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Now unable to control myself any longer I broke in：
〃But I have； mynheer。 To separate Marie and myself is a sin； and one
that will break her heart。 As for my poverty； I have something； more
perhaps than you think； and in this rich country wealth can be earned by
those who work； as I would do for her sake。 The man to whom you would
give her showed his true nature this day； for he who can play so low a
trick to win a wager； will play worse tricks to win greater things。
Moreover； the scheme must fail since Marie will not marry him。〃
〃I say she shall；〃 replied Marais； 〃and that whether she does or not；
she shall accompany me and not stay here to be the wife of an English
boy。〃
〃Accompany you I will； father； and share your fortunes to the last。 But
marry Hernando Pereira I will not；〃 said Marie quietly。
〃Perhaps； mynheer；〃 I added； 〃days may come when once again you will be
glad of the help of an 'English boy。'〃
The words were spoken at random； a kind of ejaculation from the heart；
caused by the sting of Marais's cruelty and insults； like the cry of a
beast beneath a blow。 Little did I know how true they would prove； but
at times it is thus that truth is mysteriously drawn from some well of
secret knowledge hidden in our souls。
〃When I want your help I will ask for it；〃 raved Marais； who； knowing
himself to be in the wrong； strove to cover up that wrong with violence。
〃Asked or unasked； if I live it shall be given in the future as in the
past； Mynheer Marais。 God pardon you for the woe you are bringing on
Marie and on me。〃
Now Marie began to weep a little； and； unable to bear that sight； I
covered my eyes with my hand。 Marais； who； when he was not under the
influence of his prejudices or passion； had a kind heart； was moved
also； but tried to hide his feelings in roughness。 He swore at Marie；
and told her to go to bed； and she obeyed； still weeping。 Then my
father rose and said：
〃Henri Marais； we cannot leave here to…night because the horses are
kraaled； and it would be difficult to find them in this darkness； so we
must ask your hospitality till dawn。〃
〃_I_ do not ask it；〃 I exclaimed。 〃I go to sleep in the cart；〃 and I
limped from the room and the house； leaving the two men together。
What passed afterwards between them I do not quite know。 I gathered
that my father； who； when roused； also had a temper and was mentally and
intellectually the stronger man； told Marais his opinion of his
wickedness and folly in language that he was not likely to forget。 I
believe he even drove him to confess that his acts seemed cruel；
excusing them； however； by announcing that he had sworn before God that
his daughter should never marry an Englishman。 Also he said that he had
promised her solemnly to Pereira； his own nephew； whom he loved； and
could not break his word。
〃No；〃 answered my father； 〃because； being mad with the madness that runs
before destruction； you prefer to break Marie's heart and perhaps become
guilty of her blood。〃
Then he left him。
The darkness was intense。 Through it I groped my way to the cart； which
stood where it had been outspanned on the veld at a little distance from
the house； wishing heartily； so miserable was I； that the Kaffirs might
choose that black night for another attack and make an end of me。
When I reached it and lit the lantern which we always carried； I was
astonished to find that； in a rough fashion； it had been made ready to
sleep in。 The seats had been cleared out； the hind curtain fastened；
and so forth。 Also the pole was propped up with an ox…yoke so as to
make the vehicle level to lie in。 While I was wondering vaguely who
could have done this； Hans climbed on to the step； carrying two karosses
which he had borrowed or stolen； and asked if I was comfortable。
〃Oh； yes！〃 I answered； 〃but why were you going to sleep in the cart？〃
〃Baas；〃 he replied； 〃I was not； I prepared it for you。 How did I know
that you were coming？ Oh； very simply。 I sat on the stoep and listened
to all the talk in the sitkammer。 The window has never been mended；
baas； since the Quabies broke it。 God in Heaven！ what a talk that was。
I never knew that white people could have so much to say about a simple
matter。 You want to marry the Baas Marais's daughter； the baas wants
her to marry another man who can pay more cattle。 Well； among us it
