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fortune he found； not the hole； for that was lost in the general
destruction of the tissues； but the ball itself； which； having pierced
the thick body from below upwards； had remained fast in the tough skin
just by the back…bone where the long； red neck emerges from between the
wings。 He picked it out； for it was only hanging in the skin； and held
it up for all to see。
〃Macumazahn has won his bet；〃 said Dingaan。 〃His magic has conquered；
though by but a very little。 Macumazahn； take these Boers； they are
yours； and begone with them out of my country。〃
CHAPTER XV
RETIEF ASKS A FAVOUR
Now and again during our troubled journey through life we reach little
oases of almost perfect happiness； set jewel…like here and there in the
thorny wilderness of time。 Sometimes these are hours of mere animal
content。 In others they are made beautiful by waters blowing from our
spiritual springs of being； as in those rare instances when the material
veil of life seems to be rent by a mighty hand； and we feel the presence
and the comfort of God within us and about us； guiding our footsteps to
the ineffable end； which is Himself。 Occasionally； however； all these；
physical satisfaction and love divine and human； are blended to a whole；
like soul and body； and we can say； 〃Now I know what is joy。〃
Such an hour came to me on the evening of that day of the winning of my
bet with Dingaan； when a dozen lives or so were set against my nerve and
skill。 These had not failed me； although I knew that had it not been
for the inspiration of the Hottentot Hans （who sent it； I wonder？） they
would have been of no service at all。 With all my thought and
experience； it had never occurred to me that the wonderful eyes of the
vultures would see the flash of the powder even through the pervading
sunlight； and swerve before the deadly bullet could reach them。
On that night I was indeed a hero in a small way。 Even Henri Marais
thawed and spoke to me as a father might to his child； he who always
disliked me in secret； partly because I was an Englishman； partly
because I was everything to his daughter and he was jealous； and partly
for the reason that I stood in the path of his nephew； Hernan Pereira；
whom he either loved or feared； or both。 As for the rest of them； men；
women and children； they thanked and blessed me with tears in their
eyes； vowing that； young as I was； thenceforth I and no other should be
their leader。 As may be imagined； although it is true that she set down
my success to her meal of bullock's liver and the nap which she had
insisted on my taking； the Vrouw Prinsloo was the most enthusiastic of
them all。
〃Look at him；〃 she said； pointing with her fat finger at my
insignificant self and addressing her family。 〃If only I had such a
husband or a son； instead of you lumps that God has tied to me like
clogs to the heels of a she…ass； I should be happy。〃
〃God did that in order to prevent you from kicking； old vrouw；〃 said her
husband； a quiet man with a vein of sardonic humour。 〃If only He had
tied another clog to your tongue； I should be happy also〃； whereon the
vrouw smacked his head and her children got out of the way sniggering。
But the most blessed thing of all was my interview with Marie。 All that
took place between us can best be left to the imagination； since the
talk of lovers； even in such circumstances； is not interesting to
others。 Also； in a sense； it is too sacred to repeat。 One sentence I
will set down； however； because in the light of after events I feel that
it was prophetic； and not spoken merely by chance。 It was at the end of
our talk； as she was handing me back the pistol that I had given her for
a certain dreadful purpose。
〃Three times you have saved my life； Allanonce at Maraisfontein； once
from starvation； and now from Dingaan； whose touch would have meant my
death。 I wonder whether it will ever be my turn to save yours？〃
She looked down for a little while； then lifted her head and laid her
hand upon my shoulder； adding slowly： 〃Do you know； Allan； I think that
it will at the〃 and suddenly she turned and left me with her sentence
unfinished。
So thus it came about that by the help of Providence I was enabled to
rescue all these worthy folk from a miserable and a bloody death。 And
yet I have often reflected since that if things had gone differently；
if； for instance； that king aasvogel had found strength to carry itself
away to die at a distance instead of soaring straight upwards like a
towering partridge； as birds injured in the lungs will often doI
suppose in search of airit might have been better in the end。 Then I
should certainly have shot Dingaan dead and every one of us would as
certainly have been killed on the spot。 But if Dingaan had died that
day； Retief and his companions would never have been massacred。 Also as
the peaceful Panda； his brother； would； I suppose； have succeeded to the
throne； probably the subsequent slaughter at Weenen； and all the after
fighting； would never have taken place。 But so it was fated； and who am
I that I should quarrel with or even question the decrees of fate？
Doubtless these things were doomed to happen； and they happened in due
course。 There is nothing more to be said。
Early on the following morning we collected our oxen； which； although
still footsore； were now full fed and somewhat rested。 An hour or two
later began our trek； word having come to us from Dingaan that we must
start at once。 Also he sent us guides； under the command of the captain
Kambula； to show us the road to Natal。
I breakfasted that day with the Reverend Mr。 Owen and his people； my
object being to persuade him to come away with us； as I did not consider
that Zululand was a safe place for white women and children。 My mission
proved fruitless。 Mrs。 Hulley； the wife of the absent interpreter； who
had three little ones； Miss Owen and the servant； Jane Williams； were
all of them anxious enough to do as I suggested。 But Mr。 and Mrs。 Owen；
who were filled with the true fervour of missionaries； would not listen。
They said that God would protect them； that they had only been a few
weeks in the country； and that it would be the act of cowards and of
traitors to fly at the very beginning of their work。 Here I may add
that after the massacre of Retief they changed their opinion； small
blame to them； and fled as fast as anyone else。
I told Mr。 Owen how very close I had gone to shooting Dingaan； in which
event they might all have been killed with us。 This news shocked him
much。 Indeed； he lectured me severely on the sins of bloodthirstiness
and a desire for revenge。 So； finding that we looked at things
differently； and that it was of no use wasting breath in argument； I
wished him and his people good…bye and good fortune and went upon my
way； little guessing how we should meet again。
An hour later we trekked。 Passing by the accursed hill； Hloma Amabutu；
where I saw some gorged vultures sleeping on the rocks； we came to the
gate of the Great Kraal。 Here； to my surprise； I saw Dingaan with some
of his councillors and an armed guard of over a hundred men； seated
under the shade of two big milk trees。 Fearing treachery； I halted the
wagons and advised the Boers to load their rifles and be ready for the
worst。 A minute or so later young Thomas Halstead arrived and told me
that Dingaan wished to speak with us。 I asked him if that meant that we
were to be killed。 He answered； 〃No； you are quite safe。〃 The king had
received some news that had put him in a good humour with the white
people； and he desired to bid us farewell； that was all。
So we trekked boldly to where Dingaan was； and； stopping the wagons；
went up to him in a body。 He greeted us kindly enough； and even gave me
his fat hand to shake。
〃Macumazahn；〃 he said； 〃although it has cost me many oxen； I am glad
that your magic prevailed yesterday。 Had it not done so I should have
killed all these your friends； which would have been a cause of war
between me and the Amaboona。 Now； this morning I have learned that
these Amaboona are sending a friendly embassy to me under one of their
great chiefs； and I think that you will meet them on the road。 I charge
you； therefore； to tell them to come on； having no fear； as I will
receive them well and listen to all they have to say。〃
I answered that I would do so。
〃Good；〃 he replied。 〃I am sending twelve head of cattle with you； six
of them for your food during your journey； and six as a present to the
embassy of the Amaboona。 Also Kambula； my captain； has charge to see
you safely over the Tugela River。〃
I thanked him and turned to go； when suddenly his eye fell upon Marie；
who； foolishly enough； took this opportunity to advance from among the
others and speak to me about somethingI forget what。