Scene I: War Declared. The Girl Neltze Begs to Go. At the time of the opening of the first scene all hope of a peaceful settlement had been abandoned. Actual war had begun and we see a Boer messenger dashing across the country carrying the news to the scattered farmers. At the Voorhaut farm the elder Voorhaut and his son are discussing the rumors of war. Even the Kaffir servant, Schrake, stops to listen. Now they are joined by Neltze. Voorhaut's only daughter. A shout is heard in the distance and up clashes the war messenger. In a few words he tells of the declaration of war and of the appeal to the burghers issued by the President, then rides on. Voorhaut orders his son and the Kaffir to bring their horses. Neltze begs to go with her father. She offers to show him how well she can shoot. He holds out his hat and stepping back a few paces Neltze pulls the trigger and the bullet pierces the hat exactly in the center. But still her father refuses to let her go. Now young Voorhaut and Schrake return with the horses and the two Voorhauts mount and ride off to join the army. Neltze watches them out of sight then tells Schrake she is going to disguise herself in her brother's clothes and follow them. Schrake agrees to go with her, for he has been her devoted servant since she was a small toddler. Scene II: Neltze Follows Her Father and Brother. By the time the next night has arrived Neltze and Schrake are ready. He is waiting for her at the gate leading to the farm house. Now he whistles softly and Neltze hurries down the path. A long coat of her brother's completely covers her. Handing her rifle to Schrake she throws off the coat and asks him if she will pass for a boy. Schrake chuckles at the sight of his young mistress in boy's clothes but assures her she is the image of her brother. But they must hurry for they need the aid of this bright light from the friendly moon to guide them across the veldts. Schrake leads the way to the barns where their horses are waiting. Soon Neltze is mounted on her pony and impatient to be off she calls to Schrake to hurry. Now he joins her mounted on one of the farm's plow horses and jogs along after her. Scene III: Neltze Becomes a Recruit. Out on the broad expanse of the rolling veldts a small party of Boers have camped on their way to join the men in army. The leader is reading his well thumbed Bible to the burghers lying about when a distant shout brings them to their feet with rifles ready. Into the camp ride Neltze and Schrake waving a white flag to show their errand is friendly. Neltze approaches the leader. He inquires her business. She wants to enlist. What! A mere girl enlist and fight with his hardy men? He laughs at the idea. Neltze grows indignant and tells him she is a better soldier than he will ever be. At this the leader, a stern old Boer, grows angry and lifts his whip to strike her. But faithful Schrake who has kept near his mistress wrests the whip from his hand. At this moment the general in command enters and inquires the cause of the commotion. Neltze is telling him when her father and brother enter, attracted by the crowd. Neltze sees them and rushes into her father's arms. She tells him of the leader's threatened attack. Voorhaut starts toward him, but he humbly begs pardon. Now Neltze renews her pleading to her father to be allowed to join the army. Finally he consents, the general calls for the Bible and Neltze with her hand on the book, standing straight and firm, her eyes eager, her young body pulsing with patriotism, takes the oath that makes her a soldier fighting for her country's freedom. Scene IV: Neltze and Her Brother Ordered to Reconnoiter. The little band of Boers soon joins the main army. In the stern conflict that is being waged Neltze proves herself of invaluable aid to the general. With untiring enthusiasm she is ever ready for any difficult task that requires a keen brain and daring riding. Time and again she has saved the army from blunders that would have cost many lives. But now the general is troubled. Over beyond the enemy's position is a little band of Boers that are bringing much needed ammunition to his army. They are unconscious of the enemy in their front. Someone must ride over the hills and warn them. He thinks of Neltze. Never has she failed him. An orderly is dispatched for her. Soon she returns accompanied by her brother. The general tells them of the dangerous mission he is about to send them on. They gladly consent to it. Soon the dispatch is in Nelfze's hand and she and her brother are away, leaving her father and the general standing looking after them and silently praying for their success. Scene V: Sergeant Cameron of the Canadian Contingent Volunteers as a Scout. Over the top of the hill we see approaching a small detachment of Canadian troops, those gallant soldiers who did so much towards winning the victory for England in the war. They are in the heart of the enemy's country. Scouts must be sent out. Who will