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Marie
by H。 Rider Haggard
AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF THE LATE ALLAN QUATERMAIN
DEDICATION
Ditchingham； 1912。
My dear Sir Henry；
Nearly thirty…seven years have gone by； more than a generation； since
first we saw the shores of Southern Africa rising from the sea。 Since
then how much has happened： the Annexation of the Transvaal； the Zulu
War； the first Boer War； the discovery of the Rand； the taking of
Rhodesia； the second Boer War； and many other matters which in these
quick…moving times are now reckoned as ancient history。
Alas！ I fear that were we to re…visit that country we should find but
few faces which we knew。 Yet of one thing we may be glad。 Those
historical events； in some of which you； as the ruler of Natal； played a
great part； and I； as it chanced； a smaller one； so far as we can
foresee； have at length brought a period of peace to Southern Africa。
To…day the flag of England flies from the Zambesi to the Cape。 Beneath
its shadow may all ancient feuds and blood jealousies be forgotten。 May
the natives prosper also and be justly ruled； for after all in the
beginning the land was theirs。 Such； I know； are your hopes； as they
are mine。
It is； however； with an earlier Africa that this story deals。 In 1836；
hate and suspicion ran high between the Home Government and its Dutch
subjects。 Owing to the freeing of the slaves and mutual
misunderstandings； the Cape Colony was then in tumult； almost in
rebellion； and the Boers； by thousands； sought new homes in the unknown；
savage…peopled North。 Of this blood…stained time I have tried to tell；
of the Great Trek and its tragedies； such as the massacre of the
true…hearted Retief and his companions at the hands of the Zulu king；
Dingaan。
But you have read the tale and know its substance。 What； then； remains
for me to say？ Only that in memory of long…past days I dedicate it to
you whose image ever springs to mind when I strive to picture an English
gentleman as he should be。 Your kindness I never shall forget； in
memory of it； I offer you this book。
Ever sincerely yours；
H。 RIDER HAGGARD。
To Sir Henry Bulwer； G。C。M。G。
PREFACE
The Author hopes that the reader may find some historical interest in
the tale set out in these pages of the massacre of the Boer general；
Retief； and his companions at the hands of the Zulu king； Dingaan。 Save
for some added circumstances； he believes it to be accurate in its
details。
The same may be said of the account given of the hideous sufferings of
the trek…Boers who wandered into the fever veld； there to perish in the
neighbourhood of Delagoa Bay。 Of these sufferings； especially those
that were endured by Triechard and his companions； a few brief
contemporary records still exist； buried in scarce works of reference。
It may be mentioned； also； that it was a common belief among the Boers
of that generation that the cruel death of Retief and his companions；
and other misfortunes which befell them； were due to the treacherous
plottings of an Englishman； or of Englishmen； with the despot； Dingaan。
EDITOR'S NOTE
The following extract explains how the manuscript of 〃Marie；〃 and with
it some others； one of which is named 〃Child of Storm；〃 came into the
hands of the Editor。
It is from a letter； dated January 17th； 1909； and written by Mr。 George
Curtis； the brother of Sir Henry Curtis； Bart。； who； it will be
remembered； was one of the late Mr。 Allan Quatermain's friends and
companions in adventure when he discovered King Solomon's Mines； and who
afterwards disappeared with him in Central Africa。
This extract runs as follows：
〃You may recall that our mutual and dear friend； old Allan Quatermain；
left me the sole executor of his will； which he signed before he set out
with my brother Henry for Zuvendis； where he was killed。 The Court；
however； not being satisfied that there was any legal proof of his
death； invested the capital funds in trustee securities； and by my
advice let his place in Yorkshire to a tenant who has remained in
occupation of it during the last two decades。 Now that tenant is dead；
and at the earnest prayer of the Charities which benefit under
Quatermain's will； and of myselffor in my uncertain state of health I
have for long been most anxious to wind up this executorshipabout
eight months ago the Court at last consented to the distribution of this
large fund in accordance with the terms of the will。
〃This； of course； involved the sale of the real property； and before it
was put up to auction I went over the house in company of the solicitor
appointed by the Court。 On the top landing； in the room Quatermain used
to occupy； we found a sealed cupboard that I opened。 It proved to be
full of various articles which evidently he had prized because of their
associations with his earthy life。 These I need not enumerate here；
especially as I have reserved them as his residuary legatee and； in the
event of my death； they will pass to you under my will。
〃Among these relics； however； I found a stout box； made of some red
foreign wood； that contained various documents and letters and a bundle
of manuscripts。 Under the tape which fastened these manuscripts
together； as you will see； is a scrap of paper on which is written； in
blue pencil； a direction signed 'Allan Quatermain；' that in the event of
anything happening to him； these MSS。 are to be sent to you （for whom；
as you know； he had a high regard）； and that at your sole discretion you
are to burn or publish them as you may see fit。
〃So； after all these years； as we both remain alive； I carry out our old
friend's instructions and send you his bequest； which I trust may prove
of interest and value。 I have read the MS。 called 'Marie；' and
certainly am of the opinion that it ought to be published； for I think
it a strange and moving tale of a great lovefull； moreover； of
forgotten history。
〃That named 'Child of Storm' also seems very interesting as a study of
savage life； and the others may be the same； but my eyes are troubling
me so much that I have not been able to decipher them。 I hope； however；
that I may be spared long enough to see them in print。
〃Poor old Allan Quatermain。 It is as though he had suddenly reappeared
from the dead！ So at least I thought as I perused these stories of a
period of his life of which I do not remember his speaking to me。
〃And now my responsibility in this matter is finished and yours begins。
Do what you like about the manuscripts。〃
〃George Curtis。〃
As may be imagined； I； the Editor； was considerably astonished when I
received this letter and the accompanying bundle of closely…written MSS。
To me also it was as though my old friend had risen from the grave and
once more stood before me； telling some history of his stormy and tragic
past in that quiet； measured voice that I have never been able to
forget。
The first manuscript I read was that entitled 〃Marie。〃 It deals with
Mr。 Quatermain's strange experiences when as a very young man he
accompanied the ill…fated Pieter Retief and the Boer Commission on an
embassy to the Zulu despot； Dingaan。 This； it will be remembered； ended
in their massacre； Quatermain himself and his Hottentot servant Hans
being the sole survivors of the slaughter。 Also it deals with another
matter more personal to himself； namely； his courtship of and marriage
to his first wife； Marie Marais。
Of this Marie I never heard him speak； save once。 I remember that on a
certain occasionit was that of a garden fete for a local charityI
was standing by Quatermain when someone introduced to him a young girl
who was staying in the neighborhood and had distinguished herself by
singing very prettily at the fete。 Her surname I forget； but her
Christian name was Marie。 He started when he heard it； and asked if she
were French。 The young lady answered No； but only of French extraction
through her grandmother； who also was called Marie。
〃Indeed？〃 he said。 〃Once I knew a maiden not unlike you who was also of
French extraction and called Marie。 May you prove more fortunate in
life than she was； though better or nobler you can never be；〃 and he
bowed to her in his simple； courtly fashion； then turned away。
Afterwards； when we were alone； I asked him who was this Marie of whom
he had spoken to the young lady。 He paused a little； then answered：
〃She was my first wife； but I beg you not to speak of her to me or to
anyone else； for I cannot bear to hear her name。 Perhaps you will learn
all about her one day。〃 Then； to my grief and astonishment； he broke
into something like a sob and abruptly left the room。
After reading the record of this Marie I can well understand why he was
so moved。 I print it practically as it left his hands。