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〃Then go on your knees and thank Him yourself； Henri Marais；〃 screamed
the irrepressible Vrouw Prinsloo。 〃I give thanks for the safe return of
Allan here； though it is true they would be warmer if he had left this
stinkcat behind him。 Allemachte！ Henri Marais； why do you make so much
of this Portuguese fellow？ Has he bewitched you？ Or is it because he
is your sister's son； or because you want to force Marie there to marry
him？ Or is it； perhaps； that he knows of something bad in your past
life； and you have to bribe him to keep his mouth shut？〃
Now； whether this last unpleasant suggestion was a mere random arrow
drawn from Vrouw Prinsloo's well…stored quiver； or whether the vrouw had
got hold of the tail…end of some long…buried truth； I do not know。 Of
course； however； the latter explanation is possible。 Many men have done
things in their youth which they do not wish to see dug up in their age；
and Pereira may have learned a family secret of the kind from his
mother。
At any rate； the effect of the old lady's words upon Marais was quite
remarkable。 Suddenly he went into one of his violent and constitutional
rages。 He cursed Vrouw Prinsloo。 He cursed everybody else； assuring
them severally and collectively that Heaven would come even with them。
He said there was a plot against him and his nephew； and that I was at
the bottom of it； I who had made his daughter fond of my ugly little
face。 So furious were his words； whereof there were many more which I
have forgotten； that at length Marie began to cry and ran away。
Presently； too； the Boers strolled off； shrugging their shoulders； one
of them saying audibly that Marais had gone quite mad at last； as he
always thought he would。
Then Marais followed them； throwing up his arms and still cursing as he
went； and； slipping over the tail of the pack…ox； Pereira followed him。
So the Vrouw Prinsloo and I were left alone； for the coloured men had
departed； as they always do when white people begin to quarrel。
〃There； Allan； my boy；〃 said the vrouw in triumph； 〃I have found the
sore place on the mule's back； and didn't I make him squeal and kick；
although on most days of the week he seems to be such a good and quiet
muleat any rate； of late。〃
〃I dare say you did； vrouw；〃 I said wrathfully； 〃but I wish you would
leave Mynheer Marais's sore places alone； seeing that if the squeals are
for you； the kicks are for me。〃
〃What does that matter； Allan？〃 she asked。 〃He always was your enemy；
so that it is just as well you should see his heels when you are out of
reach of them。 My poor boy； I think you will have a bad time of it
between the stinkcat and the mule； although you have done so much for
both of them。 Well； there is one thingMarie has a true heart。 She
will never marry any man except yourself； Allaneven if you are not
here to marry；〃 she added by an afterthought。
The old lady paused a little； staring at the ground。 Then she looked up
and said：
〃Allan； my dear〃 （for she was really fond of me； and called me thus at
times）； 〃you didn't take the advice I gave you； namely； to look for
Pereira and not to find him。 Well； I will give you some more； which you
_will_ take if you are wise。〃
〃What is it？〃 I asked doubtfully； for； although she was upright enough
in her own way； the Vrouw Prinsloo could bring herself to look at things
in strange lights。 Like many other women； she judged of moral codes by
the impulses of her heart； and was quite prepared to stretch them to
suit circumstances or to gain an end which she considered good in
itself。
〃Just this； lad。 Do you make a two days' march with Marie into the
bush。 I want a little change； so I will come； too； and marry you there；
for I have got a prayer…book； and can spell out the service if we go
through it once or twice first。〃
Now； the vision of Marie and myself being married by the Vrouw Prinsloo
in the vast and untrodden veld； although attractive； was so absurd that
I laughed。
〃Why do you laugh； Allan？ Anyone can marry people if there is no one
else there； indeed； I believe that they can marry themselves。〃
〃I dare say；〃 I answered； not wishing to enter into a legal argument
with the vrouw。 〃But you see； Tante； I solemnly promised her father
that I would not marry her until she was of age； and if I broke my word
I should not be an honest man。〃
〃An honest man！〃 she exclaimed with the utmost contempt； 〃an honest man！
Well； are Marais and Hernan Pereira honest men？ Why do you not cut
your stick the same length as theirs； Allan Quatermain？ I tell you that
your verdomde honesty will be your ruin。 You remember my words later
on；〃 and she marched off in high dudgeon。
When she had gone I went to my wagons； where Hans was waiting for me
with a detailed and interminable report of everything that had happened
in my absence。 Glad was I to find that； except for the death of one
sickly ox； nothing had gone wrong。 When at length he had ended his long
story； I ate some food which Marie sent over for me ready cooked； for I
was too tired to join any of the Boers that night。 Just as I had
finished my meal and was thinking of turning in； Marie herself appeared
within the circle of the camp…fire's light。 I sprang up and ran to her；
saying that I had not expected to see her that evening； and did not like
to come to the house。
〃No；〃 she answered； drawing me back into the shadows； 〃I understand。 My
father seems very much upset； almost mad； indeed。 If the Vrouw
Prinsloo's tongue had been a snake's fang； it could not have stung him
worse。〃
〃And where is Pereira？〃 I asked。
〃Oh！ my cousin sleeps in the other room。 He is weak and worn out。 All
the same； Allan； he wanted to kiss me。 So I told him at once how
matters stood between you and me； and that we were to be married in six
months。〃
〃What did he say to that？〃 I asked。
〃He turned to my father and said： 'Is this true； my uncle？' And my
father answered： 'Yes； that is the best bargain I could make with the
Englishman； seeing that you were not here to make a better。'〃
〃And what happened then； Marie？〃
〃Oh； then Hernan thought a while。 At last he looked up and said： 'I
understand。 Things have gone badly。 I acted for the best； who went
away to try to find help for all of you。 I failed。 Meanwhile the
Englishman came and saved you。 Afterwards he saved me also。 Uncle； in
all this I see God's hand； had it not been for this Allan none of us
would be alive。 Yes； God used him that we might be kept alive。 Well；
he has promised that he will not marry Marie for six months。 And you
know； my uncle； that some of these English are great fools； they keep
their promises even to their own loss。 Now； in six months much may
happen； who knows what will happen？'〃
〃Were you present when you heard all this； Marie？〃 I asked。
〃No； Allan； I was the other side of the reed partition。 But at th