按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
There were but fifty miles to go； a distance that on a fair road any
good horse would cover in eight hours； or less。 But we had no horses；
and there was no roadnothing but swamps and bush and rocky hills。
With our untrained cattle it took us three days to travel the first
twelve miles； though after that things went somewhat better。
It may be asked； why did I not send on？ But whom could I send when no
one knew the way； except the woman； Jeel； whom I feared to part with
lest I should see her no more？ Moreover； what was the use of sending；
since the messengers could take no help？ If everyone at the camp was
dead； as rumour told uswell； they were dead。 And if they lived； the
hope was that they might live a little longer。 Meanwhile； I dared not
part with my guide； nor dared I leave the relief wagons to go on with
her alone。 If I did so； I knew that I should never see them again；
since only the prestige of their being owned by a white man who was not
a Portuguese prevented the natives from looting them。
It was a truly awful journey。 My first idea had been to follow the
banks of the Crocodile River； which is what I should have attempted had
I not chanced on the woman； Jeel。 Lucky was it that I did not do so；
since I found afterwards that this river wound about a great deal and
was joined by impassable tributaries。 Also it was bordered by forests。
Jeel's track； on the contrary； followed an old slave road that； bad as
it was； avoided the swampy places of the surrounding country； and those
native tribes which the experience of generations of the traders in this
iniquitous traffic showed to be most dangerous。
Nine days of fearful struggle had gone by。 We had camped one night
below the crest of a long slope strewn with great rocks； many of which
we were obliged to roll out of the path by main force in order to make a
way for the wagons。 The oxen had to lie in their yokes all night； since
we dared not let them loose fearing lest they should stray； also lions
were roaring in the distance； although； game being plentiful； these did
not come near to us。 As soon as there was any light we let out the
teams to fill themselves on the tussocky grass that grew about； and
meanwhile cooked and ate some food。
Presently the sun rose； and I saw that beneath us was a great stretch of
plain covered with mist； and to the north； on our right； several denser
billows of mist that marked the course of the Crocodile River。
By degrees this mist lifted； tall tops of trees appearing above it； till
at length it thinned into vapour that vanished away as the sun rose。 As
I watched it idly； the woman； Jeel； crept up to me in her furtive
fashion； touched me on the shoulder and pointed to a distant group of
trees。
Looking closely at these trees； I saw between them what at first I took
for some white rocks。 Further examination； as the mist cleared；
suggested to my mind； however； that they might be wagon tilts。 Just
then the Zulu who understood Jeel's talk came up。 I asked him as well
as I could； for at that time my knowledge of his tongue was very
imperfect； what she wished to say。 He questioned her； and answered that
she desired to tell me that those were the moving houses of the Amaboona
（the Boer people）； just where she had seen them nearly two moons ago。
At this tidings my heart seemed to stand still； so that for more than a
minute I could not speak。 There were the wagons at last； butoh！ who
and what should I find in them？ I called Hans and bade him inspan as
quickly as possible； explaining to him that yonder was Marais's camp。
〃Why not let the oxen fill themselves first； baas？〃 he answered。 〃There
is no hurry； for though the wagons are there； no doubt all the people
are dead long ago。〃
〃Do what I bid you； you ill…omened beast；〃 I said； 〃instead of croaking
of death like a crow。 And listen： I am going to walk forward to that
camp； you must follow with the wagons as fast as they can travel。〃
〃No； baas； it is not safe that you should go alone。 Kaffirs or wild
beasts might take you。〃
〃Safe or not； I am going； but if you think it wise； tell two of those
Zulus to come with me。〃
A few minutes later I was on the road； followed by the two Kaffirs armed
with spears。 In my youth I was a good runner； being strong of leg and
light in body； but I do not think that I ever covered seven miles； for
