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upon his house； saying that it was a judgement on himself for having
sheltered an atheist and a drunkard for so many years； just because he
was French and a man of intellect。 Someone； my father as a matter of
fact； who with all his prejudices possessed a great sense of justice；
reminded him that the poor Frenchman had expiated； or perchance was now
expiating any crimes that he might have committed。
This turned the stream of his invective on to the Quabie Kaffirs； who
had burned part of his house and stolen nearly all his stock； making him
from a rich man into a poor one in a single hour。 He shouted for
vengeance on the 〃black devils；〃 and called on all there to help him to
recover his beasts and kill the thieves。 Most of those presentthey
were about thirty in all； not counting the Kaffir and Hottentot
after…ridersanswered that they were willing to attack the Quabies。
Being residents in the district； they felt； and； indeed； said； that his
case to…day might and probably would be their case to…morrow。 Therefore
they were prepared to ride at once。
Then it was that my father intervened。
〃Heeren；〃 he said； 〃it seems to me that before you seek vengeance；
which； as the Book tells us； is the Lord's； it would be well； especially
for the Heer Marais； to return thanks for what has been saved to him。 I
mean his daughter； who might now very easily have been dead or worse。〃
He added that goods came or went according to the chances of fortune；
but a beloved human life； once lost； could not be restored。 This
precious life had been preserved to him； he would not say by manhere
he glanced at mebut by the Ruler of the world acting through man。
Perhaps those present did not quite understand what he （my father） had
learned from Hans the Hottentot； that I； his son； had been about to blow
out the brains of Marie Marais and my own when the sound of the shots of
those who had been gathered through the warning which I left before I
rode from the Mission Station； had stayed my hand。 He called upon the
said Hans and Marie herself to tell them the story； since I was too weak
to do so。
Thus adjured； the little Hottentot； smothered as he was in blood； stood
up。 In the simple； dramatic style characteristic of his race； he
narrated all that had happened since he met the woman on the veld but
little over twelve hours before； till the arrival of the rescue party。
Never have I seen a tale followed with deeper interest； and when at last
Hans pointed to me lying on the ground and said； 〃There is he who did
these things which it might be thought no man could dohe； but a boy；〃
even from those phlegmatic Dutchmen there came a general cheer。 But；
lifting myself upon my hands； I called out：
〃Whatever I did； this poor Hottentot did also； and had it not been for
him I could not have done anythingfor him and the two good horses。〃
Then they cheered again； and Marie； rising； said：
〃Yes； father； to these two I owe my life。〃
After this； my father offered his prayer of thanksgiving in very bad
Dutchfor； having begun to learn it late in life； he never could really
master that languageand the stalwart Boers； kneeling round him； said
〃Amen。〃 As the reader may imagine； the scene； with all its details；
which I will not repeat； was both remarkable and impressive。
What followed this prayer I do not very well remember； for I became
faint from exhaustion and the loss of blood。 I believe； however； that
the fire having been extinguished； they removed the dead and wounded
from the unburnt portion of the house and carried me into the little
room where Marie and I had gone through that dreadful scene when I went
within an ace of killing her。 After this the Boers and Marais's
Kaffirs； or rather slaves； whom he had collected from where they lived
away from the house； to the number of thirty or forty； started to follow
the defeated Quabie； leaving about ten of their number as a guard。 Here
I may mention that of the seven or eight men who slept in the
outbuildings and had fought with us； two were killed in the fight and
two wounded。 The remainder； one way or another； managed to escape
unhurt； so that in all this fearful struggle； in which we inflicted so
terrible a punishment upon the Kaffirs； we lost only three slain；
including the Frenchman； Leblanc。
As to the events of the next three days I know only what I have been
told； for practically during all that time I was off my head from loss
of blood； complicated with fever brought on by the fearful excitement
and exertion I had undergone。 All I can recall is a vision of Marie
bending over me and making me take food of some sortmilk or soup； I
supposefor it seems I would touch it from no other hand。 Also I had
visions of the tall shape of my white…haired father； who； like most
missionaries； understood something of surgery and medicine； attending to
the bandages on my thigh。 Afterwards he told me that the spear had
actually cut the walls of the big artery； but； by good fortune； without
going through them。 Another fortieth of an inch and I should have bled
to death in ten minutes！
On this third day my mind was brought back from its wanderings by the
sound of a great noise about the house； above which I heard the voice of
Marais storming and shouting； and that of my father trying to calm him。
Presently Marie entered the room； drawing…to behind her a Kaffir karoos；
which served as a curtain； for the door； it will be remembered； had been
torn out。 Seeing that I was awake and reasonable； she flew to my side
with a little cry of joy； and； kneeling down； kissed me on the forehead。
〃You have been very ill； Allan； but I know you will recover now。 While
we are alone； which；〃 she added slowly and with meaning； 〃I dare say we
shall not be much in future； I want to thank you from my heart for all
that you did to save me。 Had it not been for you； oh！ had it not been
for you〃and she glanced at the blood stains on the earthen floor； put
her hands before her eyes and shuddered。
〃Nonsense； Marie；〃 I answered； taking her hand feebly enough； for I was
very weak。 〃Anyone else would have done as much； even if they did not
love you as I do。 Let us thank God that it was not in vain。 But what
is all that noise？ Have the Quabies come back？〃
She shook her head。
〃No； the Boers have come back from hunting them。〃
〃And did they catch them and recover the cattle？〃
〃Not so。 They only found some wounded men； whom they shot； and the body
of Monsieur Leblanc with his head cut off； taken away with other bits of
him for medicine； they say to make the warriors brave。 Quabie has burnt
his kraal and fled with all his people to join the other Kaffirs in the
Big Mountains。 Not a cow or a sheep did they find； except a few that
had fallen exhausted； and those had their throats cut。 My father wanted
to follow them and attack the Red Kaffirs in the mountains； but the
others would not g