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he must not kill an Englishman； and therefore he wished to spare me；
although one of your people； Hernan Pereira； had whispered to him that I
ought to be killed。 Yet I say outright that I think you are foolish to
visit this king with so large a force。 Still； I am ready to do so
myself with one or two others。 Let me go； then； and try to persuade him
to sign this treaty as to the land。 If I am killed or fail； you can
follow after me and do better。〃
〃Allemachte！〃 exclaimed Retief； 〃that is a fair offer。 But how do I
know； nephew； that when we came to read the treaty we should not find
that it granted all the land to you English and not to us Boers？ No；
no； don't look angry。 That was not a right thing to say； for you are
honest whatever most of your blood may be。 Nephew Allan； you who are a
brave man； are afraid of this journey。 Now； why is that； I wonder？ Ah！
I have it。 I had forgotten。 You are to be married to…morrow morning to
a very pretty girl； and it is not natural that you should wish to spend
the next fortnight in Zululand。 Don't you see； brothers； he wants to
get out of it because he is going to be married； as it is natural that
he should； and therefore he tries to frighten us all？ When we were
going to be married； should we have wished to ride away at once to visit
some stinking savage？ Ach！ I am glad I thought of that just as I was
beginning to turn his gloomy colour； like a chameleon on a black hat；
for it explains everything；〃 and he struck his thigh with his big hand
and burst into a roar of laughter。
All the company of Boers who stood around began to laugh also；
uproariously； for this primitive joke appealed to them。 Moreover； their
nerves were strained； they also dreaded this expedition； and therefore
they were glad to relieve themselves in bucolic merriment。 Everything
was clear to them now。 Feeling myself in honour bound to go on the
embassy； as I was their only interpreter； I； artful dog； was trying to
play upon their fears in order to prevent it from starting； so that I
might have a week or two of the company of my new…wed wife。 They saw
and appreciated the joke。
〃He's slim； this little Englishman；〃 shouted one。
〃Don't be angry with him。 We should have done as much ourselves；〃
replied another。
〃Leave him behind；〃 said a third。 〃Even the Zulus do not send a
new…married man on service。〃 Then they smacked me on the back； and
hustled me in their rude； kindly manner； till at length I fell into a
rage and hit one of them on the nose； at which he only laughed the
louder； although I made it bleed。
〃See here； friends；〃 I said； as soon as silence was restored； 〃married
or no； whoever does not ride to Dingaan； I ride to him； although it is
against my judgment。 Let those laugh loudest who laugh last。〃
〃Good！〃 cried one； 〃if you set the pace we shall soon be home again；
Allan Quatermain。 Who would not with Marie Marais at the end of the
journey？〃
Then； followed by their rough and mocking laughter； I broke away from
them； and took refuge in my wagon； little guessing that all this talk
would be brought up against me on a day to come。
In a certain class of uneducated mind foresight is often interpreted as
guilty knowledge。
CHAPTER XVII
THE MARRIAGE
I was awakened on my wedding morning by the crash and bellowing of a
great thunderstorm。 The lightning flashed fearfully all about us；
killing two oxen quite near to my wagon； and the thunder rolled and
echoed till the very earth seemed to shake。 Then came a wail of cold
wind； and after that the swish of torrential rain。 Although I was well
accustomed to such natural manifestations； especially at this season of
the year； I confess that these sights and sounds did not tend to raise
my spirits； which were already lower than they should have been on that
eventful day。 Hans； however； who arrived to help me put on my best
clothes for the ceremony； was for once consoling。
〃Don't look sick； baas；〃 he said； 〃for if there is storm in the morning；
there is shine at night。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； speaking more to myself than to him； 〃but what will
happen between the storm of the morning and the peace of the night？〃
It was arranged that the commission； which； counting the native
after…riders； consisted of over a hundred people； among them several
boys； who were little more than children； was to ride at one hour before
