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〃No；〃 said Marais softly。
〃Very well； that is just like you； but it doesn't matter； for she is of
age and can give herself。 Is she not of age； Henri Marais？ Don't stand
there like a horse with the staggers； but tell me； is she not of age？〃
〃I believe so；〃 he answered in the same soft voice。
〃Then take notice； people all； that this woman is of age； and gives
herself to be married to this man； don't you； my dear？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Marie。
〃All right； now for it；〃 and； opening the book； he held it up to the
light； and began to read； or； rather； to stumble； through the marriage
service。
Presently he stuck fast； being； like most Boers of his time； no great
scholar； and exclaimed：
〃Here； one of you help me with these hard words。〃
As nobody volunteered； Retief handed the book to me； for he knew that
Marais would not assist him； saying：
〃You are a scholar； Allan； being a clergyman's son。 Read on till we
come to the important bits； and I will say the words after you； which
will do just as well and be quite according to law。〃
So I read； Heaven knows how； for the situation was trying enough； until
I came to the crucial questions； when I gave the book back。
〃Ah！〃 said Retief； 〃this is quite easy。 Now then； Allan； do you take
this woman to be your wife？ Answer； putting in your name； which is left
blank in the book。〃
I replied that I did； and the question was repeated to Marie； who did
likewise。
〃Well then； there you are；〃 said Retief； 〃for I won't trouble you with
all the prayers； which I don't feel myself parson enough to say。 Oh！
no； I forgot。 Have you a ring？〃
I drew one off my finger that had been my mother'sI believe it had
served this same purpose at the wedding of her grandmotherand set the
thin little hoop of gold upon the third finger of Marie's left hand。 I
still wear that ring to…day。
〃It should have been a new one；〃 muttered Vrouw Prinsloo。
〃Be silent； aunt；〃 said Retief； 〃are there any jewellers' shops here in
the veld？ A ring is a ring； even if it came off a horse's bit。 There；
I think that is all。 No； wait a minute； I am going to say a prayer of
my own over you； not one out of this book； which is so badly printed
that I cannot read it。 Kneel down； both of you； the rest may stand； as
the grass is so wet。〃
Now； bethinking herself of Marie's new dress； the vrouw produced her
vatdoek from a capacious pocket； and doubled up that dingy article for
Marie to kneel on； which she did。 Then Pieter Retief； flinging down the
book； clasped his hands and uttered this simple； earnest prayer；
whereof； strangely enough； every word remains fast in my mind。 Coming
as it did； not from a printed page； but from his honest and believing
heart； it was very impressive and solemn。
〃O God above us； Who sees all and is with us when we are born； when we
are married； when we die； and if we do our duty for all time afterwards
in Heaven； hear our prayer。 I pray Thee bless this man and this woman
who appear here before Thee to be wed。 Make them love each other truly
all their lives； be these long or short； be they sick or well； be they
happy or in sorrow； be they rich or poor。 Give them children to be
reared up in Thy Word； give them an honest name and the respect of all
who know them； and at last give them Thy Salvation through the Blood of
Jesus the Saviour。 If they are together； let them rejoice in each
other。 If they are apart； let them not forget each other。 If one of
them dies and the other lives； let that one who lives look forward to
the day of reunion and bow the head to Thy Will； and keep that one who
dies in Thy holy Hand。 O Thou Who knowest all things； guide the lives
of these two according to Thy eternal purpose； and teach them to be sure
that whatever Thou doest； is done for the best。 For Thou art a faithful
Creator； Who wishes good to His children and not evil； and at the last
Thou wilt give them that good if they do but trust in Thee through
daylight and through darkness。 Now let no man dare to put asunder those
whom Thou hast joined together； O Lord God Almighty； Father of us all。
Amen。〃
So he prayed； and all the company echoed that Amen from their hearts。
That is all except one； for Henri Marais turned his back on us and
walked away。
〃So；〃 said Retief； wiping his brow with the sleeve of his coat； 〃you are
