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dead； but only on the extreme brink of death！
I ran to the entrance of the cave； calling the Kaffirs； and together we
carried him out into the sunlight。 He was an awful spectacle； mere bone
with yellow skin stretched over it； and covered with filth and clotted
blood from some hurt。 I had brandy with me； of which I poured a little
down his throat； whereon his heart began to beat feebly。 Then we made
some soup； and poured that down his throat with more brandy； and the end
of it was he came to life again。
For three days did I doctor that man； and really I believe that if at
any time during those days I had relaxed my attentions even for a couple
of hours； he would have slipped through my fingers； for at this business
Klaus and the Kaffirs were no good at all。 But I pulled him round； and
on the third morning he came to his senses。 For a long while he stared
at me； for I had laid him in the mouth of the cave； where the light was
good； although the overhanging rocks protected him from the sun。 Then
he said：
〃Allemachte！ you remind me of someone； young man。 I know。 It is of
that damned English boy who beat me at the goose shooting； and made me
quarrel with Oom ＇uncle＇ Retief； the jackanapes that Marie was so fond
of。 Well； whoever you are； you can't be he； thank God。〃
〃You are mistaken； Heer Pereira；〃 I answered。 〃I am that same damned
young English jackanapes； Allan Quatermain by name； who beat you at
shooting。 But if you take my advice； you will thank God for something
else； namely； that your life has been saved。〃
〃Who saved it？〃 he asked。
〃If you want to know； I did； I have been nursing you these three days。〃
〃You； Allan Quatermain！ Now； that is strange； for certainly I would not
have saved yours；〃 and he laughed a little； then turned over and went to
sleep。
From that time forward his recovery was rapid； and two days later we
began our journey back to Marais's camp； the convalescent Pereira being
carried in a litter by the four natives。 It was a task at which they
grumbled a good deal； for the load was heavy over rough ground； and
whenever they stumbled or shook him he cursed at them。 So much did he
curse； indeed； that at length one of the Zulus； a man with a rough
temper； said that if it were not for the Inkoos； meaning myself； he
would put his assegai through him； and let the vultures carry him。
After this Pereira grew much more polite。 When the bearers became
exhausted we set him on the pack…ox； which two of us led； while the
other two supported him on either side。 It was in this fashion that at
last we arrived at the camp one evening。
Here the Vrouw Prinsloo was the first to greet us。 We found her
standing in the game path which we were following； quite a quarter of a
mile from the wagons； with her hands set upon her broad hips and her
feet apart。 Her attitude was so defiant； and had about it such an air
of premeditation； that I cannot help thinking she had got wind of our
return； perhaps from having seen the smoke of our last fires； and was
watching for us。 Also； her greeting was warm。
〃Ah！ here you come； Hernan Pereira；〃 she cried； 〃riding on an ox； while
better men walk。 Well； now； I want a chat with you。 How came it that
you went off in the night； taking the only horse and all the powder？〃
〃I went to get help for you；〃 he replied sulkily。
〃Did you； did you； indeed！ Well； it seems that it was you who wanted
the help； after all。 What do you mean to pay the Heer Allan Quatermain
for saving your life； for I am sure he has done so？ You have got no
goods left； although you were always boasting about your riches； they
are now at the bottom of a river； so it will have to be in love and
service。〃
He muttered something about my wanting no payment for a Christian act。
〃No； he wants no payment； Hernan Pereira； he is one of the true sort；
but you'll pay him all the same and in bad coin if you get the chance。
Oh！ I have come out to tell you what I think of you。 You are a
stinkcat； do you hear that？ A thing that no dog would bite if he could
help it！ You are a traitor also。 You brought us to this cursed
country； where you said your relatives would give us wealth and land；
and then； after famine and fever attacked us； you rode away； and left us
to die to save your own dirty skin。 And now you come back here for
help； saved by him whom you cheated in the Goose Kloof； by him whose
