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come。
My father； who wished that I should hear another kind of call； was vexed
with me over this matter。 He desired earnestly that I should follow the
profession which he adorned； and indeed saw no other open for me any
more than I did myself。 Of course he was right in a way； seeing that in
the end I found none； unless big game hunting and Kaffir trading can be
called a profession。 I don't know； I am sure。 Still； poor business as
it may be； I say now when I am getting towards the end of life that I am
glad I did not follow any other。 It has suited me； that was the
insignificant hole in the world's affairs which I was destined to fit；
whose only gifts were a remarkable art of straight shooting and the more
common one of observation mixed with a little untrained philosophy。
So hot did our arguments become about this subject of the Church； for；
as may be imagined； in the course of them I revealed some unorthodoxy；
especially as regards the matter of our methods of Christianising
Kaffirs； that I was extremely thankful when a diversion occurred which
took me away from home。 The story of my defence of Maraisfontein had
spread far； and that of my feats of shooting； especially in the Goose
Kloof； still farther。 So the end of it was that those in authority
commandeered me to serve in one of the continual Kaffir frontier wars
which was in progress； and instantly gave me a commission as a kind of
lieutenant in a border corps。
Now the events of that particular war have nothing to do with the
history that I am telling； so I do not propose even to touch on them。 I
served in it for a year； meeting with many adventures； one or two
successes； and several failures。 Once I was wounded slightly； twice I
but just escaped with my life。 Once I was reprimanded for taking a
foolish risk and losing some men。 Twice I was commended for what were
called gallant actions； such as bringing a wounded comrade out of danger
under a warm fire； mostly of assegais； and penetrating by night； almost
alone； into the stronghold of a chieftain； and shooting him。
At length that war was patched up with an inconclusive peace and my
corps was disbanded。 I returned home； no longer a lad； but a man with
experience of various kinds and a rather unique knowledge of Kaffirs；
their languages； history； and modes of thought and action。 Also I had
associated a good deal with British officers； and from them acquired
much that I had found no opportunity of studying before； especially； I
hope； the ideas and standards of English gentlemen。
I had not been back at the Mission Station more than three weeks； quite
long enough for me to begin to be bored with idleness and inactivity；
when that call for which I had been waiting came at last。
One day a 〃smous〃； that is a low kind of white man； often a Jew； who
travels about trading with unsophisticated Boers and Kaffirs； and
cheating them if he can； called at the station with his cartful of
goods。 I was about to send him away； having no liking for such gentry；
when he asked me if I were named Allan Quatermain。 I said 〃Yes；〃
whereon he replied that he had a letter for me； and produced a packet
wrapped up in sail…cloth。 I asked him whence he had it； and he answered
from a man whom he had met at Port Elizabeth； an east coast trader； who；
hearing that he was coming into the Cradock district； entrusted him with
the letter。 The man told him that it was very important； and that I
should reward the bearer well if it were delivered safely。
While the Jew talked （I think he was a Jew） I was opening the
sail…cloth。 Within was a piece of linen which had been oiled to keep
out water； addressed in some red pigment to myself or my father。 This；
too； I opened； not without difficulty； for it was carefully sewn up； and
found within it a letter…packet； also addressed to myself or my father；
in the handwriting of Marie。
Great Heaven！ How my heart jumped at that sight！ Calling to Hans to
make the smous comfortable and give him food； I went into my own room；
and there read the letter； which ran thus：
〃MY DEAR ALLAN；I do not know whether the other letters I have written
to you have ever come to your hands； or indeed if this one will。 Still；
I send it on chance by a wandering Portuguese half…breed who is going to
Delagoa Bay； about fifty miles； I believe； from the place where I now
write； near the Crocodile River。 My father has named it Maraisfontein；
after our old home。 If those letters reached you； you will have learned
of the terrible things we went through on our journey； the attacks by
the Kaffirs in the Zoutpansberg region； who destroyed one of our parties
altogether； and so forth。 If not； all that story must wait； for it is
too long to tell now； and； indeed； I have but little paper； and not much
pencil。 It will be enough to say； therefore； that to the number of
thirty…five white people； men； women and children； we trekked at the
beginning of the summer season； when the grass was commencing to grow；
from the Lydenburg districtan awful journey over mountains and through
flooded rivers。 After many delays； some of them months long； we reached
this place； about eight weeks ago； for I write to you at the beginning
of June； if we have kept correct account of the time； of which I am not
certain。
〃It is a beautiful place to look at； a flat country of rich veld； with
big trees growing on it； and about two miles from the great river that
is called the Crocodile。 Here； finding good water； my father and Hernan
Pereira； who now rules him in all things； determined to settle； although
some of the others wished to push on nearer to Delagoa Bay。 There was a
great quarrel about it； but in the end my father； or rather Hernan； had
his will； as the oxen were worn out and many had already died from the
bites of a poisonous fly which is called the tsetse。 So we lotted out
the land； of which there is enough for hundreds； and began to build rude
houses。
〃Then trouble came upon us。 The Kaffirs stole most of our horses；
although they have not dared to attack us； and except two belonging to
Hernan； the rest died of the sickness； the last of them but yesterday。
The oxen； too； have all died of the tsetse bites or other illnesses。
But the worst is that although this country looks so healthy； it is
poisoned with fever； which comes up； I think； in the mists from the
river。 Already out of the thirty…five of us； ten are dead； two men；
three women； and five children； while more are sick。 As yet my father
and I and my cousin Pereira have； by God's mercy； kept quite well； but
although we are all very strong； how long this will continue I cannot
tell。 Fortunately we have plenty of ammunition and the place is thick
with game； so that those of the men who remain strong can kill all the
food we want； even shooting on foot； and we women have made a great
quantity of biltong by salting flesh and drying it in the sun。 So we