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I may mention that of the seven or eight men who slept in the
outbuildings and had fought with us； two were killed in the fight and
two wounded。 The remainder； one way or another； managed to escape
unhurt； so that in all this fearful struggle； in which we inflicted so
terrible a punishment upon the Kaffirs； we lost only three slain；
including the Frenchman； Leblanc。
As to the events of the next three days I know only what I have been
told； for practically during all that time I was off my head from loss
of blood； complicated with fever brought on by the fearful excitement
and exertion I had undergone。 All I can recall is a vision of Marie
bending over me and making me take food of some sortmilk or soup； I
supposefor it seems I would touch it from no other hand。 Also I had
visions of the tall shape of my white…haired father； who； like most
missionaries； understood something of surgery and medicine； attending to
the bandages on my thigh。 Afterwards he told me that the spear had
actually cut the walls of the big artery； but； by good fortune； without
going through them。 Another fortieth of an inch and I should have bled
to death in ten minutes！
On this third day my mind was brought back from its wanderings by the
sound of a great noise about the house； above which I heard the voice of
Marais storming and shouting； and that of my father trying to calm him。
Presently Marie entered the room； drawing…to behind her a Kaffir karoos；
which served as a curtain； for the door； it will be remembered； had been
torn out。 Seeing that I was awake and reasonable； she flew to my side
with a little cry of joy； and； kneeling down； kissed me on the forehead。
〃You have been very ill； Allan； but I know you will recover now。 While
we are alone； which；〃 she added slowly and with meaning； 〃I dare say we
shall not be much in future； I want to thank you from my heart for all
that you did to save me。 Had it not been for you； oh！ had it not been
for you〃and she glanced at the blood stains on the earthen floor； put
her hands before her eyes and shuddered。
〃Nonsense； Marie；〃 I answered； taking her hand feebly enough； for I was
very weak。 〃Anyone else would have done as much； even if they did not
love you as I do。 Let us thank God that it was not in vain。 But what
is all that noise？ Have the Quabies come back？〃
She shook her head。
〃No； the Boers have come back from hunting them。〃
〃And did they catch them and recover the cattle？〃
〃Not so。 They only found some wounded men； whom they shot； and the body
of Monsieur Leblanc with his head cut off； taken away with other bits of
him for medicine； they say to make the warriors brave。 Quabie has burnt
his kraal and fled with all his people to join the other Kaffirs in the
Big Mountains。 Not a cow or a sheep did they find； except a few that
had fallen exhausted； and those had their throats cut。 My father wanted
to follow them and attack the Red Kaffirs in the mountains； but the
others would not go。 They said there are thousands of them； and that it
would be a mad war； from which not one of them would return alive。 He
is wild with grief and rage； for； Allan dear； we are almost ruined；
especially as the British Government are freeing the slaves and only
going to give us a very small price； not a third of their value。 But；
hark！ he is calling me； and you must not talk much or excite yourself；
lest you should be ill again。 Now you have to sleep and eat and get
strong。 Afterwards； dear； you may talk〃； and； bending down once more；
she blessed and kissed me； then rose and glided away。
CHAPTER IV
HERNANDO PEREIRA
Several more days passed before I was allowed out of that little
war…stained room of which I grew to hate the very sight。 I entreated my
father to take me into the air； but he would not； saying that he feared
lest any movement should cause the bleeding to begin again or even the
cut artery to burst。 Moreover； the wound was not hearing very well； the
spear that caused it having been dirty or perhaps used to skin dead
animals； which caused some dread of gangrene； that in those days
generally meant death。 As it chanced； although I was treated only with
cold water； for antiseptics were then unknown； my young and healthy
blood triumphed and no gangrene appeared。
What made those days even duller was that during them I saw very little
of Marie； who now only entered the place in the company of her father。
Once I managed to ask her why she did not come oftener and alone。 Her
face grew troubled as she whispered back； 〃Because it is not allowed；
Allan；〃 and then without another word left the place。
Why； I wondered to myself； was it not allowed； and an answer sprang up
in my mind。 Doubtless it was because of that tall young man who had
argued with my father in the wagon…house。 Marie had never spoken to me
of him； but from the Hottentot Hans and my father I managed to collect a
good deal of information concerning him and his business。
It appeared that he was the only child of Henri Marais's sister； who
married a Portuguese from Delagoa Bay of the name of Pereira； who had
come to the Cape Colony to trade many years before and settled there。
Both he and his wife were dead； and their son； Hernando； Marie's cousin；
had inherited all their very considerable wealth。
Indeed； now I remembered having heard this Hernando； or Hernan； as the
Boers called him for short； spoken of in past years by the Heer Marais
as the heir to great riches； since his father had made a large fortune
by trading in wine and spirits under some Government monopoly which he
held。 Often he had been invited to visit Maraisfontein； but his
parents； who doted on him and lived in one of the settled districts not
far from Cape Town； would never allow him to travel so far from them
into these wild regions。
Since their death； however； things had changed。 It appeared that on the
decease of old Pereira the Governor of the Colony had withdrawn the wine
and spirit monopoly； which he said was a job and a scandal； an act that
made Hernando Pereira very angry； although he needed no more money； and
had caused him to throw himself heart and soul into the schemes of the
disaffected Boers。 Indeed； he was now engaged as one of the organisers
of the Great Trek which was in contemplation。 In fact； it had already
begun； into the partially explored land beyond the borders of the
Colony； where the Dutch farmers proposed to set up dominions of their
own。
That was the story of Hernando Pereira； who was to benay； who had
already becomemy rival for the hand of the sweet and beautiful Marie
Marais。
One night when my father and I were alone in the little room where he
slept with me； and he had finished reading his evening portion of
Scripture aloud； I plucked up my courage to tell him that I loved Marie
and wished to marry her； and that we had plighted our troth during the
attack of the Kaffirs on the stead。
〃Love and war indeed！〃 he said； looking at me gravely； but showing no
sign of surprise； for it appeared that he was already acquainted with
our secret。 This was not wonderful； for he informed me afterwards that
during my delirium I had done nothing except rave of Marie in the most
endearing terms。 Also Marie herself； when I was at my worst； had burst
into tears before him and told him straight out that she loved me。
〃Love and war indeed！〃 he repeated； adding kindly； 〃My poor boy； I fear
that you have fallen into great trouble。〃
〃Why； father？〃 I asked。 〃Is it wrong that we should love each other？〃
〃Not wrong； but； in the circumstances； quite naturalI should have
foreseen that it was sure to happen。 No； not wrong； but most
unfortunate。 To begin with； I do not wish to see you marry a foreigner
and become mixed up with these disloyal Boers。 I hoped that one day； a
good many years hence； for you are only a boy； Allan； you would find an
English wife； and I still hope it。〃
〃Never！〃 I ejaculated。
〃Never is a long word； Allan； and I dare say that what you are so sure
is impossible will happen after all；〃 words that made me angry enough at
the time； though in after years I often thought of them。
〃But；〃 he went on； 〃putting my own wishes； perhaps prejudices； aside； I
think your suit hopeless。 Although Henri Marais likes you well enough
and is grateful to you just now because you have saved the daughter whom
he loves； you must remember that he hates us English bitterly。 I
believe that he would almost as soon see his girl marry a half…caste as
an Englishman； and especially a poor Englishman； as you are； and unless
you can make money； must remain。 I have little to leave you； Allan。〃
〃I might make money； father； out of ivory； for instance。 You know I am
a good shot。〃
〃Allan； I do not think you will ever make much money； it is not in your