Most of those I saw were men of from forty to fifty years of age, but there were also a few sickly-looking youths, who certainly did not look bold warriors.

These had not arrived at the dignity of a beard, but, instead, cultivated feeble whiskers.
After I had seen and heard all I could, came the question of getting away.

The manager told me the Landrost had now forbidden any of the residents to leave the town, and that he did not think I could get a pass.

However, my Dutch friend was equal to the occasion; he applied for leave to return to his farm with his sister, having only come in for provisions.

After a long hesitation it was given him, and we decided to set out at daybreak, fearful lest the permission might be retracted, as it certainly would have been had my identity and his deception been discovered, and we should both have been ignominiously lodged in a Boer gaol.