of this crowning scheme of perfidy on the part of the crafty and senseless tyrant Kruger, I also feel as if I don't mind shedding some gore if I can only help to put him in his proper place--the felon's cell. Lately he has been playing one of his favourite games with us, which to those in the `know' means `spoof' eventually. He has been acting the part of `Codlin' as the only real friend of the Uitlander--the kindly old humourist of Pretoria, the simple-minded farmer chief." "Yes; he tried to make traitors and spies of us in that way," remarked Ned. "Just so. He has been talking about conciliation and the blessedness of unity amongst brethren. Every Sunday of late he has occupied the Dopper pulpit, and his orations have been noted for their breadth and mildness. The police wink at small offenders where before they pounced upon them rigidly. A general tide of indulgence and generosity appears to be setting in towards us in every direction. There are rumours that the franchise and full burgher rights will be proclaimed on the tenth. This the Volksraad have already formally passed, with certain conditions which are to be told us by the president himself on that momentous day." "Yes," replied Ned, grimly; "the conditions you might have suspected all along, knowing Kruger's tactics of old. He seems to be an animal of instinct and habit. Like the dog, he always turns round the regulation number of times. He never varies in his movements, and never changes." "You are right, Romer; he does not. He will humour us up to the last moment, and then give us our option--to become traitor burghers and rebels to our queen, or else be shot down ruthlessly. There will be no mistake about the shooting if we decline, therefore we must take time by the forelock, and anticipate the kindly intentions of Oom Paul. What are you going to do meanwhile?" "I shall stick to my present disguise, and live most of my time in the kitchen," continued Ned. "I can also do any little messages you may want about the city." "Yes, that will be best. I'll tell you how you may also serve us, if you can play your part safely." "In what way?" "Get a sweetheart in the barracks if you can, and we may, with your help, be able to surprise them on the eventful night, without having to dynamite them. It may be a great saving of life on both sides."