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care neither for God nor man！'then make no answer； but stoop and write
before him。〃 The stranger bent down and wrote with his finger in the white
ashes of the fire。 Peter Halket bent forward； and he saw the two words the
stranger had written。
The stranger said： 〃Say to him： 'Though you should seek to make that name
immortal in this land； and should write it in gold dust； and set it with
diamonds； and cement it with human blood； shed from the Zambezi to the sea；
yet。〃 The stranger passed his foot over the words； Peter Halket looked
down； and he saw only a bed of smooth white ashes where the name had been。
The stranger said： 〃And if he should curse yet further； and say； 'There is
not one man nor woman in South Africa I cannot buy with my money！ When I
have the Transvaal； I shall buy God Almighty Himself； if I care to！'
〃Then say to him this one thing only； 'Thy money perish with thee！' and
leave him。〃
There was a dead silence for a moment。 Then the stranger stretched forth
his hand。 'Yet in that leaving him； remember；It is not the act； but the
will； which marks the soul of the man。 He who has crushed a nation sins no
more than he who rejoices in the death throe of the meanest creature。 The
stagnant pool is not less poisonous drop for drop than the mighty swamp；
though its reach be smaller。 He who has desired to be and accomplish what
this man has been and accomplished； is as this man； though he have lacked
the power to perform。 Nay； remember this one thing more：Certain sons of
God are born on earth； named by men Children of Genius。 In early youth
each stands at the parting of the way and chooses； he bears his gift for
others or for himself。 But forget this never； whatever his choice may be；
that there is laid on him a burden that is laid not on othersall space is
open to him； and his choice is infiniteand if he falls beneath it； let
men weep rather than curse； for he was born a Son of God。〃
There was silence again。 Then Peter Halket clasped his arms about the
stranger's feet。 〃My master；〃 he cried； 〃I dare not take that message。 It
is not that men may say； 'Here is Trooper Peter Halket； whom we all know； a
man who kept women and shot niggers； turned prophet。' But it is； that it
is true。 Have I not wished〃 and Peter Halket would have poured out all
his soul； but the stranger prevented him。
〃Peter Simon Halket；〃 he said； 〃is it the trumpet which gives forth the
call to battle； whether it be battered tin or gilded silver； which boots？
Is it not the call？ What and if I should send my message by a woman or a
child： shall truth be less truth because the bearer is despised？ Is it
the mouth that speaks or the word that is spoken which is eternal？
Nevertheless； if you will have it so； go； and say； 'I； Peter Halket； sinner
among you all； who have desired women and gold； who have loved myself and
hated my fellow； I'〃 The stranger looked down at him； and placed his
hand gently on his head。 〃Peter Simon Halket；〃 he said； 〃a harder task I
give you than any which has been laid upon you。 In that small spot where
alone on earth your will rules； bring there into being the kingdom today。
Love your enemies； do good to them that hate you。 Walk ever forward；
looking not to the right hand or the left。 Heed not what men shall say of
you。 Succour the oppressed； deliver the captive。 If thine enemy hunger；
feed him； if he is athirst give him drink。〃
A curious warmth and gladness stole over Peter Halket as he knelt； it was
as； when a little child； his mother folded him to her： he saw nothing more
about him but a soft bright light。 Yet in it he heard a voice cry；
〃Because thou hast loved mercyand hated oppression〃
When Trooper Peter Halket raised himself； he saw the figure of the stranger
passing from him。 He cried； 〃My Master； let me go with you。〃 But the
figure did not turn。 And； as it passed into the darkness； it seemed to
Peter Halket that the form grew larger and larger： and as it descended the
further side of the kopje it seemed that for one instant he still saw the
head with a pale； white light upon it： then it vanished。
And Trooper Peter Halket sat alone upon the kopje。
Chapter II。
It was a hot day。 The sun poured down its rays over the scattered trees；
and stunted bush； and long grass； and over the dried up river beds。 Far in
the blue； so high the eye could scarcely mark them； vultures were flying
southward； where forty miles off kraals had been destroyed and two hundred
black carcasses were lying in the sun。
Under a group of tall straggling trees among the grass and low scrub； on
the banks of an almost dried up river bed； a small camp had been pitched。
The party had lost their mules； and pending their recovery had already been
there seven days。 The three cart loads of provisions they were conveying
to the large camp were drawn up under the trees and had a sail thrown
across them to form a shelter for some of the men； while on the other side
of the cleared and open space that formed the camp； a smaller sail was
thrown across two poles forming a rough tent； and away to the left； a
little cut off from the rest of the camp by some low bushes； was the bell…
shaped tent of the captain； under a tall tree。 Before the bell…shaped tent
stood a short stunted tree； its thick white stem gnarled and knotted； while
two stunted misshapen branches； like arms； stretched out on either side。
Before this tree； up and down； with his gun upon his arm； his head bent and
his eyes fixed on the ground； while the hot sun blazed on his shoulders；
walked a man。
Three or four fires were burning about the camp in different parts； three
cooking the mealies and rice which formed the diet of the men； their stock
of tinned meats having been exhausted； while the fourth； which was watched
by a native boy； contained the more appetising meal of the Captain。
Most of the men were out of camp； the coloured boys having gone to fetch
the mules； which had been discovered in the hills a few miles off； and were
expected to arrive in the evening； and the white men had gone out to see
what game they could bring down with their guns to flavour the mealie pots；
or to reconnoitre the country； though all native habitations had been
destroyed within a radius of thirty miles； and the land was as bare of
black men as a child's hand of hair； and even the beasts seemed to have
vanished。
In the shade of the tent； formed of the canvas across two posts； lay three
white men； whose work it was to watch the pots and guard the camp。 They
were all three Colonial Englishmen； and lay on the ground on their
stomachs； passing the time by carrying on a desultory conversation； or
taking a few whiffs； slowly； and with care； from their pipes； for tobacco
was precious in the camp。
Under some bushes a few yards off lay a huge trooper； whose nationality was
uncertain； but who was held to hail from some part of th