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！
women at your will？ It was He Who saved us； not you。〃
〃He may have saved you； but it was through me。 I carried out the rescue
of these poor people whom you deserted； and I nursed you back to life。〃
〃I did not desert them； I went to get help for them。〃
〃Taking all the powder and the only horse with you！ Well； that is done
with； and now you want to borrow goods to pay for cattlefrom me； whom
you hate。 You are not proud； Mynheer Pereira； when you have an end to
serve； whatever that end may be；〃 and I looked at him。 My instinct
warned me against this false and treacherous man； who； I felt； was even
then plotting in his heart to bring some evil upon me。
〃No； I am not proud。 Why should I be； seeing that I mean to repay you
twice over for anything which you may lend me now？〃
I reflected a while。 Certainly our journey to Natal would be pleasanter
if Pereira were not of the company。 Also； if he went with us； I was
sure that before we came to the end of that trek； one or other of us
would leave his bones on the road。 In short； not to put too fine a
point on it； I feared lest in this way or in that he would bring me to
my death in order that he might possess himself of Marie。 We were in a
wild country； with few witnesses and no law courts； where such deeds
might be done again and again and the doer never called to account for
lack of evidence and judges。
So I made up my mind to fall in with his wishes； and we began to
bargain。 The end of it was that I advanced him enough of my remaining
goods to buy the cattle he required from the surrounding natives。 It
was no great quantity； after all； seeing that in this uncivilised place
an ox could be purchased for a few strings of beads or a cheap knife。
Further； I sold him a few of the beasts that I had broken； a gun； some
ammunition and certain other necessaries； for all of which things he
gave me a note of hand written in my pocket…book。 Indeed； I did more；
for as none of the Boers would help him I assisted Pereira to break in
the cattle he bought； and even consented when he asked me to give him
the services of two of the Zulus whom I had hired。
All these preparations took a long while。 If I remember right； twelve
more days had gone by before Pereira finally trekked off from Marais's
camp； by which time he was quite well and strong again。
We all assembled to see the start； and Marais offered up a prayer for
his nephew's safe journey and our happy meeting again in Natal at the
laager of Retief； which was to be our rendezvous； if that leader were
still in Natal。 No one else joined in the prayer。 Only Vrouw Prinsloo
audibly added another of her own。 It was to the effect that he might
not come back a second time； and that she might never see his face
again； either at Retief's laager or anywhere else； if it would please
the good Lord so to arrange matters。
The Boers tittered； even the Meyer children tittered； for by this time
the hatred of the Vrouw Prinsloo for Hernan Pereira was the joke of the
place。 But Pereira himself pretended not to hear； said good…bye to us
all affectionately； adding a special petition for the Vrouw Prinsloo；
and off we went。
I say 〃we went〃 because with my usual luck； to help him with the
half…broken oxen； I was commandeered to accompany this man to his first
outspan； a place with good water about twelve miles from the camp； where
he proposed to remain for the night。
Now； as we started about ten o'clock in the morning and the veld was
fairly level； I expected that we should reach this outspan by three or
four in the afternoon； which would give me time to walk back before
sunset。 In fact； however； so many accidents happened of one sort or
another； both to the wagon itself； of which the woodwork had shrunk with
long standing in the sun； and to the cattle； which； being unused to the
yoke； tied themselves in a double knot upon every opportunity； that we
only arrived there at the approach of night。
The last mile of that trek was through a narrow gorge cut out by water
in the native rock。 Here trees grew sparsely； also great ferns； but the
bottom of the gorge； along which game were accustomed to travel； was
smooth enough for wagons； save for a few fallen boulders； which it was
necessary to avoid。
When at length we reached the outspan I asked the Hottentot； Klaus； who
was assisting me to drive the team； where his master was； for I could
not see him anywhere。 He answered that he had gone back down the kloof
to look for something that had fallen from the wagon； a bolt I think he
said。
〃Very good；〃 I replied。 〃Then tell him； if we do not meet； that I have
returned to the camp。〃
As I set out the sun was sinking below the horizon； but this did not
trouble me overmuch； as I had a rifle with me； that same light rifle
with which I had shot the geese in the great match。 Also I knew that
the moon； being full； would be up presently。
The sun sank； and the kloof was plunged in gloom。 The place seemed
eerie and lonesome； and suddenly I grew afraid。 I began to wonder where
Pereira was； and what he might be doing。 I even thought of turning back
and finding some way round； only having explored all this district
pretty thoroughly in my various shooting expeditions from the camp； I
knew there was no practicable path across those hills。 So I went on
with my rifle at full cock； whistling to keep up my courage； which； of
course； in the circumstances was a foolish thing to do。 It occurred to
me at the time that it was foolish； but； in truth； I would not give way
to the dark suspicions which crossed my mind。 Doubtless by now Pereira
had passed me and reached the outspan。
The moon began to shinethat wonderful African moon； which turns night
to daythrowing a network of long； black shadows of trees and rocks
across the game track I was following。 Right ahead of me was a
particularly dark patch of this shadow； caused by a projecting wall of
cliff； and beyond it an equally bright patch of moonlight。 Somehow I
misdoubted me of that stretch of gloom； for although； of course； I could
see nothing there； my quick ear caught the sound of movements。
I halted for a moment。 Then； reflecting that these were doubtless
caused by some night…walking creature； which； even should it chance to
be dangerous； would flee at the approach of man； I plunged into it
boldly。 As I emerged at the other endthe shadow was eighteen or
twenty paces longit occurred to me that if any enemy were lurking
there； I should be an easy target as I entered the line of clear light。
So； almost instinctively； for I do not remember that I reasoned the
thing out； after my first two steps forward in the light I gave a little
spring to the left； where there was still shadow； although it was not
deep。 Well was it for me that I did so； for at that moment I felt
something touch my cheek and heard the loud report of a gun immediately
behind me。
Now； the wisest course would have been for me to run before whoever had
fired found time to reload。 But a kind of fury seized me； and run I
would not。 On the contrary； I turned with a shout； and charged back
into the shadow。 Something heard me coming； something fled in front of
me。 In a few seconds we were out into the moonlight beyond； and； as I
expected； I saw that this something was a manPereira！
He halted and wheeled round； lifting the stock of his gun； club fashion。
〃Thank God！ it is you； Heer Allan；〃 he said； 〃I thought you were a
tiger。〃
〃Then it is your last thought； murderer；〃 I answered； raising my rifle。
〃Don't shoot；〃 he said。 〃Would you have my blood upon you？ Why do you
want to kill me？〃
〃Why did you try to kill me？〃 I answered； covering him。
〃I try to kill you！ Are you mad？ Listen； for your own sake。 I sat
down on the bank yonder waiting for the moon； and； being tired； fell
asleep。 Then I woke up with a start； and； thinking from the sounds that
a tiger was after me； fired to scare it。 Allemachte！ man； if I had
aimed at you； could I have missed at that distance？〃
〃You did not quite miss； and had I not stepped to the left； you would
have blown my head off。 Say your prayers； you dog！〃
〃Allan Quatermain；〃 he exclaimed with desperate energy；〃 you think I
lie； who speak the truth。 Kill me if you will； only then remember that
you will hang for it。 We court one woman； that is known； and who will
believe this story of yours that I tried to shoot you？ Soon the Kaffirs
will come to look for me； probably they are starting already； and will
find my body with your bullet in my heart。 Then they will take it back
to Marais's camp； and I saywho will believe your story？〃
〃Some； I think； murderer；〃 but as I spoke the words a chill of fear
struck me。 It was true； I could prove nothing； having no witnesses； and
henceforward I should be a Cain among the Boers； one who had slain