volunteer? Two ride forward, the commander sends them off in different directions. Now only the most dangerous route is left. Straight ahead through the low hills where a bullet from a hidden enemy may come singing at any moment. For this Sergeant Cameron volunteers. With a word of commendation for his bravery the commander orders him away. Now the gun convoy halts. The cannon is brought forward and the soldiers dismount to wait the return of their scouts. Scene VI: Cameron is Captured. Cameron makes his way slowly over the broken ground. To all appearances there is not another person within a hundred miles of him. He looks intently out with shaded eyes, for any one of those distant hills may secrete the silent enemy. And now we see Neltze and her brother riding down a little valley. They have reached the Boer detachment, delivered their warning and are now returning to the camp. Suddenly they catch sight of Cameron as he stands silhouetted against the sky. A daring resolve enters their minds to capture him. The brother jumps from his horse and creeps towards Cameron down a little gully that hides him from Cameron's sight. He sees Cameron approaching and crouches down behind a small bush. As Cameron, entirely unconscious of danger, reaches him, he steps out and leveling his rifle tells Cameron he is a prisoner. But Cameron slides from his horse and throwing up the rifle seizes Voorhaut. Soon they are struggling desperately. Camerons superior size tells and he is about to throw the brother to the ground when Neltze approaches and by a skillful shot in Camerons arm forces him to release her brother. Cameron turns to find out who his new assailant is and seeing Neltzes face over her threatening rifle removes his hat and bows with a smile to such a charming captor. Scene VII: The Canadians Attack the Boer Laager. Cameron is now a prisoner in the Boer laager. His modest winning manner has made him a favorite with the stern Boers even and they have allowed him all the privileges they can. He and Neltze are fast becoming dear friends. He tells her of his home in Canada and shows the locket containing his mothers picture. Suddenly two Boers dash headlong into the laager. The English are upon them! Hurriedly rifles are seized. Crouched down behind the rocks and using smokeless powder the Boers offer no target for the enemy while their own rifles are dealing death to the approaching English. The noise stampedes the horses. Over goes the supply wagon. Neltzes father drops. A stray bullet has killed him. Neltze falls weeping across the body. Far over the hill Cameron can see his own company of Canadians moving to the attack. Twice they move forward only to be stopped by the cannon on the hill back of him. A daring thought comes to him. If he could only silence that cannon. Scene VIII: Cameron Silences the Cannon. The Boers Surrender. And still the battle rages on. The Boers, although few in number, are fighting desperately. Now the English have moved their cannon within range and death dealing shells are dropping down in the center of the laager. With their own cannon the Boers are still firing regularly. So long as it can be worked the English cannot make a successful charge. Crash it goes again. One of the gunners falls. Through the crowd comes Cameron. Now is his time. Dealing savage blows right and left to the gunners he seizes the breech-piece and throws it far away. The cannon is useless now. Over the hill come the Canadians. Cameron's own company leading in a desperate charge. The Boer commander realizes resistance is useless and waves the white flag of surrender. The firing ceases and the Boers are soon surrounded by the victorious English. The attack is successful and Cameron's bravery has won the day for his comrades. Scene IX: War Is Over. Neltze a Prisoner of Love. Down the street of one of those quaint little villages that are scattered sparsely about the upland veldts come the victorious English and their prisoners. Under the new orders all combatants captured are to be conveyed to the nearest concentration camp. With bowed head and lagging step the Boers march along. Meanwhile out over the veldts another messenger is dashing along as did the war messenger in our first scene, only this one carries a message of peace. Reaching the troops he pulls up and delivers his message to the commander. He glances at it then turning to his men reads it aloud to them: "Cronie has surrendered. Parole your prisoners." Hats and guns are waved in the air. Soon the prisoners are given the oath and depart to take up again their quiet lives on their deserted farms. As Neltze and her brother turn to depart. Cameron holds out his hand to her. He tells of his love and begs her to go back to Canada with him as his wife. The brother consents and Neltze goes to Cameron's arms, for although all war prisoners are released she finds herself a prisoner to a stronger power than war, the power of love. -- The Moving Picture World, October 30, 1909