that was about the distance to the camp； in quicker time than I did that
morning。 Indeed； I left those active Kaffirs so far behind that when I
approached the trees they were not in sight。 Here I dropped to a walk；
as I said to myselfto get my breath。 Really it was because I felt so
terrified at what I might find that I delayed the discovery just for one
minute more。 While I approached； hope； however faint； still remained；
when I arrived； hope might be replaced by everlasting despair。
Now I could see that there were some shanties built behind the wagons；
doubtless those 〃rude houses〃 of which Marie had written。 But I could
not see anyone moving about them； or any cattle or any smoke； or other
sign of life。 Nor could I hear a single sound。
Doubtless； thought I to myself； Hans is right。 They are all long dead。
My agony of suspense was replaced by an icy calm。 At length I knew the
worst。 It was finishedI had striven in vain。 I walked through the
outlying trees and between two of the wagons。 One of these I noticed；
as we do notice things at such times； was the same in which Marais had
trekked with his daughter； his favourite wagon that once I had helped to
fit with a new dissel…boom。
Before me were the rough houses built of the branches of trees； daubed
over with mud； or rather the backs of them； for they faced west。 I
stood still for a moment； and as I stood thought that I heard a faint
sound as of someone reciting slowly。 I crept along the end of the
outermost house and； rubbing the cold sweat from my eyes； peeped round
the corner； for it occurred to me that savages might be in possession。
Then I saw what caused the sound。 A tattered； blackened； bearded man
stood at the head of a long and shallow hole saying a prayer。
It was Henri Marais； although at the time I did not recognise him； so
changed was he。 A number of little mounds to the right and left of him
told me； however； that the hole was a grave。 As I watched two more men
appeared； dragging between them the body of a woman； which evidently
they had not strength to carry； as its legs trailed upon the ground。
From the shape of the corpse it seemed to be that of a tall young woman；
but the features I could not see； because it was being dragged face
downwards。 Also the long hair hanging from the head hid them。 It was
dark hair； like Marie's。 They reached the grave； and tumbled their sad
burden into it； but II could not stir！
At length my limbs obeyed my will。 I went forward to the men and said
in a hollow voice in Dutch：
〃Whom do you bury？〃
〃Johanna Meyer；〃 answered someone mechanically； for they did not seem to
have taken the trouble to look at me。 As I listened to those words my
heart； which had stood still waiting for the answer； beat again with a
sudden bound that I could hear in the silence。
I looked up。 There； advancing from the doorway of one of the houses；
very slowly； as though overpowered by weakness； and leading by the hand
a mere skeleton of a child； who was chewing some leaves； I sawI saw
_Marie Marais！_ She was wasted to nothing； but I could not mistake her
eyes； those great soft eyes that had grown so unnaturally large in the
white； thin face。
She too saw me and stared for one moment。 Then； loosing the child； she
cast up her hands； through which the sunlight shone as through
parchment； and slowly sank to the ground。
〃She has gone； too；〃 said one of the men in an indifferent voice。 〃I
thought she would not last another day。〃
Now for the first time the man at the head of the grave turned。 Lifting
his hand； he pointed to me； whereon the other two men turned also。
〃God above us！〃 he said in a choked voice； 〃at last I am quite mad。
Look！ there stands the spook of young Allan； the son of the English
predicant who lived near Cradock。〃
As soon as I heard the voice I knew the speaker。
〃Oh； Mynheer Marais！〃 I cried； 〃I am no ghost； I am Allan himself come
to save you。〃
Marais made no answer； he seemed bewildered。 But one of the men cried
out crazily：
〃How can you save us； youngster； unless you are ready to be eaten？
Don't you see； we starve； we starve！〃
〃I have wagons and food；〃 I answered。
〃Allemachte！ Henri；〃 exclaimed the man； with a wild laugh； 〃do you hear
what your English spook says？ He says that he has wagons and _food；
food； food！_〃
Then Marais burst into tears and flung himself upon my breast； nearly
knocking me down。 I wrenched myself free of hi