Page:Life of Africaner.pdf/7

 the honse, the wife having witnessed the murder of her husband, shrieked, and implored mercy. They told her on no account to be alarmed, for they had nothing against her. They asked for the guns and ammunition which were in the house, which she promptly delivered to them. They then straitly charged her not to leave the house during the night, as they could not ensure her safety from others of the servants, who, if she and her family attempted to flee, might kill them.

This admonition, however, was disregarded. Overcome with terror, two children eseapedescaped [sic] by a baekback [sic]-door. These were slain by two Bushmen, who had long been looking out for an opportunity of revenging injuries they had suffered. Mrs Piemaar eseapedescaped [sic] in safety to the nearest farm. AfrieanerAfricaner [sic], with as little loss of time as possible, rallied the remnant of his tribe, and, with what they could take with them, directed their course to the Orange River, and were soon beyond the reach of pursuers, who, in a thinly scattered population, required time to collect. He fixed his abode on the banks of the Orange River; and afterwards, a chief ceding to him his dominion in Great Namaqualand, it heneeforthhenceforth [sic] became his by right, as well as by eonquestconquest [sic].

Attempts were made on the part of the colonial government and the farmers to punish this daring outrage on the Piemaar family; but, though rewards were offered, and commandoes went out for that purpose, Africaner dared them to approaehapproach [sic] his territories. Some of the farmers had reeourserecourse [sic] to another stratagem to rid the frontiers of such a terror: they bribed some of the Bastards, who were in the