true love you have tried to steal。 Oh； mein Gott！ why does the Almighty
leave such fellows alive； while so many that are good and honest and
innocent lie beneath the soil because of stinkcats like you？〃
So she went on； striding at the side of the pack…ox； and reviling
Pereira in a ceaseless stream of language； until at length he thrust his
thumbs into his ears and glared at her in speechless wrath。
Thus it was that at last we arrived in the camp； where； having seen us
coming； all the Boers were gathered。 They are not a particularly
humorous people； but this spectacle of the advance of Pereira seated on
the pack…ox； a steed that is becoming to few riders； with the furious
and portly Vrouw Prinsloo striding at his side and shrieking abuse at
him； caused them to burst into laughter。 Then Pereira's temper gave
out； and he became even more abusive than Vrouw Prinsloo。
〃Is this the way you receive me； you veld…hogs； you common Boers； who
are not fit to mix with a man of position and learning like myself？〃 he
began。
〃Then in God's name why do you mix with us； Hernan Pereira？〃 asked the
saturnine Meyer； thrusting his face forward till the Newgate fringe he
wore by way of a beard literally seemed to curl with wrath。 〃When we
were hungry you did not wish it； for you slunk away and left us； taking
all the powder。 But now that we are full again； thanks to the little
Englishman； and you are hungry； you come back。 Well； if I had my way I
would give you a gun and six days' rations； and turn you out to shift
for yourself。〃
〃Don't be afraid； Jan Meyer；〃 shouted Pereira from the back of the
pack…ox。 〃As soon as I am strong enough I will leave you in charge of
your English captain here〃and he pointed to me〃and go to tell our
people what sort of folk you are。〃
〃That is good news；〃 interrupted Prinsloo； a stolid old Boer； who stood
by puffing at his pipe。 〃Get well； get well as soon as you can； Hernan
Pereira。〃
It was at this juncture that Marais arrived； accompanied by Marie。
Where he came from I do not know； but I think he must have been keeping
in the background on purpose to see what kind of a reception Pereira
would meet with。
〃Silence； brothers；〃 he said。 〃Is this the way you greet my nephew； who
has returned from the gate of death； when you should be on your knees
thanking God for his deliverance？〃
〃Then go on your knees and thank Him yourself； Henri Marais；〃 screamed
the irrepressible Vrouw Prinsloo。 〃I give thanks for the safe return of
Allan here； though it is true they would be warmer if he had left this
stinkcat behind him。 Allemachte！ Henri Marais； why do you make so much
of this Portuguese fellow？ Has he bewitched you？ Or is it because he
is your sister's son； or because you want to force Marie there to marry
him？ Or is it； perhaps； that he knows of something bad in your past
life； and you have to bribe him to keep his mouth shut？〃
Now； whether this last unpleasant suggestion was a mere random arrow
drawn from Vrouw Prinsloo's well…stored quiver； or whether the vrouw had
got hold of the tail…end of some long…buried truth； I do not know。 Of
course； however； the latter explanation is possible。 Many men have done
things in their youth which they do not wish to see dug up in their age；
and Pereira may have learned a family secret of the kind from his
mother。
At any rate； the effect of the old lady's words upon Marais was quite
remarkable。 Suddenly he went into one of his violent and constitutional
rages。 He cursed Vrouw Prinsloo。 He cursed everybody else； assuring
them severally and collectively that Heaven would come even with them。
He said there was a plot against him and his nephew； and that I was at
the bottom of it； I who had made his daughter fond of my ugly little
face。 So furious were his words； whereof there were many more which I
have forgotten； that at length Marie began to cry and ran away。
Presently； too； the Boers strolled off； shrugging their shoulders； one
of them saying audibly that Marais had gone quite mad at last； as he
always thought he would。
Then Marais followed them； throwing up his arms and still cursing as he
went； and； slipping over the tail of the pack…ox； Pereira followed him。
So the Vrouw Prinsloo and I were left alone； for the coloured men had
departed； as they always do when white people begin to quarrel。
〃There； Allan； my boy；〃 said the vrouw in triumph； 〃I have found the
sore place on the