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one after the other； and I verily believe could have killed a dozen more
without a miss； for now I was shooting as I had never shot before。
〃Say； nephew Allan；〃 asked Retief curiously in the pause between the
fifth and sixth shots； 〃why do your geese fall so differently to
Hernan's？〃
〃Ask him！ don't talk to me；〃 I answered； and next instant brought down
number five； the finest shot of the lot。
A sound of wonder and applause came from all the audience； and I saw
Marie wave a white handkerchief。
〃That's the end；〃 said the referee。
〃One minute before you stir；〃 I answered。 〃I want to shoot at something
else that is not in the match； just to see if I can kill two birds with
one bullet like the Heer Pereira。〃
He granted my request with a nod； holding up his hand to prevent the
audience from moving； and bidding Pereira； who tried to interrupt； to be
silent。
Now； while the match was in progress I had noticed two falcons about the
size of the British peregrine wheeling round and round high over the
kloof； in which doubtless they bred； apparently quite undisturbed by the
shooting。 Or； perhaps； they had their eyes upon some of the fallen
geese。 I took the rifle and waited for a long while； till at last my
opportunity came。 I saw that the larger hen falcon was about to cross
directly over the circle of its mate； there being perhaps a distance of
ten yards between them。 I aimed； I judgedfor a second my mind was a
kind of calculating machinethe different arcs and speeds of the birds
must be allowed for； and the lowest was ninety yards away。 Then； with
something like a prayer upon my lips； I pressed while every eye stared
upwards。
Down came the lower falcon； a pause of half a second； and down came the
higher one also； falling dead upon its dead mate！
Now； even from those Boers； who did not love to see an Englishman excel；
there broke a shout of acclamation。 Never had they beheld such a shot
as this； nor in truth had I。
〃Mynheer Retief；〃 I said； 〃I gave you notice that I intended to try to
kill both of them； did I not？〃
〃You did。 Allemachte！ you did！ But tell me； Allan Quatermain； are your
eye and hand quite human？〃
〃You must ask my father；〃 I answered with a shrug as I sat myself down
upon my stool and mopped my brow。
The Boers came up with a rush； Marie flying ahead of them like a
swallow； and their stout womenfolk waddling behind； and formed a circle
round us； all talking at once。 I did not listen to their conversation；
till I heard Pereira； who was engaged in some eye…play with Marie； say
in a loud voice：
〃Yes； it was pretty； very pretty； but all the same； Uncle Retief； I
claim the match； as I shot six geese against five。〃
〃Hans；〃 I said； 〃bring my geese；〃 and they were brought； each with a
neat hole through it； and laid down near those that Pereira had shot。
〃Now；〃 I said to Retief； 〃examine the wounds in these birds； and then
that on the second bird which the Heer Pereira killed when he brought
down two at once。 I think it will be found that his bullet must have
splintered。〃
Retief went and studied all the birds； taking them up one by one。 Then
he threw down the last with a curse and cried in a great voice：
〃Mynheer Pereira； why do you bring shame on us before these two
Englishmen？ I say that you have been using loopers； or else bullets
that were sawn in quarters and glued or tied with thread。 Look； look！〃
and he pointed to the wounds； of which in one case there were as many as
three on a single bird。
〃Why not？〃 answered Pereira coolly。 〃The bargain was that we were to
use bullets； but it was never said that they should not be cut。
Doubtless the Heer Allan's were treated in the same way。〃
〃No；〃 I answered； 〃when I said that I would shoot with a bullet I meant
a whole bullet； not one that had been sawn in pieces and fixed together
again； so that after it left the muzzle it might spread out like shot。
But I do not wish to talk about the matter。 It is in the hands of the
Heer Pieter Retief； who will give judgment as it pleases him。〃
Now； much excited argument ensued among the Boers； in the midst of which
Marie managed to whisper to me unheard：
〃Oh！ I am glad； Allan； for whatever they may decide； you won； and the
omen is good。〃
〃I don't see what geese have to do with omens； sweetheart；〃 I
answered〃that is； since the time of the ancient Romans。 Anyhow； I
