I was hating Germans worse than hell.'

'But what did you propose to do with them?' I asked.

'I had a notion they would make trouble with the Government
in those parts. I don't specially love the Portugoose, but I'm for
him against the Germans every day. Well, there was trouble, and I
had a merry time for a month or two. But by and by it petered out,
and I thought I had better clear for Europe, for South Africa was
settling down just as the big show was getting really interesting. So
here I am, Cornelis, my old friend. If I shave my beard will they let
me join the Flying Corps?'

I looked at Peter sitting there smoking, as imperturbable as if he
had been growing mealies in Natal all his life and had run home for
a month's holiday with his people in Peckham.

'You're coming with me, my lad,' I said. 'We're going into Germany.'

Peter showed no surprise. 'Keep in mind that I don't like the
Germans,' was all he said. 'I'm a quiet Christian man, but I've the
devil of a temper.'

Then I told him the story of our mission.
'You and I have got to be Maritz's men. We went into Angola,
and now we're trekking for the Fatherland to get a bit of our own
back from the infernal English. Neither of us knows any German -
publicly. We'd better plan out the fighting we were in - Kakamas
will do for one, and Schuit Drift. You were a Ngamiland hunter
before the war. They won't have your _dossier_, so you can tell any