ny other Boer officials had received appointments。 Thereon Osborn answered with great rigour； “Damn it！ Mr。 A。 — you know why。”
The man attempted no answer； and a moment later I saw him walk out of the house with a very crestfallen air； after which I think Osborn came into my room and expressed his feelings on the whole subject with the utmost freedom。
That is the story； of which the reader； if there ever should be such a person； can form his own opinion。 Of course it rests upon Deventer’s word supported only by certain corroborative evidence of a circumstantial sort； such as the sudden departure of the Boer mission； leaving us alone in Secocoeni’s Town without guides； the behaviour of the two Basuto lads； and of the individual inculpated on the occasion that I have just mentioned。 Deventer may have lied； but I see no reason why he should have done so； and it was not in keeping with his character； nor did any of us at the time find cause to doubt the truth of his statement。 On the other hand our disappearance from this mortal sphere might have been convenient to Mr。 A。； who knew that when we saw Secocoeni we should discover that the alleged treaty with that chief which he had negotiated had been forged as regards its most important clause。 If we were all dead we could not municate our knowledge to the Special missioner； Sir Theophilus Shepstone； and through him to the British Government； in which event his credit would have been saved and the South African Republic； which he served； would have been freed from a great embarrassment。 It is not probable that any more will ever be known of this matter； which； so to speak； now rests between Mr。 A。 — whose name I refrain from mentioning — and God。 Of the Englishmen concerned I alone survive； and if any of th