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Updated: May 3, 2025
At another visit one Saturday, 20th March, Madame de Groot asked her friend why all the bells of Gorcum march were ringing. "Because to-morrow begins our yearly fair," replied Dame Daatselaer. "Well, I suppose that all exiles and outlaws may come to Gorcum on this occasion," said Madame de Groot. "Such is the law, they say," answered her friend. "And my husband might come too?"
Groot was made to promise to say not a word of her presence in his family. He was out all day, while Clemence worked hard at her demenagement, and only with scruples accepted the assistance of her guest, who was glad to work away her anxiety in the folding of curtains and stuffing of mails.
I was not present when the Krugersdorpers attacked Babington's force near Lensdenplaats, in the neighbourhood of Groot Kafferkraal. But the following morning, when they were retreating, I joined them with some cattle, and was present at the Battle of Stompies.
Moreover, they had hopes of meeting Groot Willem on their return, and were anticipating great pleasure from the encounter. They knew how rejoiced he would be at their success. But where were the camp followers? Where were Swartboy and Congo? There was a mystery in their absence that none of the three hunters could solve. Why had the property been left exposed by those placed in charge of it?
The herd consisted entirely of their own stolen animals. They were guarded only by some women and children, who fled wildly screaming at the approach of the white party. Riding up to the cattle, Groot Willem and Hendrik galloped on after the frightened women, who, by the efforts they were making to escape, plainly showed that they expected nothing short of being killed if overtaken.
Pieter de Groot and his colleagues were received at Doesburg with scant courtesy and sent back to the Hague to seek for fuller powers. When they arrived they found the council-pensionary lying on a sick-bed. The country's disasters had been attributed to the De Witts, and the strong feeling against them led to a double attempt at assassination.
Groot Willem and McTavish pushed on promptly to follow the spoor, while men were sent back to the glen for a supply of ammunition, etcetera, in case of a prolonged search becoming necessary. The search was ably planned and vigorously carried out; but all in vain.
Still, he awaited the event with calmness. Most people, when frightened, feel an irresistible desire to make a sudden departure from the place where they have been seized with the malady; but this was not the case with Groot Willem.
It was Groot Willem who held them in check. "Did you not see that there were three young ones in the drove?" said he. "Their home is very likely in this forest and we must not frighten them away from it." "They have already been hunted," answered Hendrik. "I am sure I saw an arrow sticking in the side of one of them. Some black has amused himself by torturing a creature he was unable to kill."
Immediately on seeing us they commenced yelling, and rushing about the plain; and, as we turned to ride back, several spears were sent after us." "Then the sooner we get away from here the better," suggested Hans. "There are too many of them for us to hold our own with." "Macora does not seem to think so," observed Groot Willem.
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