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WDS Publishing
An Eye for an Eye: A Story of the War by Vernon Houseman
An Eye for an Eye: A Story of the War by Vernon Houseman
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"If that is true," said Commandant Meintjes, as he reined up his horse in the shadow of a small copse of scrubby mimosa and thorn, "the Lord hath surely delivered this foolish man into our hands."
"Ay, it's true enough; for that I'll vouch," said a man on his right, "for did I not hear it with my own ears when scouting round Mooidorp yesterday? Two of the rooinek officers were talking in the stable in which I had hidden myself, and one said that if the trooper sent up from headquarters with despatches managed to get through he would arrive to-morrow. That would be to-day. And—"
"Did he say what the despatches were about?" broke in Piet, the Commandant's son. "No, but he said that he thought it was foolish of the general to trust to one man, however good a one."
"So he will find to his cost," said the Commandant with a low laugh. "Kerels," he went on, turning to the small detachment with him, "we must have this man, alive or dead."
There was a murmur of assent, but not one of the dozen burghers, except young Piet, looked very eager. Truth to tell, they were almost to a man sick and tired of the war, and loyalty to their Commandant alone kept them from hurrying back to their farms.
"My plan," went on the Commandant after a few minutes' pause, "is this—we must at all hazards take this man, and, if possible, alive. Wait for him at Klipster's Kopje, and when he has passed you close in upon him from the rear. One of two things will then happen. Should he decide to risk the pace of his horse against yours, follow him up, and if possible, drive him here, where we will wait. Should he show fight, then take him yourselves, alive or dead. You will be three to one, and can manage that. Piet," he added, "you go in command, and take Jan and Henddrick with you."
"Ay, it's true enough; for that I'll vouch," said a man on his right, "for did I not hear it with my own ears when scouting round Mooidorp yesterday? Two of the rooinek officers were talking in the stable in which I had hidden myself, and one said that if the trooper sent up from headquarters with despatches managed to get through he would arrive to-morrow. That would be to-day. And—"
"Did he say what the despatches were about?" broke in Piet, the Commandant's son. "No, but he said that he thought it was foolish of the general to trust to one man, however good a one."
"So he will find to his cost," said the Commandant with a low laugh. "Kerels," he went on, turning to the small detachment with him, "we must have this man, alive or dead."
There was a murmur of assent, but not one of the dozen burghers, except young Piet, looked very eager. Truth to tell, they were almost to a man sick and tired of the war, and loyalty to their Commandant alone kept them from hurrying back to their farms.
"My plan," went on the Commandant after a few minutes' pause, "is this—we must at all hazards take this man, and, if possible, alive. Wait for him at Klipster's Kopje, and when he has passed you close in upon him from the rear. One of two things will then happen. Should he decide to risk the pace of his horse against yours, follow him up, and if possible, drive him here, where we will wait. Should he show fight, then take him yourselves, alive or dead. You will be three to one, and can manage that. Piet," he added, "you go in command, and take Jan and Henddrick with you."
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