My father was warned by the neighbours that we were in great danger,
since these men were now lawless and would not hesitate to plunder and
kill in their retreat, and that all riding-horses would certainly be
seized by them. As a precaution he had the horses driven in and
concealed in the plantation, and that was all he would do. "Oh no," he
said, with a laugh, "they won't hurt us," and so we were all out and
about all day with the front gate and all doors and windows standing
open. From time to time a band on tired horses rode to the gate and,
without dismounting, shouted a demand for fresh horses. In every case
he went out and talked to them, always with a smiling, pleasant face,
and after assuring them that he had no horses for them they slowly and
reluctantly took their departure.
About three o'clock in the afternoon, the hottest hour of the day, a
troop of ten men rode up at a gallop, raising a great cloud of dust,
and coming in at the gate drew rein before the verandah. My father as
usual went out to meet them, whereupon they demanded fresh horses in
loud menacing voices.
Indoors we were all gathered in the large sitting-room, waiting the
upshot in a state of intense anxiety, for no preparations had been
made and no means of defence existed in the event of a sudden attack
on the house.
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