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Now I was hammering upon the back door of the house； which I could not
open。 After a pause that seemed long； a window was thrown wide； and a
voiceit was Marie'sasked in frightened tones who was there。
〃I； Allan Quatermain；〃 I answered。 〃Open at once； Marie。 You are in
great danger； the Red Kaffirs are going to attack the house。〃
She flew to the door in her nightdress； and at length I was in the
place。
〃Thank God！ you are still safe；〃 I gasped。 〃Put on your clothes while I
call Leblanc。 No； stay； do you call him； I must wait here for Hans and
your slaves。〃
Away she sped without a word； and presently Hans arrived； bringing with
him eight frightened men； who as yet scarcely knew whether they slept or
woke。
〃Is that all？〃 I asked。 〃Then bar the door and follow me to the
'sitkammer'； where the baas keeps his guns。〃
Just as we reached it； Leblanc entered； clad in his shirt and trousers；
and was followed presently by Marie with a candle。
〃What is it？〃 he asked。
I took the candle from Marie's hand； and set it on the floor close to
the wall； lest it should prove a target for an assegai or a bullet。
Even in those days the Kaffirs had a few firearms； for the most part
captured or stolen from white men。 Then in a few words I told them all。
〃And when did you learn all this？〃 asked Leblanc in French。
〃At the Mission Station a little more than half an hour ago；〃 I
answered； looking at my watch。
〃At the station a little more than half an hour ago！ Peste！ it is not
possible。 You dream or are drunken；〃 he cried excitedly。
〃All right； monsieur； we will argue afterwards；〃 I answered。 〃Meanwhile
the Kaffirs are here； for I rode through them； and if you want to save
your life； stop talking and act。 Marie； how many guns are there？〃
〃Four；〃 she answered； 〃of my father's； two 'roers' and two smaller
ones。〃
〃And how many of these men〃and I pointed to the Kaffirs〃can shoot？〃
〃Three well and one badly； Allan。〃
〃Good；〃 I said。 〃Let them load the guns with 'loopers'〃that is；
slugs； not bullets〃and let the rest stand in the passage with their
assegais； in case the Quabies should try to force the back door。〃
Now； in this house there were in all but six windows； one to each
sitting…room； one to each of the larger bedrooms； these four opening on
to the veranda； and one at either end of the house； to give light and
air to the two small bedrooms； which were approached through the larger
bedrooms。 At the back； fortunately； there were no windows； for the
stead was but one room deep with passage running from the front to the
back door； a distance of little over fifteen feet。
As soon as the guns were loaded I divided up the men； a man with a gun
at each window。 The right…hand sitting…room window I took myself with
two guns； Marie coming with me to load； which； like all girls in that
wild country； she could do well enough。 So we arranged ourselves in a
rough…and…ready fashion； and while we were doing it felt quite
cheerfulthat is； all except Monsieur Leblanc； who； I noticed； seemed
very much disturbed。
I do not for one moment mean to suggest that he was afraid； as he might
well have been； for he was an extremely brave and even rash man； but I
think the knowledge that his drunken act had brought this terrible
danger upon us all weighed on his mind。 Also there may have been more；
some subtle fore…knowledge of the approaching end to a life that； when
all allowances were made； could scarcely be called well spent。 At any
rate he fidgeted at his window…place cursing beneath his breath； and
soon； as I saw out of the corner of my eye； began to have recourse to
his favourite bottle of peach brandy； which he fetched out of a
cupboard。
The slaves； too； were gloomy； as all natives are when suddenly awakened
in the night； but as the light grew they became more cheerful。 It is a
poor Kaffir that does not love fighting； especially when he has a gun
and a white man or two to lead him。
Now that we had made such little preparations as we could； which； by the
way； I supplemented by causing some furniture to be piled up against the
front and back doors； there came a pause； which； speaking for my own
partbeing； after all； only a lad at the timeI found very trying to
the nerves。 There I stood at my window with the two guns； one a
double…barrel and one a single 〃roer〃； or elephant gun； that took a
tremendous charge； but both； be it remembered； flint locks； for；
although percussion caps had been introduced； we were a little behind
the times in Cradock。 There； too； crouched on the ground beside me；
holding the ammunition ready for re…loading； her long； black hair
flowing about her shoulders； was Marie Marais； now a well…grown young
woman。 In the intense silence she whispered to me：
〃Why did you come here； Allan？ You were safe yonder； and now you will
probably be killed。〃
〃To try to save you；〃 I answered simply。 〃What would you have had me
do？〃
〃To try to save me？ Oh！ that is good of you； but you should have
thought of yourself。〃
〃Then I should still have thought of you； Marie。〃
〃Why； Allan？〃
〃Because you are myself and more than myself。 If anything happened to
you； what would my life be to me？〃
〃I don't quite understand； Allan；〃 she replied； staring down at the
floor。 〃Tell me； what do you mean？〃
〃Mean； you silly girl；〃 I said； 〃what can I mean； except that I love
you； which I thought you knew long ago。〃
〃Oh！〃 she said； 〃_now_ I understand。〃 Then she raised herself upon her
knees； and held up her face to me to kiss； adding； 〃There； that's my
answer； the first and perhaps the last。 Thank you； Allan dear； I am
glad to have heard that； for you see one or both of us may die soon。〃
As she spoke the words； an assegai flashed through the window…place；
passing just between our heads。 So we gave over love…making and turned
our attention to war。
Now the light was beginning to grow； flowing out of the pearly eastern
sky； but no attack had yet been delivered； although that one was
imminent that spear fixed in the plaster of the wall behind us showed
clearly。 Perhaps the Kaffirs had been frightened by the galloping of
horses through their line in the dark； not knowing how many of them
there might have been。 Or perhaps they were waiting to see better where
to deliver their onset。 These were the ideas that occurred to me； but
both were wrong。
They were staying their hands until the mist lifted a little from the
hollow below the stead where the cattle kraals were situated； for while
the fog remained they could not see to get the beasts out。 These they
wished to make sure of and drive away before the fight began； lest
during its progress something should happen to rob them of their booty。
Presently； from these kraals； where the Heer Marais's horned beasts and
sheep were penned at night； about one hundred and f