would soon have been settled； for the father would have taken a stick
and beaten you out of the hut with the thick end。 Then he would have
beaten the girl with the thin end until she promised to take the other
man； and all would have been settled nicely。 But you Whites； you talk
and talk； and nothing is settled。 You still mean to marry the daughter；
and the daughter still means not to marry the man of many cows。
Moreover； the father has really gained nothing except a sick heart and
much bad luck to come。〃
〃Why much bad luck to come； Hans？〃 I asked idly； for his naive summing
up of the case interested me in a vague way。
〃Oh！ Baas Allan； for two reasons。 First； your reverend father； who made
me true Christian； told him so； and a predicant so good as he； is one
down whom the curse of God runs from Heaven like lightning runs down a
tree。 Well； the Heer Marais was sitting under that tree； and we all
know what happens to him who is under a tree when the lightning strikes
it。 That my first Christian reason。 My second black…man reason； about
which there can be no mistake； for it has always been true since there
was a black man； is that the girl is yours by blood。 You saved her life
with your blood；〃 and he pointed to my leg； 〃and therefore bought her
for ever； for blood is more than cattle。 Therefore； too； he who would
divide her from you brings blood on her and on the other man who tries
to steal her； blood； blood！ and on himself I know not what。〃 And he
waved his yellow arms； staring up at me with his little black eyes in a
way that was most uncanny。
〃Nonsense！〃 I said。 〃Why do you talk such bad words？〃
〃Because they are true words； Baas Allan。 Oh； you laugh at the poor
Totty； but I had it from my father； and he from his father from
generation to generation； amen； and you will see。 You will see； as I
have seen before now； and as the Heer Marais will see； who； if the great
God had not made him madfor mad he is； baas； as we know； if you Whites
don'tmight have lived in his home till he was old； and have had a good
son…in…law to bury him in his blanket。〃
Now I seemed to have had enough of this eerie conversation。 Of course
it is easy to laugh at natives and their superstitions； but； after a
long life of experience； I am bound to admit that they are not always
devoid of truth。 The native has some kind of sixth sense which the
civilised man has lost； or so it seems to me。
〃Talking of blankets；〃 I said in order to change the subject； 〃from whom
did you get these karosses？〃
〃From whom？ Why； from the Missie； of course； baas。 When I heard that
you were to sleep in the cart I went to her and borrowed them to cover
you。 Also； I had forgotten； she gave me a writing for you；〃 and he felt
about； first in his dirty shirt； then under his arm； and finally in his
fuzzy hair； from which last hiding place he produced a little bit of
paper folded into a pellet。 I undid it and read these words； written
with a pencil and in French：
〃I shall be in the peach orchard half an hour before sunrise。 Be there
if you would bid me farewell。M。〃
〃Is there any answer； baas？〃 asked Hans when I had thrust the note into
my pocket。 〃If so I can take it without being found out。〃 Then an
inspiration seemed to strike him； and he added： 〃Why do you not take it
yourself？ The Missie's window is easy to open； also I am sure she would
be pleased to see you。〃
〃Be silent；〃 I said。 〃I am going to sleep。 Wake me an hour before the
cock…crowand； staysee that the horses have got out of the kraal so
that you cannot find them too easily in case the Reverend wishes to
start very early。 But do not let them wander far； for here we are no
welcome guests。〃
〃Yes； baas。 By the way； baas； the Heer Pereira； who tried to cheat you
over those geese； is sleeping in an empty house not more than two miles
away。 He drinks coffee when he wakes up in the morning； and his
servant； who makes it； is my good friend。 Now would you like me to put
a little something into it？ Not to kill him； for that is against the
law in the Book； but just to make him quite mad； for the Book says
nothing about that。 If so； I have a very good medicine； one that you
white people do not know； which improves the taste of the coffee； and it
might save much trouble。 You see； if he came dancing about the place
without any clothes on； like a common Kaffir； the Heer Marais； although
_he_ is really mad also； might not wish for him as a son…