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to be carried out on so large a scale。 One of them； I forget which； an
old man； pointed out that it might look like a war party； and that it
would be wiser if only five or six went； as they had done before； since
then there could be no mistake as to the peaceful nature of their
intentions。
Retief himself combated this view； and at last turned suddenly to me；
who was listening near by； and said：
〃Allan Quatermain； you are young； but you have a good judgment； also；
you are one of the very few who know Dingaan and can speak his language。
Tell us now； what do you think？〃
Thus adjured； I answered； perhaps moved thereto more than I thought by
Hans's talk； that I； too； considered the thing dangerous； and that
someone whose life was less valuable than the commandant's should go in
command。
〃Why do you say so； nephew；〃 he said irritably； 〃seeing that all white
men's lives are of equal value； and I can smell no danger in the
business？〃
〃Because； commandant； I do smell danger； though what danger I cannot
say； any more than a dog or a buck can when it sniffs something in the
air and barks or runs。 Dingaan is a tamed tiger just now； but tigers
are not house cats that one can play with them； as I know； who have felt
his claws and just； only just； come out from between them。〃
〃What do you mean； nephew？〃 asked Retief in his direct fashion。 〃Do you
believe that this swartzel〃 （that is； black creature） 〃means to kill
us？〃
〃I believe that it is quite possible；〃 I answered。
〃Then； nephew； being a reasonable man as you are； you must have some
ground for your belief。 Come now； out with it。〃
〃I have none； commandant； except that one who can set the lives of a
dozen folk against a man's skill in shooting at birds on the wing； and
who can kill people to be a bait for those birds； is capable of
anything。 Moreover； he told me that he did not love you Boers； and why
should he？〃
Now； all those who were standing about seemed to be impressed with this
argument。 At any rate； they turned towards Retief； anxiously waiting
for his reply。
〃Doubtless；〃 answered the commandant； who； as I have said； was irritable
that night； 〃doubtless those English missionaries have poisoned the
king's mind against us Boers。 Also；〃 he added suspiciously； 〃I think
you told me； Allan； that the king said he liked you and meant to spare
you； even if he killed your companions； just because you also are
English。 Are you sure that you do not know more than you choose to tell
us？ Has Dingaan perhaps confided something to youjust because you are
English？〃
Then noting that these words moved the assembled Boers； in whom race
prejudice and recent events had created a deep distrust of any born of
British blood； I grew very angry and answered：
〃Commandant； Dingaan confided nothing to me； except that some Kaffir
witch…doctor； who is named Zikali； a man I never saw； had told him that
he must not kill an Englishman； and therefore he wished to spare me；
although one of your people； Hernan Pereira； had whispered to him that I
ought to be killed。 Yet I say outright that I think you are foolish to
visit this king with so large a force。 Still； I am ready to do so
myself with one or two others。 Let me go； then； and try to persuade him
to sign this treaty as to the land。 If I am killed or fail； you can
follow after me and do better。〃
〃Allemachte！〃 exclaimed Retief； 〃that is a fair offer。 But how do I
know； nephew； that when we came to read the treaty we should not find
that it granted all the land to you English and not to us Boers？ No；
no； don't look angry。 That was not a right thing to say； for you are
honest whatever most of your blood may be。 Nephew Allan； you who are a
brave man； are afraid of this journey。 Now； why is that； I wonder？ Ah！
I have it。 I had forgotten。 You are to be married to…morrow morning to
a very pretty girl； and it is not natural that you should wish to spend
the next fortnight in Zululand。 Don't you see； brothers； he wants to
get out of it because he is going to be married； as it is natural that
he should； and therefore he tries to frighten us all？ When we were
going to be married； should we have wished to ride away at once to visit
some stinking savage？ Ach！ I am glad I thought of that just as I was
beginning to turn his gloomy colour； like a chameleon on a black hat；
for it explains everything；〃 and he struck his thigh with his big hand
and burst into a roar of laughter。
All the company of Boers who stood around began to laugh also；
uproariously； for this primitive joke appealed to them。 Moreover； their
nerves were strained； they also dreaded this expedition； and therefore
they were glad to relieve themselves in bucolic merriment。 Everything
was clear to them now。 Feeling myself in honour bound to go on the
embassy； as I was their only interpreter； I； artful dog； was trying to
play upon their fears in order to prevent it from starting； so that I
might have a week or two of the company of my new…wed wife。 They saw
and appreciated the joke。
〃He's slim； this little Englishman；〃 shouted one。
〃Don't be angry with him。 We should have done as much ourselves；〃
replied another。
〃Leave him behind；〃 said a third。 〃Even the Zulus do not send a
new…married man on service。〃 Then they smacked me on the back； and
hustled me in their rude； kindly manner； till at length I fell into a
rage and hit one of them on the nose； at which he only laughed the
louder； although I made it bleed。
〃See here； friends；〃 I said； as soon as silence was restored； 〃married
or no； whoever does not ride to Dingaan； I ride to him； although it is
against my judgment。 Let those laugh loudest who laugh last。〃
〃Good！〃 cried one； 〃if you set the pace we shall soon be home again；
Allan Quatermain。 Who would not with Marie Marais at the end of the
journey？〃
Then； followed by their rough and mocking laughter； I broke away from
them； and took refuge in my wagon； little guessing that all this talk
would be brought up against me on a day to come。
In a certain class of uneducated mind foresight is often interpreted as
guilty knowledge。
CHAPTER XVII
THE MARRIAGE
I was awakened on my wedding morning by the crash and bellowing of a
great thunderstorm。 The lightning flashed fearfully all about us；
killing two oxen quite near to my wagon； and the thunder rolled and
echoed till the very earth seemed to shake。 Then came a wail of cold
wind； and after that the swish of torrential rain。 Although I was well
accustomed to such natural manifestations； especially at this season of
the year； I confess that these sights and sounds did not tend to raise
my spirits； which were already lower than they should have been on that
eventful day。 Hans； however； who arrived to help me put on my best
clothes for the ceremony； was for once consoling。
〃Don