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spoke those dreadful words； which both Marie and I wished to forget。
〃I hope you will come to our wedding to…morrow；〃 I added； 〃and wipe them
out with a father's blessing。〃
〃To…morrow！ Are you really going to be married to…morrow？〃 he
exclaimed； his sallow face twitching nervously。 〃O God； it was another
man that I dreamed to see standing by Marie's side。 But he is not here；
he has disgraced and deserted me。 Well； I will come； if my gaolers will
suffer it。 Good…bye； you happy bridegroom of to…morrow； good…bye。〃
Then he swung round and departed； followed by the guards； one of whom
touched his brow and shook his head significantly as he passed me。
I think that Sunday seemed the longest day I ever spent。 The Vrouw
Prinsloo would scarcely allow me even a glimpse of Marie； because of
some fad she had got into her mind that it was either not proper or not
fortunate； I forget which； that a bride and bridegroom should associate
on the eve of their marriage。 So I occupied myself as best I could。
First I wrote a long letter to my father； the third that I had sent；
telling him everything that was going to happen； and saying how grieved
I was that he could not be present to marry us and give us his blessing。
This letter I gave to a trader who was trekking to the bay on the
following morning； begging him to forward it by the first opportunity。
That duty done； I saw about the horses which I was taking into Zululand；
three of them； two for myself and one for Hans； who accompanied me as
after…rider。 Also the saddlery； saddle…bags； guns and ammunition must
be overhauled； all of which took some time。
〃You are going to spend a strange wittebroodsweek ＇white…bread…week； or；
in other words； honeymoon＇； baas；〃 said Hans； squinting at me with his
little eyes； as he brayed away at a buckskin which was to serve as a
saddle…cloth。 〃Now； if _I_ was to be married to…morrow； I should stop
with my pretty for a few days； and only ride off somewhere else when I
was tired of her； especially if that somewhere else chanced to be
Zululand； where they are so fond of killing people。〃
〃I dare say you would； Hans； and so would I； if I could； you be sure。
But； you see； the commandant wants me to interpret； and therefore it is
my duty to go with him。〃
〃Duty； what is duty； baas？ Love I understand。 It is for love of you
that I go with you； also for fear lest you should cause me to be beaten
if I refused。 Otherwise I would certainly stop here in the camp； where
there is plenty to eat and little work to do； as； were I you； I should
do also for love of that white missie。 But dutypah！ that is a
fool…word； which makes bones of a man before his time and leaves his
girl to others。〃
〃Of course； you do not understand； Hans； any more than you coloured
people understand what gratitude is。 But what do you mean about this
trek of ours？ Are you afraid？〃
He shrugged his shoulders。 〃A little； perhaps； baas。 At least； I
should be if I thought about the morrow； which I don't； since to…day is
enough for me； and thinking about what one can't know makes the head
ache。 Dingaan is not a nice man； baas； we saw that； didn't we？ He is a
hunter who knows how to set a trap。 Also he has the Baas Pereira up
there to help him。 So perhaps you might be more comfortable here
kissing Missie Marie。 Why do you not say that you have hurt your leg
and cannot run？ It would not be much trouble to walk about on a crutch
for a day or two； and when the commandant was well gone； your leg might
heal and you could throw the stick away。〃
〃Get thee behind me； Satan；〃 I muttered to myself； and was about to give
Hans a piece of my mind when I recollected that the poor fellow had his
own way of looking at things and could not be blamed。 Also； as he said；
he loved me； and only suggested what he thought would tend to my joy and
safety。 How could I suppose that he would be interested in the success
of a diplomatic mission to Dingaan； or think anything about it except
that it was a risky business？ So I only said：
〃Hans； if you are afraid； you had better stop behind。 I can easily find
another after…rider。〃
〃Is the baas angry with me that he should speak so？〃 asked the
Hottentot。 〃Have I not always been true to him； and if I should be
killed； what does it matter？ Have I not said that I do not think about
to…morrow； and we must all go to sleep sometime？ No； unless the baas