noon。 Nobody could get about to make the necessary preparations until
the heavy rain had passed away； which it did a little after eight
o'clock。 Therefore when I left the wagon to eat； or try to eat some
breakfast； I found the whole camp in a state of bustle。
Boers were shouting to their servants； horses were being examined； women
were packing the saddle…bags of their husbands and fathers with spare
clothes； the pack…beasts were being laden with biltong and other
provisions； and so forth。
In the midst of all this tumult I began to wonder whether my private
business would not be forgotten； since it seemed unlikely that time
could be found for marriages。 However； about ten o'clock when； having
done everything that I had to do； I was sitting disconsolately upon my
wagon box； being too shy to mix with that crowd of busy mockers or to go
to the Prinsloos' camp to make inquiries； the vrouw herself appeared。
〃Come on； Allan；〃 she said； 〃the commandant is waiting and swearing
because you are not there。 Also； there is another waiting； and oh！ she
looks lovely。 When they see her； every man in the camp will want her
for himself； whether he has got a wife or not； for in that matter；
although you mayn't think so just now； they are all the same as the
Kaffirs。 Oh！ I know them； I know them； a white skin makes no
difference。〃
While she held forth thus in her usual outspoken fashion； the vrouw was
dragging me along by the hand； just as though I were a naughty little
boy。 Nor could I get free from that mighty grip； or； when once her
great bulk was in motion； match my weight against it。 Of course； some
of the younger Boers； who； knowing her errand； had followed her； set up
a shout of cheers and laughter； which attracted everybody to the
procession。
〃It is too late to hang back now； Englishman。〃 〃You must make the best
of a bad business。〃 〃If you wanted to change your mind； you should have
done it before；〃 men and women roared and screamed with many other such
bantering words； till at length I felt myself turn the colour of a red
vlei lily。
So we came at last to where Marie stood； the centre of an admiring
circle。 She was clothed in a soft white gown made of some simple but
becoming stuff； and she wore upon her dark hair a wreath woven by the
other maidens in the camp； a bevy of whom stood behind her。
Now we were face to face。 Our eyes met； and oh！ hers were full of love
and trust。 They dazzled and bewildered me。 Feeling that I ought to
speak； and not knowing what to say； I merely stammered 〃Good morning；〃
whereon everyone broke into a roar of laughter； except Vrouw Prinsloo；
who exclaimed：
〃Did any one ever see such a fool？〃 and even Marie smiled。
Then Piet Retief appeared from somewhere dressed in tall boots and rough
riding clothes； such as the Boers wore in those days。 Handing the roer
he was carrying to one of his sons； after much fumbling he produced a
book from his pocket； in which the place was marked with a piece of
grass。
〃Now then；〃 he said； 〃be silent； all； and show respect； for remember I
am not a man just now。 I am a parson； which is quite a different thing；
and； being a commandant and a veld cornet and other officers all rolled
into one； by virtue of the law I am about to marry these young people；
so help me God。 Don't any of you witnesses ever say afterwards that
they are not rightly and soundly married； because I tell you that they
are； or will be。〃 He paused for breath； and someone said； 〃Hear； hear；〃
or its Dutch equivalent； whereon； having glared the offender into
silence； Retief proceeded：
〃Young man and young woman； what are your names？〃
〃Don't ask silly questions； commandant；〃 broke in Vrouw Prinsloo； 〃you
know their names well enough。〃
〃Of course I do； aunt；〃 he answered； 〃but for this purpose I must
pretend not to know them。 Are you better acquainted with the law than I
am？ But stay； where is the father； Henri Marais？〃
Someone thrust Marais forward； and there he stood quite silent； staring
at us with a queer look upon his face and his gun in his hand； for he；
too； was ready to ride。
〃Take away that gun；〃 said Retief； 〃it might go off and cause
disturbance or perhaps accidents；〃 and somebody obeyed。 〃Now； Henri
Marais； do you give your daughter to be married to this man？〃
〃No；〃 said Marais softly。
〃Very well； that is just like you； but it doesn't matter； for she is of