their future.
De Wet was there, and Niemand and Leroux. Botha was there and Hertzog
and Strauss and others whose names had echoed across the world these
last two years. And now the last of them, Jannic Smuts, had arrived.
He had left his commando besieging the little town of O'Kiep in the
Northern Cape and travelled up the British-held railway. Now they were
all assembled. If they had gained nothing else in these last desperate
years, they had at least won recognition as the leaders of the Boer
people. This tiny band of war-sick men was treating with the
representatives of the greatest military power on earth.
-ja, I have heard so,' Sean repeated, and impulsively he thrust out his
hand. 'Good luck, Paul.'
Leroux seized his hand and held it hard, his mouth moved with the
pressure of his emotions
'Sean, we must talk. We have to talk!' he blurted.
'Sit down,' Sean told him and Leroux freed his hand and sank on to the
bed once again.
'What must I do, Sean?' he asked. 'It's you who must advise me.
Not these . . . not these others from over the sea.'
' You have seen Kitchener and Mimer. ' It was not a question, for Sean
knew of the meeting. 'What do they ask of you?'
'They ask everything. ' Leroux spoke bitterly. 'They ask for
surrender without terms. ' 'Will you agree to that?'
For a minute Leroux was silent, and then he lifted his head and looked
full into Sean's face.
'So far we have fought to live,' he said and what Sean saw in those
eyes he would never forget. 'But now we will fight to die. ' 'And by
this, what will you achieve?' Sean asked softly.
'Death is the lesser evil.' 'We can not live as slaves.
'Leroux's voice rose sharply. 'This is my land,' he cried.
'No,' Sean told him harshly. 'It is also my land, and the land of my
son,' and then his voice softened. 'And the blood of my son is your
blood.'
'But these others-this Kitchener, this devil Mimer.'
'They are a people apart,' Sean said' But you fought with them!'
Leroux accused.
'I have done many foolish things,' agreed Sean. 'But, from them I have
learned. ' 'What are you saying?' demanded Leroux, and Sean could see
the sparkle of hope in his eyes. I must say this carefully, thought
Sean, I must be very careful. He drew a long breath before he spoke.
'As it stands this moment your people are scattered but alive, If you
fight on, the British will stay until you have found the innihilation
you seek. If you stop now, then soon they will leave. ' 'Will you
leave?' demanded Leroux savagely.
'No. ' 'And you are British! The British will stay-you and those like
you. ' Then Sean grinned at him. It was so sudden, so irresistible
that grin, that it threw Leroux off balance.
'Do I look and talk like a rooinek, Paul?' he asked in the
'Taal.
'Which half of my son is burgher and which half British?'
