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her cargo and wind and weather served。 Moreover； if she did leave； it
might be weeks or months before any other ship sailed for Delagoa Bay；
for in those days； of course； there were no mail boats。
I looked at my watch。 It was four o'clock in the afternoon； and from a
calendar we had； which gave the tides at Port Elizabeth and other South
African harbours； it did not seem probable that the Seven Stars would
sail； if she kept to her date； before about eight on the morrow。 One
hundred and twenty miles to be covered in； say； fourteen hours over
rough country with some hills！ Well； on the other hand； the roads were
fairly good and dry； with no flooded rivers to cross； although there
might be one to swim； and there was a full moon。 It could be
donebarely； and now I was glad indeed that Hernan Pereira had not won
my swift mare in that shooting match。
I called to Hans； who was loafing about outside； and said quietly：
〃I ride to Port Elizabeth； and must be there by eight o'clock to…morrow
morning。〃
〃Allemachte！〃 exclaimed Hans； who had been that road several times。
〃You will go with me； and from Port Elizabeth on to Delagoa Bay。 Saddle
the mare and the roan horse； and put a headstall on the chestnut to lead
with you as a spare。 Give them all a feed； but no water。 We start in
half an hour。〃 Then I added certain directions as to the guns we would
take； saddle…bags； clothes； blankets and other details； and bade him
start about the business。
Hans never hesitated。 He had been with me through my recent campaign；
and was accustomed to sudden orders。 Moreover； I think that if I had
told him I was riding to the moon； beyond his customary exclamation of
〃Allemachte！〃 he would have made no objection to accompanying me
thither。
The next half…hour was a busy time for me。 Henri Marais's money had to
be got out of the strong box and arranged in a belt of buck's hide that
I had strapped about me。 A letter had to be written by my father to the
manager of the Port Elizabeth bank； identifying me as the owner of the
sum lodged there in my name。 A meal must be eaten and some food
prepared for us to carry。 The horses' shoes had to be seen to； and a
few clothes packed in the saddle…bags。 Also there were other things
which I have forgotten。 Yet within five…and…thirty minutes the long；
lean mare stood before the door。 Behind her； with a tall crane's
feather in his hat； was Hans； mounted on the roan stallion； and leading
the chestnut； a four…year…old which I had bought as a foal on the mare
as part of the bargain。 Having been corn fed from a colt it was a very
sound and well…grown horse； though not the equal of its mother in speed。
In the passage my poor old father； who was quite bewildered by the
rapidity and urgent nature of this business； embraced me。
〃God bless you； my dear boy；〃 he said。 〃I have had little time to
think； but I pray that this may be all for the best； and that we may
meet again in the world。 But if not； remember what I have taught you；
and if I survive you； for my part I shall remember that you died trying
to do your duty。 Oh； what trouble has the blind madness of Henri Marais
brought upon us all！ Well； I warned him that it would be so。 Good…bye；
my dear boy； good…bye： my prayers will follow you； and for the rest
Well； I am old； and what does it matter if my grey hairs come with
sorrow to the grave？〃
I kissed him back； and with an aching heart sprang to the saddle。 In
five more minutes the station was out of sight。
Thirteen and a half hours later I pulled rein upon the quay of Port
Elizabeth just； only just； in time to catch Captain Richardson as he was
entering his boat to row out to the Seven Stars； on which the canvas was
already being hoisted。 As well as I could in my exhausted state； I
explained matters and persuaded him to wait till the next tide。 Then；
thanking God for the mare's speedthe roan had been left foundered
thirty miles away； and Hans was following on the chestnut； but not yet
upI dragged the poor beast to an inn at hand。 There she lay down and
died。 Well； she had done her work； and there was no other horse in the
country that could have caught that boat。
An hour or so later Hans came in flogging the chestnut； and here I may
add that both it and the roan recovered。 Indeed I rode them for many
years； until they were quite old。 When I had eaten； or tried to eat
something and rested awhile； I went to the bank； succeeded in explaining
the state of the case to the manager； and after some difficulty； for
gold was not very plentiful in Port Elizabeth； procured three hundred
pounds in sovereigns。 For the other two he gave me a bill upon some
agent in Delagoa Bay； together with a letter of recommendation to him
and the Portuguese governor； who； it appeared； was in debt to their
establishment。 By an afterthought； however； although I kept the
letters； I returned him the bill and spent the #200 in purchasing a
great variety of goods which I will not enumerate； that I knew would be
useful for trading purposes among the east coast Kaffirs。 Indeed； I
practically cleared out the Port Elizabeth stores； and barely had time；
with the help of Hans and the storekeepers； to pack and ship the goods
before the Seven Stars put out to sea。
Within twenty…four hours from the time I had left the Mission Station；
Hans and I saw behind us Port Elizabeth fading into the distance； and in
front a waste of stormy waters。
CHAPTER VIII
THE CAMP OF DEATH
Everything went well upon that voyage； except with me personally。 Not
having been on the ocean since I was a child； I； who am naturally no
good sailor； was extremely ill as day by day we ploughed through seas
that grew ever more rough。 Also； strong as I was； that fearful ride had
overdone me。 Added to these physical discomforts was my agonising
anxiety of mind； which I leave anyone with imagination to picture for
himself。 Really there were times when I wished that the Seven Stars
would plunge headlong to the bottom of the deep and put an end to me and
my miseries。
These； however； so far as the bodily side of them was concerned； were； I
think； surpassed by those of my henchman Hans； who； as a matter of fact；
had never before set foot in any kind of boat。 Perhaps this was
fortunate； since had he known the horrors of the ocean； much as he loved
me； he would； I am sure； by one means or another； have left me to voyage
in the Seven Stars alone。 There he lay upon the floor of my little
cabin； rolling to and fro with the violent motion of the brig； overcome
with terror。 He was convinced that we were going to be drowned； and in
the intervals of furious sea…sickness uttered piteous lamentations in
Dutch； English； and various native tongues； mingled with curses and
prayers of the most primitive and realistic order。
After the first twenty…four hours or so he inform