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this and sundry other matters。 When absolutely drunk； which； on an
average； was not more than once a month； he simply slept； and we did
what we pleaseda fact which our childish code of honour also prevented
us from betraying。
But； on the whole； we got on very well together； for； after the incident
of our first meeting； Monsieur Leblanc was always polite to me。 Marie
he adored； as did every one about the place； from her father down to the
meanest slave。 Need I add that I adored her more than all of them put
together； first with the love that some children have for each other；
and afterwards； as we became adult； with that wider love by which it is
at once transcended and made complete。 Strange would it have been if
this were not so； seeing that we spent nearly half of every week
practically alone together； and that； from the first； Marie； whose
nature was as open as the clear noon； never concealed her affection for
me。 True； it was a very discreet affection； almost sisterly； or even
motherly； in its outward and visible aspects； as though she could never
forget that extra half…inch of height or month or two of age。
Moreover； from a child she was a woman； as an Irishman might say； for
circumstances and character had shaped her thus。 Not much more than a
year before we met； her mother； whose only child she was； and whom she
loved with all her strong and passionate heart； died after a lingering
illness； leaving her in charge of her father and his house。 I think it
was this heavy bereavement in early youth which coloured her nature with
a grey tinge of sadness and made her seem so much older than her years。
So the time went on； I worshipping Marie in my secret thought； but
saying nothing about it； and Marie talking of and acting towards me as
though I were her dear younger brother。 Nobody； not even her father or
mine； or Monsieur Leblanc； took the slightest notice of this queer
relationship； or seemed to dream that it might lead to ultimate
complications which； in fact； would have been very distasteful to them
all for reasons that I will explain。
Needless to say； in due course； as they were bound to do； those
complications arose； and under pressure of great physical and moral
excitement the truth came out。 It happened thus。
Every reader of the history of the Cape Colony has heard of the great
Kaffir War of 1835。 That war took place for the most part in the
districts of Albany and Somerset； so that we inhabitants of Cradock； on
the whole； suffered little。 Therefore； with the natural optimism and
carelessness of danger of dwellers in wild places； we began to think
ourselves fairly safe from attack。 Indeed； so we should have been； had
it not been for a foolish action on the part of Monsieur Leblanc。
It seems that on a certain Sunday； a day that I always spent at home
with my father； Monsieur Leblanc rode out alone to some hills about five
miles distant from Maraisfontein。 He had often been cautioned that this
was an unsafe thing to do； but the truth is that the foolish man thought
he had found a rich copper mine in these hills； and was anxious that no
one should share his secret。 Therefore； on Sundays； when there were no
lessons； and the Heer Marais was in the habit of celebrating family
prayers； which Leblanc disliked； it was customary for him to ride to
these hills and there collect geological specimens and locate the strike
of his copper vein。 On this particular Sabbath； which was very hot；
after he had done whatever he intended to do； he dismounted from his
horse； a tame old beast。 Leaving it loose； he partook of the meal he
had brought with him； which seems to have included a bottle of peach
brandy that induced slumber。
Waking up towards evening； he found that his horse had gone； and at once
jumped to the conclusion that it had been stolen by Kaffirs； although in
truth the animal had but strolled over a ridge in search of grass。
Running hither and thither to seek it； he presently crossed this ridge
and met the horse； apparently being led away by two of the Red Kaffirs；
who； as was usual； were armed with assegais。 As a matter of fact these
men had found the beast； and； knowing well to whom it belonged； were
seeking its owner； whom； earlier in the day； they had seen upon the
hills； in order to restore it to him。 This； however； never occurred to
the mind of Monsieur Leblanc； excited as it was by the fumes of the
peach brandy。
Lifting the double…barrelled gun he carried； he fired at the first
Kaffir； a young man who chanced to be the eldest son and heir of the
chief of the tribe； and； as the range was very close； shot him dead。
Thereon his companion； leaving go of the horse； ran for his life。 At
him Leblanc fired also； wounding him slightly in the thigh； but no more；
so that he escaped to tell the tale of what he and every other native
for miles round considered a wanton and premeditated murder。 The deed
done； the fiery old Frenchman mounted his nag and rode quietly home。 On
the road； however； as the peach brandy evaporated from his brain； doubts
entered it； with the result that he determined to say nothing of his
adventure to Henri Marais； who he knew was particularly anxious to avoid
any cause of quarrel with the Kaffirs。
So he kept his own counsel and went to bed。 Before he was up next
morning the Heer Marais； suspecting neither trouble nor danger； had
ridden off to a farm thirty miles or more away to pay its owner for some
cattle which he had recently bought； leaving his home and his daughter
quite unprotected； except by Leblanc and the few native servants； who
were really slaves； that lived about the place。
Now on the Monday night I went to bed as usual； and slept； as I have
always done through life； like a top； till about four in the morning；
when I was awakened by someone tapping at the glass of my window。
Slipping from the bed； I felt for my pistol； as it was quite dark； crept
to the window； opened it； and keeping my head below the level of the
sill； fearing lest its appearance should be greeted with an assegai；
asked who was there。
〃Me； baas；〃 said the voice of Hans； our Hottentot servant； who； it will
be remembered； had accompanied me as after…rider when first I went to
Maraisfontein。 〃I have bad news。 Listen。 The baas knows that I have
been out searching for the red cow which was lost。 Well； I found her；
and was sleeping by her side under a tree on the veld when； about two
hours ago； a woman whom I know came up to my camp fire and woke me。 I
asked her what she was doing at that hour of the night； and she answered
that she had come to tell me something。 She said that some young men of
the tribe of the chief Quabie； who lives in the hills yonder； had been
visiting at their kraal； and that a few hours before a messenger had
arrived from the chief saying that they must return at once； as this
morning at dawn he and all his men were going to attack Marais