It was the continued dearth of news, not only concerning Mafeking, but also of what was going on in the rest of South Africa, that made me at length endeavour to get news from Vryburg.  As a first step I lent Dop to a young Dutchman named Brevel, who was anxious to go to that township to sell some fat cattle.  This youth, who belonged to a respectable Boer family—­of course heart and soul against the English—­was overwhelmed with gratitude for the loan of the horse, and in consequence I stood high in their good graces.  They little knew it was for my sake, not theirs, that they had my pony.  By this messenger we sent letters for the English mail, and a note to the magistrate, begging him to forward us newspapers and any reliable intelligence.  I also enclosed a cheque to be cashed, for I was running short of English gold wherewith to pay our nigger letter-carriers.  I must confess I hardly expected to find anyone confiding enough to part with bullion, but Mr. Brevel duly returned in a few days with the money, and said they were very pleased to get rid of gold in exchange for a cheque on a London bank.

He also, however, brought back our letters, which had been refused at the post-office, as they would take no letters except with Transvaal stamps, and for ours, of course, we had used those of Cape Colony.

The magistrate wrote me a miserable letter, saying his office had been seized by the Boers, who held a daily Kriegsraad there, and that he had received a safe-conduct to depart.  The striking part of the communication was that a line had been put through “On H.M.  Service” on the top of the official envelope.  I was really glad to find the young man had done no good with his own business, having failed to dispose of any of his cattle.  He, a Dutchman, had returned with the feeling that no property was safe for the moment, and much alarmed by the irresponsible talk of those burghers who had nothing to lose and everything to gain by this period of confusion and upheaval.  He also greatly disturbed Mr. Keeley by saying they meant to wreak vengeance on any who had fought for the English, and by warning him that a commando would surely pass his way.  Further news which this young man proceeded to relate in his awful jargon was that Oom Paul and all his grandchildren and nephews had gone to Bulawayo; from there he meant to commence a triumphal march southward; that Kimberley had capitulated; and that Joubert and his army had taken possession of Ladysmith.  To all this Mrs. Keeley had to listen with polite attention.  Luckily, I did not understand the import of what he said till he had taken himself off, with an unusually deep bow of thanks to myself.  The only comfort we derived was the reflection that these lies were too audacious to be aught but inventions made up to clinch the wavering and timid spirits.