friend saw fit. We rehearsed the part several times; I was hopelessly
dull!

'And now,' he questioned, 'if Rhodes refuses to give you the money,
what will you do?'

I thought of Jael and Charlotte Corday, and all the other women who
had to do with history, and said, 'I suppose I'll have to shoot him.'

My preceptor looked discouraged. We went over the part once again.

It is but fair to say that he had made every provision for my comfort.
Attendants were ready, and at the right moment I have no doubt but
that a neat pine coffin could have been produced. Reflection, however,
showed me the inadvisability of this project; but I was happily spared
the embarrassment of drawing back from promised compliance.

There was a higher power ruling. The next morning's papers announced
the sailing of C.J. Rhodes for England.

The morning of January 10th, Johannesburg disarmed, and the Reformers
in prison, the President of the Transvaal Republic issued a
proclamation offering pardon to all who should lay down their arms,
and declaring them to be exempt from prosecution on account of what
had occurred at Johannesburg--'_with the exception of all persons or
bodies who may appear to be principal criminals, leaders, instigators,
or perpetrators of the troubles at Johannesburg and suburbs_. Such
persons or bodies will justify themselves before the legal and
competent Courts of this Republic'