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match is dead or； since the geese have ceased to come； it must be shot
off another day。〃
〃Oh！ if there is any question；〃 said Pereira； who felt that public
opinion was much against him； 〃let the Englishman take the money。 I
dare say that he needs it； as the sons of missionaries are not rich。〃
〃There is no question；〃 I said； 〃since； rich or poor； not for a thousand
pounds would I shoot again against one who plays such tricks。 Keep your
money； Mynheer Pereira； and I will keep my mare。 The umpire has said
that the match is dead； so everything is finished。〃
〃Not quite；〃 interrupted Retief； 〃for I have a word to say。 Friend
Allan； you have played fair； and I believe that there is no one who can
shoot like you in Africa。〃
〃That is so；〃 said the audience of Boers。
〃Mynheer Pereira；〃 went on Retief； 〃although you； too； are a fine shot；
as is well known； I believe that had you played fair also you would have
been beaten； but as it is you have saved your hundred pounds。 Mynheer
Pereira；〃 he added in a great voice； 〃you are a cheat； who have brought
disgrace upon us Boers； and for my part I never want to shake your hand
again。〃
Now； at these outspoken words； for when his indignation was aroused
Retief was no measurer of language； Pereira's high…coloured face went
white as a sheet。
〃Mein Gott； mynheer；〃 he said； 〃I am minded to make you answer for such
talk；〃 and his hand went to the knife at his girdle。
〃What！〃 shouted Retief； 〃do you want another shooting match？ Well； if
so I am ready with whole bullets or with split ones。 None shall say
that Pieter Retief was afraid of any man； and； least of all； of one who
is not ashamed to try to steal a prize as a hyena steals a bone from a
lion。 Come on； Hernan Pereira； come on！〃
Now； I am sure I cannot say what would have happened； although I am
quite certain that Pereira had no stomach for a duel with the
redoubtable Retief； a man whose courage was as proverbial throughout the
land as was his perfect uprightness of character。 At any rate； seeing
that things looked very black； Henri Marais； who had been listening to
this altercation with evident annoyance； stepped forward and said：
〃Mynheer Retief and nephew Hernan； you are both my guests； and I will
not permit quarrelling over this foolishness； especially as I am sure
that Hernan never intended to cheat； but only to do what he thought was
allowed。 Why should he； who is one of the finest shots in the Colony；
though it may be that young Allan Quatermain here is even better？ Will
you not say so； too； friend Retief； especially just now when it is
necessary that we should all be as brothers？〃 he added pleadingly。
〃No；〃 thundered Retief； 〃I will not tell a lie to please you or anyone。〃
Then； seeing that the commandant was utterly uncompromising； Marais went
up to his nephew and whispered to him for a while。 What he said I do
not know。 The result of it was； however； that after favouring both
Retief and myself with an angry scowl； Pereira turned and walked to
where his horse stood； mounted it； and rode off； followed by two
Hottentot after…riders。
That was the last I saw of Hernan Pereira for a long while to come； and
heartily do I wish that it had been the last I ever saw of him。 But
this was not to be。
CHAPTER VI
THE PARTING
The Boers； who ostensibly had come to the kloof to see the shooting
match； although； in fact； for a very different purpose； now began to
disperse。 Some of them rode straight away； while some went to wagons
which they had outspanned at a distance； and trekked off to their
separate homes。 I am glad to say that before they left quite a number
of the best of them came up and congratulated me both on the defence of
Maraisfontein and on my shooting。 Also not a few expressed their views
concerning Pereira in very straightforward language。
Now； the arrangement was that my father and I were to sleep that night
at Marais's stead； returning home on the following morning。 But my
father； who had been a silent but not unobservant witness of all this
scene； coming to the conclusion that after what had happened we should
scarcely be welcome there； and that the company of Pereira was to be
avoided just now； went up to Marais and bade him farewell； saying that
we would send for my mare。
〃Not so； not so；〃 he answered； 〃you are my guests to…night。 Also； fear
not； Hernan will be away。 He has gone a journey upon some business。〃
As my father hesitated； Marais added： 〃Friend； I pray you to come； for I
have some important words to say to you； which cannot be said here。〃
Then my father gave way； to my delight and relief。 For if he had not；
what chance would there have been of my getting some still more
important words with Marie？ So having collected the geese and the two
falcons； which I proposed to skin for Marie； I was helped into the cart；
and we drove off； reaching Maraisfontein just as night set in。
That evening； after we had eaten； Heer Marais asked my father and myself
to speak with him in the sitting…room。 By an afterthought also； or so
it seemed to me； he told his daughter； who had been clearing away the
dishes and with whom as yet I had found no opportunity to talk； to come
in with us and close the door behind her。
When all were seated and we men had lit our pipes； though apprehension
of what was to follow quite took away my taste for smoking； Marais spoke
in English； which he knew to a certain extent。 This was for the benefit
of my father； who made it a point of honour not to understand Dutch；
although he would answer Marais in that language when _he_ pretended not
to understand English。 To me he spoke in Dutch； and occasionally in
French to Marie。 It was a most curious and polyglot conversation。
〃Young Allan；〃 he said； 〃and you； daughter Marie； I have heard stories
concerning you that； although I never gave you leave to 'opsit'〃 （that
is； to sit up alone at night with candles； according to the Boer fashion
between those who are courting）； 〃you have been making love to each
other。〃
〃That is true； mynheer；〃 I said。 〃I only waited an opportunity to tell
you that we plighted our troth during the attack of the Quabies on this
house。〃
〃Allemachte！ Allan； a strange time to choose；〃 answered Marais； pulling
at his beard；〃 the troth that is plighted in blood is apt to end in
blood。〃
〃A vain superstition to which I cannot consent；〃 interrupted my father。
〃Perhaps so；〃 I answered。 〃I know not； God alone knows。 I only know
that we plighted our troth when we thought ourselves about to die； and
that we shall keep that troth till death ends it。〃
〃Yes； my father；〃 added Marie； leaning forward across the scored
yellow…wood table； her chin resting on her hand and her dark； buck…like
eyes looking him in the face。 〃Yes； my father； that is so； as I have
told you already。〃