should say that the omens are bad； for there is going to be a row
presently。〃
Just then Retief put up his hand； calling out：
〃Silence！ I have decided。 The writing of the match did not say that the
bullets were not to be cut； and therefore Hernan Pereira's birds must
count。 But that writing does say that any bird accidentally killed
should not count； and therefore one goose must be subtracted from
Pereira's total； which leaves the two shooters equal。 So either the
match is dead or； since the geese have ceased to come； it must be shot
off another day。〃
〃Oh！ if there is any question；〃 said Pereira； who felt that public
opinion was much against him； 〃let the Englishman take the money。 I
dare say that he needs it； as the sons of missionaries are not rich。〃
〃There is no question；〃 I said； 〃since； rich or poor； not for a thousand
pounds would I shoot again against one who plays such tricks。 Keep your
money； Mynheer Pereira； and I will keep my mare。 The umpire has said
that the match is dead； so everything is finished。〃
〃Not quite；〃 interrupted Retief； 〃for I have a word to say。 Friend
Allan； you have played fair； and I believe that there is no one who can
shoot like you in Africa。〃
〃That is so；〃 said the audience of Boers。
〃Mynheer Pereira；〃 went on Retief； 〃although you； too； are a fine shot；
as is well known； I believe that had you played fair also you would have
been beaten； but as it is you have saved your hundred pounds。 Mynheer
Pereira；〃 he added in a great voice； 〃you are a cheat； who have brought
disgrace upon us Boers； and for my part I never want to shake your hand
again。〃
Now； at these outspoken words； for when his indignation was aroused
Retief was no measurer of language； Pereira's high…coloured face went
white as a sheet。
〃Mein Gott； mynheer；〃 he said； 〃I am minded to make you answer for such
talk；〃 and his hand went to the knife at his girdle。
〃What！〃 shouted Retief； 〃do you want another shooting match？ Well； if
so I am ready with whole bullets or with split ones。 None shall say
that Pieter Retief was afraid of any man； and； least of all； of one who
is not ashamed to try to steal a prize as a hyena steals a bone from a
lion。 Come on； Hernan Pereira； come on！〃
Now； I am sure I cannot say what would have happened； although I am
quite certain that Pereira had no stomach for a duel with the
redoubtable Retief； a man whose courage was as proverbial throughout the
land as was his perfect uprightness of character。 At any rate； seeing
that things looked very black； Henri Marais； who had been listening to
this altercation with evident annoyance； stepped forward and said：
〃Mynheer Retief and nephew Hernan； you are both my guests； and I will
not permit quarrelling over this foolishness； especially as I am sure
that Hernan never intended to cheat； but only to do what he thought was
allowed。 Why should he； who is one of the finest shots in the Colony；
though it may be that young Allan Quatermain here is even better？ Will
you not say so； too； friend Retief； especially just now when it is
necessary that we should all be as brothers？〃 he added pleadingly。
〃No；〃 thundered Retief； 〃I will not tell a lie to please you or anyone。〃
Then； seeing that the commandant was utterly uncompromising； Marais went
up to his nephew and whispered to him for a while。 What he said I do
not know。 The result of it was； however； that after favouring both
Retief and myself with an angry scowl； Pereira turned and walked to
where his horse stood； mounted it； and rode off； followed by two
Hottentot after…riders。
That was the last I saw of Hernan Pereira for a long while to come； and
heartily do I wish that it had been the last I ever saw of him。 But
this was not to be。
CHAPTER VI
THE PARTING
The Boers； who ostensibly had come to the kloof to see the shooting
match； although； in fact； for a very different purpose； now began to
disperse。 Some of them rode straight away； while some went to wagons
which they had outspanned at a distance； and trekked off to their
separate homes。 I am glad to say that before they left quite a number
of the best of them came up and congratulated me both on the defence of
Maraisfontein and on my shooting。 Also not a few expressed their views
concerning Pereira in very straightforward language。
Now； the arrangement was that my father and I were to sleep th