the last couple that ever I mean to marry。 The work is too hard for a
layman who has bad sight for print。 Now kiss each other； it is the
right thing to do。〃
So we kissed； and the congregation cheered。
〃Allan；〃 went on the commandant； pulling out a silver watch like a
turnip； 〃you have just half an hour before we ride； and the Vrouw
Prinsloo says that she has made you a wedding meal in that tent there；
so you had best go eat it。〃
To the tent we went accordingly； to find a simple but bounteous feast
prepared； of which we partook； helping each other to food； as is； or
was； the custom with new…wedded folk。 Also； many Boers came in and
drank our healths； although the Vrouw Prinsloo told them that it would
have been more decent to leave us alone。 But Henri Marais did not come
or drink our healths。
Thus the half…hour went all too swiftly； and not a word did we get
alone。 At last in despair； seeing that Hans was already waiting with
the horses； I drew Marie aside； motioning to everyone to stand back。
〃Dearest wife；〃 I said in broken words； 〃this is a strange beginning to
our married life； but you see it can't be helped。〃
〃No； Allan；〃 she answered； 〃it can't be helped； but oh！ I wish my heart
were happier about your journey。 I fear Dingaan； and if anything should
chance to you I shall die of grief。〃
〃Why should anything chance； Marie？ We are a strong and well…armed
party； and Dingaan looks on us peacefully。〃
〃I don't know； husband； but they say Hernan Pereira is with the Zulus；
and he hates you。〃
〃Then he had better mind his manners； or he will not be here long to
hate anybody；〃 I answered grimly； for my gorge rose at the thought of
this man and his treacheries。
〃Vrouw Prinsloo；〃 I called to the old lady； who was near； 〃be pleased to
come hither and listen。 And； Marie； do you listen also。 If by chance I
should hear anything affecting your safety； and send you a message by
someone you can trust； such as that you should remove yourselves
elsewhere or hide； promise me that you will obey it without question。〃
〃Of course I will obey you； husband。 Have I not just sworn to do so？〃
Marie said with a sad smile。
〃And so will I； Allan；〃 said the vrouw； 〃not because I have sworn
anything； but because I know you have a good head on your shoulders； and
so will my man and the others of our party。 Though why you should think
you will have any message to send； I can't guess； unless you know
something that is hidden from us；〃 she added shrewdly。 〃You say you
don't； well； it is not likely you would tell us if you did。 Look！ They
are calling； you must go。 Come on； Marie； let us see them off。〃
So we went to where the commission was gathered on horseback； just in
time to hear Retief addressing the people； or； rather； the last of his
words。
〃Friends；〃 he said； 〃we go upon an important business； from which I hope
we shall return happily within a very little time。 Still； this is a
rough country； and we have to deal with rough people。 Therefore my
advice to all you who stay behind is that you should not scatter； but
keep together； so that in case of any trouble the men who are left may
be at hand to defend this camp。 For if they are here you have nothing
to fear from all the savages in Africa。 And now God be with you； and
good…bye。 Come； trek； brothers； trek！〃
Then followed a few moments of confusion while men kissed their wives；
children and sisters in farewell； or shook each other by the hand。 I；
too； kissed Marie； and； tumbling on to my horse somehow； rode away； my
eyes blind with tears； for this parting was bitter。 When I could see
clearly again I pulled up and looked back at the camp； which was now at
some distance。 It seemed a peaceful place indeed； for although the
storm of the morning was returning and a pall of dark cloud hung over
it； the sun still shone upon the white wagon caps and the people who
went to and fro among them。
Who could have thought that within a little time it would be but a field
of blood； that those wagons would be riddled with assegais； and that the
women and children who were moving there must most of them lie upon the
veld mutilated corpses dreadful to behold？ Alas！ the Boers； always
impatient of authority and confident that their own individual judgment
was the best； did not obey their commandant's order to keep together。
They went off this way and that； to shoot the game which was then so
plentiful； leaving their families almost without protec