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cattle pull together in the yoke； instead of tying themselves into a
double knot and over…setting the wagon； when Hans； who was helping me；
suddenly called out：
〃Look！ baas； here comes one of my brothers；〃 or； in other words； a
Hottentot。
Following the line of his hand； I saw a thin and wretched creature； clad
only in some rags and the remains of a big hat with the crown out；
staggering towards us between the trees。
〃Why！〃 exclaimed Marie in a startled voice； for； as usual； she was at my
side； 〃it is Klaus； one of my cousin Hernan's after…riders。〃
〃So long as it is not your cousin Hernan himself； I do not care；〃 I
said。
Presently the poor； starved 〃Totty〃 arrived； and throwing himself down；
begged for food。 A cold shoulder of buck was given to him； which he
devoured； holding it in both hands and tearing off great lumps of flesh
with his teeth like a wild beast。
When at last he was satisfied； Marais； who had come up with the other
Boers； asked him whence he came and what was his news of his master。
〃Out of the bush；〃 he answered； 〃and my news of the baas is that he is
dead。 At least； I left him so ill that I suppose he must be dead by
now。〃
〃Why did you leave him if he was ill？〃 asked Marais。
〃Because he told me to； baas； that I might find help； for we were
starving； having fired our last bullet。〃
〃Is he alone； then？〃
〃Yes； yes； except for the wild beasts and the vultures。 A lion ate the
other man； his servant； a long while ago。〃
〃How far is he off？〃 asked Marais again。
〃Oh； baas； about five hours' journey on horseback on a good road。〃 （This
would be some thirty…five miles。）
Then he told this story： Pereira with his two Hottentot servants； he
mounted and they on foot； had traversed about a hundred miles of rough
country in safety； when at night a lion killed and carried off one of
the Hottentots； and frightened away the horse； which was never seen
again。 Pereira and Klaus proceeded on foot till they came to a great
river； on the banks of which they met some Kaffirs； who appear to have
been Zulus on outpost duty。 These men demanded their guns and
ammunition to take to their king； and； on Pereira refusing to give them
up； said that they would kill them both in the morning after they had
made him instruct them in the use of the guns by beating him with
sticks。
In the night a storm came on； under cover of which Pereira and Klaus
escaped。 As they dared not go forward for fear lest they should fall
into the hands of the Zulus； they fled back northwards； running all
night； only to find in the morning that they had lost their way in the
bush。 This had happened nearly a month beforeor； at any rate； Klaus
thought so； for no doubt the days went very slowlyduring which time
they had wandered about； trying to shape some sort of course by the sun
with the object of returning to the camp。 They met no man； black or
white； and supported themselves upon game； which they shot and ate raw
or sun…dried； till at length all their powder was done and they threw
away their heavy roers； which they could no longer carry。
It was at this juncture that from the top of a tall tree Klaus saw a
certain koppie a long way off； which he recognised as being within
fifteen miles or so of Marais's camp。 By now they were starving； only
Klaus was the stronger of the two； for he found and devoured some
carrion； a dead hyena I think it was。 Pereira also tried to eat this
horrible food； but； not having the stomach of a Hottentot； the first
mouthful of it made him dreadfully ill。 They sought shelter in a cave
on the bank of a stream； where grew water…cresses and other herbs； such
as wild asparagus。 Here it was that Pereira told Klaus to try to make
his way back to the camp； and； should he find anyone alive there； to
bring him succour。
So Klaus went； taking the remaining leg of the hyena with him； and on
the afternoon of the second day arrived as has been told。
CHAPTER X
VROUW PRINSLOO SPEAKS HER MIND
Now； when the Hottentot's story was finished a discussion arose。 Marais
said that someone must go to see whether his nephew still lived； to
which the other Boers replied 〃Ja〃 in an indifferent voice。 Then the
Vrouw Prinsloo took up her parable。
She remarked； as she had done before； that in her judgment Hernan
Pereira was 〃a stinkcat and a sneak；〃 who had tried to desert them in
their trouble； and by the judgment of a just God had got into trouble
himself。 Personally； she wished that the lion had taken him instead of
the worthy Hottentot； although it gave her a higher opinion of lions to
conclude that it had not done so； because if it did it thought it would
have been poisoned。 Well； her view was that it would be just as well to
let that traitor lie upon the bed which he had made。 Moreover；
doubtless by now he was dead； so what was the good of bothering about
him？
These sentiments appeared to appeal to the Boers； for they remarked：
〃Ja； what is the good？〃
〃Is it right；〃 asked Marais； 〃to abandon a comrade in misfortune； one of
our own blood？〃
〃Mein Gott！〃 replied Vrouw Prinsloo； 〃he is no blood of mine； the
evil…odoured Portuguee。 But I admit he is of yours； Heer Marais； being
your sister's son； so it is evident that you should be the one to go to
seek after him。〃
〃That seems to be so； Vrouw Prinsloo；〃 said Marais in his meditative
manner； 〃yet I must remember that I have Marie to look after。〃
〃Ach！ and so had he； too； until he remembered his own skin； and went off
with the only horse and all the powder； leaving her and the rest of us
to starve。 Well； you won't go； and Prinsloo won't go； nor my boy
either； for I'll see to that； so Meyer must go。〃
〃Nein； nein； good vrouw；〃 answered Meyer； 〃I have those children that
are left to me to consider。〃
〃Then；〃 exclaimed Vrouw Prinsloo triumphantly； 〃nobody will go； so let
us forget this stinkcat； as he forgot us。〃
〃Does it seem right；〃 asked Marais again； 〃that a Christian man should
be left to starve in the wilderness？〃 and he looked at me。
〃Tell me； Heer Marais；〃 I remarked； answering the look； 〃why should I of
all people go to look for the Heer Pereira； one who has not dealt too
well with me？〃
〃I do not know； Allan。 Yet the Book tells us to turn the other cheek
and to forget injuries。 Still； it is for you to judge； remembering that
we must answer for all things at the last day； and not for me。 I only
know that were I your age and not burdened with a daughter to watch
over； _I_ should go。〃
〃Why should you talk to me thus？〃 I asked with indignation。 〃Why do you
not go yourself； seeing that I am quite ready to look after Marie？〃
（Here the Vrouw Prinsloo and the other Boers tittered。） 〃And why do you
not address your remarks to these other heeren instead of to me； seeing
that they are the friends and trek…companions of yo