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painfully of vatdoek and was gritty with sand。 Indeed； when the vrouw's
back was turned I managed to throw the most of it to Hans behind me； who
swallowed it at a gulp as a dog does； since he did not wish to be caught
chewing it。
〃God in heaven！ how fast you eat； nephew；〃 said the vrouw； catching
sight of my empty tin。 Then； eyeing the voracious Hottentot
suspiciously； she added： 〃That yellow dog of yours hasn't stolen it； has
he？ If so； I'll teach him。〃
〃No； no； vrouw；〃 answered Hans in alarm。 〃No meat has passed my lips
this day； except what I licked out of the pan after breakfast。〃
〃Then； Allan； you will certainly have indigestion； which is just what I
wanted to avoid。 Have I not often told you that you should chew your
bit twenty times before you swallow； which I would do myself if I had
any back teeth left？ Here； drink this milk； it is only a little sour
and will settle your stomach；〃 and she produced a black bottle and
subjected it to the attentions of the vatdoek； growing quite angry when
I declined it and sent for water。
Next she insisted upon my getting into her own bed in the wagon to
sleep； forbidding me to smoke； which she said made the hand shake。
Thither； then； I went； after a brief conversation with Hans； whom I
directed to clean my rifle thoroughly。 For I wished to be alone and
knew that I had little chance of solitude outside of that somewhat fusty
couch。
To tell the truth； although I shut my eyes to deceive the vrouw； who
looked in occasionally to see how I was getting on； no sleep came to me
that afternoonat least； not for a long while。 How could I sleep in
that hot place when my heart was torn with doubt and terror？ Think of
it； reader； think of it！ An hour or two； and on my skill would hang the
lives of eight white peoplemen； women； and children； and the safety or
the utter shame of the woman whom I loved and who loved me。 No； she
should be spared the worst。 I would give her my pistol； and if there
were need she would know what to do。
The fearful responsibility was more than I could bear。 I fell into a
veritable agony； I trembled and even wept a little。 Then I thought of
my father and what he would do in such circumstances； and began to pray
as I had never prayed before。
I implored the Power above me to give me strength and wisdom； not to let
me fail in this hour of trouble； and thereby bring these poor people to
a bloody death。 I prayed till the perspiration streamed down my face；
then suddenly I fell into sleep or swoon。 I don't know how long I lay
thus； but I think it must have been the best part of an hour。 At last I
woke up all in an instant； and as I woke I distinctly heard a tiny
voice； unlike any other voice in the whole world； speak inside my head；
or so it seemed to me； saying：
_〃Go to the hill Hloma Amabutu； and watch how the vultures fly。 Do what
comes into your mind； and even if you seem to fail； fear nothing。〃_
I sat up on the old vrouw's bed； and felt that some mysterious change
had come over me。 I was no longer the same man。 My doubts and terrors
had gone； my hand was like a rock； my heart was light。 I knew that I
should kill those three vultures。 Of course the story seems absurd； and
easy to be explained by the state of my nerves under the strain which
was being put upon them； and for aught I know that may be its true
meaning。 Yet I am not ashamed to confess that I have always held； and
still hold； otherwise。 I believe that in my extremity some kindly Power
did speak to me in answer to my earnest prayers and to those of others；
giving me guidance and； what I needed still more； judgment and calmness。
At any rate； that this was my conviction at the moment may be seen from
the fact that I hastened to obey the teachings of that tiny； unnatural
voice。
Climbing out of the wagon； I went to Hans； who was seated near by in the
full glare of the hot sun； at which he seemed to stare with unblinking
eyes。
〃Where's the rifle； Hans？〃 I said。
〃Intombi is here； baas； where I have put her to keep her cool； so that
she may not go off before it is wanted；〃 and he pointed to a little
grave…like heap of gathered grass at his side。
The natives； I should explain； named this particular gun 〃Intombi〃；
which means a young girl； because it was so much slimmer and more
graceful than other guns。
〃Is it clean？〃 I asked。
〃Never was she cleaner since she was born out of the fire； baas。 Also；
the powder has been sifted and set to dry in the sun with the caps； and
the bullets have been trued to the barrel； so that there may be no
accidents when it comes to the shooting。 If you miss the aasvogels；
baas； it will not be the fault of Intombi or of the powder and the
bullets； it will be your own fault。〃
〃That's comforting；〃 I answered。 〃Well； come on； I want to go to the
Death…hill yonder。〃
〃Why； baas； before the time？〃 asked the Hottentot； shrinking back a
little。 〃It is no place to visit till one is obliged。 These Zulus say
that ghosts sit there even in the daylight； haunting the rocks where
they were made ghosts。〃
〃Vultures sit or fly there also； Hans； and I would see how they fly；
that I may know when and where to shoot at them。〃
〃That is right； baas；〃 said the clever Hottentot。 〃This is not like
firing at geese in the Groote Kloof。 The geese go straight； like an
assegai to its mark。 But the aasvogels wheel round and round； always on
the turn； it is easy to miss a bird that is turning； baas。〃
〃Very easy。 Come on。〃
Just as we were starting Vrouw Prinsloo appeared from behind the other
wagon； and with her Marie； who； I noticed； was very pale and whose
beautiful eyes were red； as though with weeping。
The vrouw asked me where we were going。 I told her。 After considering
a little； she said that was a good thought of mine； as it was always
well to study the ground before a battle。
I nodded； and led Marie aside behind some thorn trees that grew near。
〃Oh！ Allan； what will be the end of this？〃 she asked piteously。 High as
was her courage it seemed to fail her now。
〃A good end； dearest；〃 I answered。 〃We shall come out of this hole
safely； as we have of many others。〃
〃How do you know that； Allan； which is known to God alone？〃
〃Because God told me； Marie；〃 and I repeated to her the story of the
voice I had heard in my dream； which seemed to comfort her。
〃Yet； yet；〃 she exclaimed doubtfully； 〃it was but a dream； Allan； and
dreams are such uncertain things。 You may fail； after all。〃
〃Do I look like one who will fail； Marie？〃
She studied me from head to foot； then answered：
〃No； you do not； although you did when you came back from the king's
huts。 Now you are quite changed。 Still； Allan； you may fail； and
thenwhat？ Some of those dreadful Zulus have been here while you were
sleeping； bidding us all make ready to go to the Hill of Death。 They
say that