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one of the colleges； but after a while appeared in the lecture…room
quite drunk and lost his employment。 The same thing happened in other
towns； till at last he drifted to distant Maraisfontein； where his
employer tolerated his weakness for the sake of the intellectual
companionship for which something in his own nature seemed to crave。
Also； he looked upon him as a compatriot in distress； and a great bond
of union between them was their mutual and virulent hatred of England
and the English； which in the case of Monsieur Leblanc； who in his youth
had fought at Waterloo and been acquainted with the great Emperor； was
not altogether unnatural。
Henri Marais's case was different； but of that I shall have more to say
later。
〃Ah； Marie；〃 said her father； speaking in Dutch； 〃so you have found him
at last；〃 and he nodded towards me； adding： 〃You should be flattered；
little man。 Look you； this missie has been sitting for two hours in the
sun waiting for you； although I told her you would not arrive much
before ten o'clock； as your father the predicant said you would
breakfast before you started。 Well； it is natural； for she is lonely
here； and you are of an age； although of a different race〃； and his face
darkened as he spoke the words。
〃Father；〃 answered Marie； whose blushes I could see even in the shadow
of her cap； 〃I was not sitting in the sun； but under the shade of a
peach tree。 Also； I was working out the sums that Monsieur Leblanc set
me on my slate。 See； here they are；〃 and she held up the slate； which
was covered with figures； somewhat smudged； it is true； by the rubbing
of my stiff hair and of her cap。
Then Monsieur Leblanc broke in； speaking in French； of which； as it
chanced I understood the sense； for my father had grounded me in that
tongue； and I am naturally quick at modern languages。 At any rate； I
made out that he was asking if I was the little 〃cochon d'anglais；〃 or
English pig； whom for his sins he had to teach。 He added that he judged
I must be； as my hair stuck up on my headI had taken off my hat out of
politenessas it naturally would do on a pig's back。
This was too much for me； so； before either of the others could speak； I
answered in Dutch； for rage made me eloquent and bold：
〃Yes； I am he； but； mynheer； if you are to be my master； I hope you will
not call the English pigs any more to me。〃
〃Indeed； gamin〃 （that is； little scamp）； 〃and pray； what will happen if
I am so bold as to repeat that truth？〃
〃I think； mynheer；〃 I replied； growing white with rage at this new
insult； 〃the same that has happened to yonder buck；〃 and I pointed to
the klipspringer behind Hans's saddle。 〃I mean that I shall shoot you。〃
〃Peste！ Au moins il a du courage； cet enfant〃 （At least the child is
plucky）； exclaimed Monsieur Leblanc； astonished。 From that moment； I
may add； he respected me； and never again insulted my country to my
face。
Then Marais broke out； speaking in Dutch that I might understand：
〃It is you who should be called pig； Leblanc； not this boy； for； early
as it is； you have been drinking。 Look！ the brandy bottle is half
empty。 Is that the example you set to the young？ Speak so again and I
turn you out to starve on the veld。 Allan Quatermain； although； as you
may have heard； I do not like the English； I beg your pardon。 I hope
you will forgive the words this sot spoke； thinking that you did not
understand；〃 and he took off his hat and bowed to me quite in a grand
manner； as his ancestors might have done to a king of France。
Leblanc's face fell。 Then he rose and walked away rather unsteadily； as
I learned afterwards； to plunge his head in a tub of cold water and
swallow a pint of new milk； which were his favourite antidotes after too
much strong drink。 At any rate； when he appeared again； half an hour
later； to begin out lesson； he was quite sober； and extremely polite。
When he had gone； my childish anger being appeased； I presented the Heer
Marais with my father's compliments； also with the buck and the birds；
whereof the latter seemed to please him more than the former。 Then my
saddle…bags were taken to my room； a little cupboard of a place next to
that occupied by Monsieur Leblanc； and Hans was sent to turn the horses
out with the others belonging to the farm； having first knee…haltered
them tightly； so that they should not run away home。
