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dear； it would be foolish for you to offend the Commandant Retief； who
will be the great man in this country； and who is very fond of you。
After all； Allan； we shall only be separated for a little while； and
when that is done we have the rest of our lives to spend together。 As
for me； do not be afraid； for you know I will never marry anyone but
youno； not to save myself from death。〃
So I left her somewhat comforted； knowing how sound was her judgment；
and went off to make my preparations for the expedition to Sikonyela's
country。
All this conversation with Retief I have set down in full； as nearly as
I can remember it； because of its fateful consequences。 Ah！ if I could
have foreseen； if only I could have foreseen！
CHAPTER XVI
THE COUNCIL
Two days later we started to recover Dingaan's cattle； sixty or seventy
of us； all well armed and mounted。 With us went two of Dingaan's
captains and a number of Zulus； perhaps a hundred； who were to drive the
cattle if we recovered them。 As I could speak their language I was more
or less in command of this Zulu contingent； and managed to make myself
very useful in that capacity。 Also； during the month or so of our
absence； by continually conversing with them； I perfected myself
considerably in my knowledge of their beautiful but difficult tongue。
Now it is not my intention to write down the details of this expedition；
during which there was no fighting and nothing serious happened。 We
arrived in due course at Sikonyela's and stated our errand。 When he saw
how numerous and well armed we were； and that behind us was all the
might of the Zulu army； that wily old rascal thought it well to
surrender the stolen cattle without further to…do； and with these some
horses which he had lifted from the Boers。 So； having received them； we
delivered them over to the Zulu captains； with instructions to drive
them carefully to Umgungundhlovu。 The commandant sent a message by
these men to the effect that； having fulfilled his part of the compact；
he would wait upon Dingaan as soon as possible in order to conclude the
treaty about the land。
This business finished； Retief took me and a number of the Boers to
visit other bodies of the emigrant Dutch who were beyond the
Drakensberg； in what is now the Transvaal territory。 This occupied a
long time； as these Boers were widely scattered； and at each camp we had
to stop for several days while Retief explained everything to its
leaders。 Also he arranged with them to come down into Natal； so as to
be ready to people it as soon as he received the formal cession of the
country from Dingaan。 Indeed； most of them began to trek at once；
although jealousies between the various commandants caused some of the
bands； luckily for themselves； to remain on the farther side of the
mountains。
At length； everything being settled； we rode away； and reached the
Bushman's River camp on a certain Saturday afternoon。 Here； to my joy；
we found all well。 Nothing had been heard of Hernan Pereira； while the
Zulus； if we might judge from messengers who came to us； seemed to be
friendly。 Marie； also； had now quite recovered from the fears and
hardships which she had undergone。 Never had I seen her look so sweet
and beautiful as she did when she greeted me； arrayed no longer in rags；
but in a simple yet charming dress made of some stuff that she had
managed to buy from a trader who came up to the camp from Durban。
Moreover； I think that there was another reason for the change； since
the light of dawning happiness shone in her deep eyes。
The day； as I have said； was Saturday； and on the Monday she would come
of age and be free to dispose of herself in marriage； for on that day
lapsed the promise which we had given to her father。 But； alas！ by a
cursed perversity of fate； on this very Monday at noon the Commandant
Retief had arranged to ride into Zululand on his second visit to
Dingaan； and with Retief I was in honour bound to go。
〃Marie；〃 I said； 〃will not your father soften towards us and let us be
married to…morrow； so that we may have a few hours together before we
part？〃
〃I do not know； my dear；〃 she answered； blushing； 〃since about this
matter he is very strange and obstinate。 Do you know that all the time
you were absent he never mentioned your name； and if anyone else spoke
it he would get up and go away！〃
〃That's bad；〃 I said。 〃Still； if you are willing； we might try。〃
〃Indeed and indeed； Allan； I am willing； who am sick of being so near to
you and yet so far。 But how shall we do so？〃
〃I think that we will ask the Commandant Retief and the Vrouw Prinsloo
to plead for us； Marie。 Let us go to seek them。〃
She nodded； and hand in hand we walked through the Boers； who nudged
each other and laughed at us as we passed to where the old vrouw was
seated on a stool by her wagon drinking coffee。 I remember that her
vatdoek was spread over her knees； for she also had a new dress； which
she was afraid of staining。
〃Well； my dears；〃 she said in her loud voice； 〃are you married already
that you hang so close together？〃
〃No； my aunt；〃 I answered； 〃but we want to be； and have come to you to
help us。〃
〃That I will do with all my heart； though to speak truth； young people；
at your age； as things are； I should have been inclined to help myself；
as I have told you before。 Heaven above us！ what is it that makes
marriage in the sight of God？ It is that male and female should declare
themselves man and wife before all folk； and live as such。 The pastor
and his mumblings are very well if you can get them； but it is the
giving of the hand； not the setting of the ring upon it； it is the
vowing of two true hearts； and not words read out of a book； that make
marriage。 Still； this is bold talk； for which any reverend predicant
would reprove me； for if young folk acted on it； although the tie might
hold good in law； what would become of his fee？ Come； let us seek the
commandant and hear what he has to say。 Allan； pull me up off this
stool； where； if I had my way； after so much travelling； I should like
to sit while a house was built over my head and for the rest of my
life。〃
I obeyed； not without difficulty； and we went to find Retief。
At the moment he was standing alone； watching two wagons that had just
trekked away。 These contained his wife with other members of his
family； and some friends whom he was sending； under the charge of the
Heer Smit； to a place called Doornkop； that lay at a distance of fifteen
miles or more。 At this Doornkop he had already caused a rough house； or
rather shed； to be built for the Vrouw Retief's occupation； thinking
that she would be more comfortable and perhaps safer there during his
absence than at the crowded camp in a wagon。
〃Allemachte！ Allan；〃 he said； catching sight of me； 〃my heart is sore； I
do not know why。 I t