按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
only sister's only child； and you will understand that I cannot break
that promise； although Hernan has disappointed me in many waysyes； in
many ways。 But if he is bad； as they say； it comes with that Portuguese
blood； which is a misfortune that he cannot help； does it not？ However
bad he may be； as an honest man I am bound to keep my promise； am I not？
Also； Allan； you must remember that you are English； and although you
may be a good fellow in yourself； that is a fault which you cannot
expect me to forgive。 Still； if it is fated that you should marry my
daughter and breed English childrenHeaven above！ to think of it；
English children！well； there is nothing more to be said。 Don't
remember the words I spoke to Marie。 Indeed； I can't remember them
myself。 When I grow angry； a kind of rush of blood comes into my brain；
and then I forget what I have said；〃 and he stretched out his hand to
me。
I shook it and answered that I understood he was not himself when he
spoke those dreadful words； which both Marie and I wished to forget。
〃I hope you will come to our wedding to…morrow；〃 I added； 〃and wipe them
out with a father's blessing。〃
〃To…morrow！ Are you really going to be married to…morrow？〃 he
exclaimed； his sallow face twitching nervously。 〃O God； it was another
man that I dreamed to see standing by Marie's side。 But he is not here；
he has disgraced and deserted me。 Well； I will come； if my gaolers will
suffer it。 Good…bye； you happy bridegroom of to…morrow； good…bye。〃
Then he swung round and departed； followed by the guards； one of whom
touched his brow and shook his head significantly as he passed me。
I think that Sunday seemed the longest day I ever spent。 The Vrouw
Prinsloo would scarcely allow me even a glimpse of Marie； because of
some fad she had got into her mind that it was either not proper or not
fortunate； I forget which； that a bride and bridegroom should associate
on the eve of their marriage。 So I occupied myself as best I could。
First I wrote a long letter to my father； the third that I had sent；
telling him everything that was going to happen； and saying how grieved
I was that he could not be present to marry us and give us his blessing。
This letter I gave to a trader who was trekking to the bay on the
following morning； begging him to forward it by the first opportunity。
That duty done； I saw about the horses which I was taking into Zululand；
three of them； two for myself and one for Hans； who accompanied me as
after…rider。 Also the saddlery； saddle…bags； guns and ammunition must
be overhauled； all of which took some time。
〃You are going to spend a strange wittebroodsweek ＇white…bread…week； or；
in other words； honeymoon＇； baas；〃 said Hans； squinting at me with his
little eyes； as he brayed away at a buckskin which was to serve as a
saddle…cloth。 〃Now； if _I_ was to be married to…morrow； I should stop
with my pretty for a few days； and only ride off somewhere else when I
was tired of her； especially if that somewhere else chanced to be
Zululand； where they are so fond of killing people。〃
〃I dare say you would； Hans； and so would I； if I could； you be sure。
But； you see； the commandant wants me to interpret； and therefore it is
my duty to go with him。〃
〃Duty； what is duty； baas？ Love I understand。 It is for love of you
that I go with you； also for fear lest you should cause me to be beaten
if I refused。 Otherwise I would certainly stop here in the camp； where
there is plenty to eat and little work to do； as； were I you； I should
do also for love of that white missie。 But dutypah！ that is a
fool…word； which makes bones of a man before his time and leaves his
girl to others。〃
〃Of course； you do not understand； Hans； any more than you coloured
people understand what gratitude is。 But what do you mean about this
trek of ours？ Are you afraid？〃
He shrugged his shoulders。 〃A little； perhaps； baas。 At least； I
should be if I thought about the morrow； which I don't； since to…day is
enough for me； and thinking about what one can't know makes the head
ache。 Dingaan is not a nice man； baas； we saw that； didn't we？ He is a
hunter who knows how to set a trap。 Also he has the Baas Pereira up
there to help him。 So perhaps you might be more comfortable here
kissing Missie Marie。 Why do you not say that you have hurt your leg
and cannot run？ It would not be much trouble to walk about on a crutch
for a day or two； and when the commandant was well gone； your leg might
heal and you could throw the stick away。〃
〃Get thee behind me； Satan；〃 I muttered to myself； and was about to give
Hans a piece of my mind when I recollected that the poor fellow had his
own way of looking at things and could not be blamed。 Also； as he said；
he loved me； and only suggested what he thought would tend to my joy and
safety。 How could I suppose that he would be interested in the success
of a diplomatic mission to Dingaan； or think anything about it except
that it was a risky business？ So I only said：
〃Hans； if you are afraid； you had better stop behind。 I can easily find
another after…rider。〃
〃Is the baas angry with me that he should speak so？〃 asked the
Hottentot。 〃Have I not always been true to him； and if I should be
killed； what does it matter？ Have I not said that I do not think about
to…morrow； and we must all go to sleep sometime？ No； unless the baas
beats me back； I shall come with him。 But； baas〃this in a wheedling
tone〃you might give me some brandy to drink your health in to…night。
It is very good to get drunk when one has to be sober； and perhaps dead；
for a long time afterwards。 It would be nice to remember when one is a
spook； or an angel with white wings； such as the old baas； your father；
used to tell us about in school on the Sabbath。〃
At this point； finding Hans hopeless； I got up and walked away； leaving
him to finish our preparations。
That evening there was a prayer…meeting in the camp； for although no
pastor was present； one of the Boer elders took his place and offered up
supplications which； if simple and even absurd in their wording； at
least were hearty enough。 Amongst other requests； I remember that he
petitioned for the safety of those who were to go on the mission to
Dingaan and of those who were to remain behind。 Alas！ those prayers
were not heard； for it pleased the Power to Whom they were addressed to
decree otherwise。
After this meeting； in which I took an earnest share； Retief who just
before it began had ridden in from Doornkop； whither he had been to
visit his wife； held a kind of council； whereat the names of those who
had volunteered or been ordered to accompany him； were finally taken
down。 At this council there was a good deal of discussion； since many
of the Boers did not think the expedition wiseat any rate； if it was
to be carried out on so large a scale。 One of them； I forget which； an
old man；