This done； the Heer Marais showed me the room in which we were to have
our lessons； one of the 〃sitkammer〃； or sitting chambers； whereof；
unlike most Boer stead； this house boasted two。 I remember that the
floor was made of 〃daga〃； that is； ant…heap earth mixed with cow…dung；
into which thousands of peach…stones had been thrown while it was still
soft； in order to resist footweara rude but fairly efficient
expedient； and one not unpleasing to the eye。 For the rest； there was
one window opening on to the veranda； which； in that bright climate；
admitted a shaded but sufficient light； especially as it always stood
open； the ceiling was of unplastered reeds； a large bookcase stood in
the corner containing many French works； most of them the property of
Monsieur Leblanc； and in the centre of the room was the strong； rough
table made of native yellow…wood； that once had served as a butcher's
block。 I recollect also a coloured print of the great Napoleon
commanding at some battle in which he was victorious； seated upon a
white horse and waving a field…marshal's baton over piles of dead and
wounded； and near the window； hanging to the reeds of the ceiling； the
nest of a pair of red…tailed swallows； pretty creatures that；
notwithstanding the mess they made； afforded to Marie and me endless
amusement in the intervals of our work。
When； on that day； I shuffled shyly into this homely place； and；
thinking myself alone there； fell to examining it； suddenly I was
brought to a standstill by a curious choking sound which seemed to
proceed from the shadows behind the bookcase。 Wondering as to its
cause； I advanced cautiously to discover a pink…clad shape standing in
the corner like a naughty child； with her head resting against the wall；
and sobbing slowly。
〃Marie Marais； why do you cry？〃 I asked。
She turned； tossing back the locks of long； black hair which hung about
her face； and answered：
〃Allan Quatermain； I cry because of the shame which has been put upon
you and upon our house by that drunken Frenchman。〃
〃What of that？〃 I asked。 〃He only called me a pig； but I think I have
shown him that even a pig has tusks。〃
〃Yes；〃 she replied； 〃but it was not you he meant； it was all the
English； whom he hates； and the worst of it is that my father is of his
mind。 He； too； hates the English； and； oh！ I am sure that trouble will
come of his hatred； trouble and death to many。〃
〃Well； if so； we have nothing to do with it； have we？〃 I replied with
the cheerfulness of extreme youth。
〃What makes you so sure？〃 she said solemnly。 〃Hush！ here comes Monsieur
Leblanc。〃
CHAPTER II
THE ATTACK ON MARAISFONTEIN
I do not propose to set out the history of the years which I spent in
acquiring a knowledge of French and various other subjects； under the
tuition of the learned but prejudiced Monsieur Leblanc。 Indeed； there
is 〃none to tell； sir。〃 When Monsieur Leblanc was sober； he was a most
excellent and well…informed tutor； although one apt to digress into many
side issues； which in themselves were not uninstructive。 When tipsy； he
grew excited and harangued us； generally upon politics and religion； or
rather its reverse； for he was an advanced freethinker； although this
was a side to his character which； however intoxicated he might be； he
always managed to conceal from the Heer Marais。 I may add that a
certain childish code of honour prevented us from betraying his views on
this and sundry other matters。 When absolutely drunk； which； on an
average； was not more than once a month； he simply slept； and we did
what we pleaseda fact which our childish code of honour also prevented
us from betraying。
But； on the whole； we got on very well together； for； after the incident
of our first meeting； Monsieur Leblanc was always polite to me。 Marie
he adored； as did every one about the place； from her father down to the
meanest slave。 Need I add that I adored her more than all of them put
together； first with the love that some children have for each other；
and afterwards； as we became adult； with that wider love by which it is
at once transcended and made complete。 Strange would it have been if
this were not so； seeing that we spent nearly half of every week
practically alone together； and that； from the first； Marie； whose
nature was as open as the clear noon； never concealed her affection for
me。 True； it was a very discreet affection； almost sisterly； or even
mother