beats me back； I shall come with him。 But； baas〃this in a wheedling
tone〃you might give me some brandy to drink your health in to…night。
It is very good to get drunk when one has to be sober； and perhaps dead；
for a long time afterwards。 It would be nice to remember when one is a
spook； or an angel with white wings； such as the old baas； your father；
used to tell us about in school on the Sabbath。〃
At this point； finding Hans hopeless； I got up and walked away； leaving
him to finish our preparations。
That evening there was a prayer…meeting in the camp； for although no
pastor was present； one of the Boer elders took his place and offered up
supplications which； if simple and even absurd in their wording； at
least were hearty enough。 Amongst other requests； I remember that he
petitioned for the safety of those who were to go on the mission to
Dingaan and of those who were to remain behind。 Alas！ those prayers
were not heard； for it pleased the Power to Whom they were addressed to
decree otherwise。
After this meeting； in which I took an earnest share； Retief who just
before it began had ridden in from Doornkop； whither he had been to
visit his wife； held a kind of council； whereat the names of those who
had volunteered or been ordered to accompany him； were finally taken
down。 At this council there was a good deal of discussion； since many
of the Boers did not think the expedition wiseat any rate； if it was
to be carried out on so large a scale。 One of them； I forget which； an
old man； pointed out that it might look like a war party； and that it
would be wiser if only five or six went； as they had done before； since
then there could be no mistake as to the peaceful nature of their
intentions。
Retief himself combated this view； and at last turned suddenly to me；
who was listening near by； and said：
〃Allan Quatermain； you are young； but you have a good judgment； also；
you are one of the very few who know Dingaan and can speak his language。
Tell us now； what do you think？〃
Thus adjured； I answered； perhaps moved thereto more than I thought by
Hans's talk； that I； too； considered the thing dangerous； and that
someone whose life was less valuable than the commandant's should go in
command。
〃Why do you say so； nephew；〃 he said irritably； 〃seeing that all white
men's lives are of equal value； and I can smell no danger in the
business？〃
〃Because； commandant； I do smell danger； though what danger I cannot
say； any more than a dog or a buck can when it sniffs something in the
air and barks or runs。 Dingaan is a tamed tiger just now； but tigers
are not house cats that one can play with them； as I know； who have felt
his claws and just； only just； come out from between them。〃
〃What do you mean； nephew？〃 asked Retief in his direct fashion。 〃Do you
believe that this swartzel〃 （that is； black creature） 〃means to kill
us？〃
〃I believe that it is quite possible；〃 I answered。
〃Then； nephew； being a reasonable man as you are； you must have some
ground for your belief。 Come now； out with it。〃
〃I have none； commandant； except that one who can set the lives of a
dozen folk against a man's skill in shooting at birds on the wing； and
who can kill people to be a bait for those birds； is capable of
anything。 Moreover； he told me that he did not love you Boers； and why
should he？〃
Now； all those who were standing about seemed to be impressed with this
argument。 At any rate； they turned towards Retief； anxiously waiting
for his reply。
〃Doubtless；〃 answered the commandant； who； as I have said； was irritable
that night； 〃doubtless those English missionaries have poisoned the
king's mind against us Boers。 Also；〃 he added suspiciously； 〃I think
you told me； Allan； that the king said he liked you and meant to spare
you； even if he killed your companions； just because you also are
English。 Are you sure that you do not know more than you choose to tell
us？ Has Dingaan perhaps confided something to youjust because you are
English？〃
Then noting that these words moved the assembled Boers； in whom race
prejudice and recent events had created a deep distrust of any born of
British blood； I grew very angry and answered：
〃Commandant； Dingaan confided nothing to me； except that some Kaffir
witch…doctor； who is named Zikali； a man I never saw； had told him that
he must not kill an Englishman； and therefore he wished to spare me；
although one