按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
me。 True； it was a very discreet affection； almost sisterly； or even
motherly； in its outward and visible aspects； as though she could never
forget that extra half…inch of height or month or two of age。
Moreover； from a child she was a woman； as an Irishman might say； for
circumstances and character had shaped her thus。 Not much more than a
year before we met； her mother； whose only child she was； and whom she
loved with all her strong and passionate heart； died after a lingering
illness； leaving her in charge of her father and his house。 I think it
was this heavy bereavement in early youth which coloured her nature with
a grey tinge of sadness and made her seem so much older than her years。
So the time went on； I worshipping Marie in my secret thought； but
saying nothing about it； and Marie talking of and acting towards me as
though I were her dear younger brother。 Nobody； not even her father or
mine； or Monsieur Leblanc； took the slightest notice of this queer
relationship； or seemed to dream that it might lead to ultimate
complications which； in fact； would have been very distasteful to them
all for reasons that I will explain。
Needless to say； in due course； as they were bound to do； those
complications arose； and under pressure of great physical and moral
excitement the truth came out。 It happened thus。
Every reader of the history of the Cape Colony has heard of the great
Kaffir War of 1835。 That war took place for the most part in the
districts of Albany and Somerset； so that we inhabitants of Cradock； on
the whole； suffered little。 Therefore； with the natural optimism and
carelessness of danger of dwellers in wild places； we began to think
ourselves fairly safe from attack。 Indeed； so we should have been； had
it not been for a foolish action on the part of Monsieur Leblanc。
It seems that on a certain Sunday； a day that I always spent at home
with my father； Monsieur Leblanc rode out alone to some hills about five
miles distant from Maraisfontein。 He had often been cautioned that this
was an unsafe thing to do； but the truth is that the foolish man thought
he had found a rich copper mine in these hills； and was anxious that no
one should share his secret。 Therefore； on Sundays； when there were no
lessons； and the Heer Marais was in the habit of celebrating family
prayers； which Leblanc disliked； it was customary for him to ride to
these hills and there collect geological specimens and locate the strike
of his copper vein。 On this particular Sabbath； which was very hot；
after he had done whatever he intended to do； he dismounted from his
horse； a tame old beast。 Leaving it loose； he partook of the meal he
had brought with him； which seems to have included a bottle of peach
brandy that induced slumber。
Waking up towards evening； he found that his horse had gone； and at once
jumped to the conclusion that it had been stolen by Kaffirs； although in
truth the animal had but strolled over a ridge in search of grass。
Running hither and thither to seek it； he presently crossed this ridge
and met the horse； apparently being led away by two of the Red Kaffirs；
who； as was usual； were armed with assegais。 As a matter of fact these
men had found the beast； and； knowing well to whom it belonged； were
seeking its owner； whom； earlier in the day； they had seen upon the
hills； in order to restore it to him。 This； however； never occurred to
the mind of Monsieur Leblanc； excited as it was by the fumes of the
peach brandy。
Lifting the double…barrelled gun he carried； he fired at the first
Kaffir； a young man who chanced to be the eldest son and heir of the
chief of the tribe； and； as the range was very close； shot him dead。
Thereon his companion； leaving go of the horse； ran for his life。 At
him Leblanc fired also； wounding him slightly in the thigh； but no more；
so that he escaped to tell the tale of what he and every other native
for miles round considered a wanton and premeditated murder。 The deed
done； the fiery old Frenchman mounted his nag and rode quietly home。 On
the road； however； as the peach brandy evaporated from his brain； doubts
entered it； with the result that he determined to say nothing of his
adventure to Henri Marais； who he knew was particularly anxious to avoid
any cause of quarrel with the Kaffirs。
So he kept his own counsel and went to bed。 Before he was up next
morning the Heer Marais； suspecting neither trouble nor danger； had
ridden off to a farm thirty miles or more away to pay its owner for some
cattle which he had recently bought； leaving his home and his daughter
quite unprotected； except by Leblanc and the few native servants； who
were really slaves； that lived about the place。
Now on the Monday night I went to bed as usual； and slept； as I have
always done through life； like a top； till about four in the morning；
when I was awakened by someone tapping at the glass of my window。
Slipping from the bed； I felt for my pistol； as it was quite dark； crept
to the window； opened it； and keeping my head below the level of the
sill； fearing lest its appearance should be greeted with an assegai；
asked who was there。
〃Me； baas；〃 said the voice of Hans； our Hottentot servant； who； it will
be remembered； had accompanied me as after…rider when first I went to
Maraisfontein。 〃I have bad news。 Listen。 The baas knows that I have
been out searching for the red cow which was lost。 Well； I found her；
and was sleeping by her side under a tree on the veld when； about two
hours ago； a woman whom I know came up to my camp fire and woke me。 I
asked her what she was doing at that hour of the night； and she answered
that she had come to tell me something。 She said that some young men of
the tribe of the chief Quabie； who lives in the hills yonder； had been
visiting at their kraal； and that a few hours before a messenger had
arrived from the chief saying that they must return at once； as this
morning at dawn he and all his men were going to attack Maraisfontein
and kill everyone in it and take the cattle！〃
〃Good God！〃 I ejaculated。 〃Why？〃
〃Because； young baas；〃 drawled the Hottentot from the other side of the
window； 〃because someone from MaraisfonteinI think it was the Vulture〃
（the natives gave this name to Leblanc on account of his bald head and
hooked nose）〃shot Quabie's son on Sunday when he was holding his
horse。〃
〃Good God！〃 I said again； 〃the old fool must have been drunk。 When did
you say the attack was to beat dawn？〃 and I glanced at the stars；
adding； 〃Why； that will be within less than an hour； and the Baas Marais
is away。〃
〃Yes；〃 croaked Hans； 〃and Missie Mariethink of what the Red Kaffirs
will do with Missie Marie when their blood is up。〃
I thrust my fist through the window and struck the Hottentot's toad…like
face on which the starlight gleamed faintly。
〃Dog！〃 I said； 〃saddle my mare and the roan horse and get your gun。 In
two minutes I come。 Be swift or I kill you。〃
〃I go；〃 he answered； and shot out into the night like a frightened
snake。
Then I began to dress； shouting as I dressed； till my father and the
Kaffirs ran into the room。 As I threw on my things I told them all。
〃Send out messengers；〃 I said； 〃to Maraishe is at Botha's farmand to
all the neighbours。 Send； for your lives； gather up the friendly
Kaffirs and ride like hell for Maraisfontein。 Don't talk to me； father；
don't talk！ Go and do what I tell you。 Stay！ Give me two guns； fill
the saddle…bags with powder tins and loopers； and tie them to my mare。
Oh！ be quick； be quick！〃
Now at length they understood； and flew this way and that with candles
and lanterns。 Two minutes laterit could scarcely have been moreI
was in front of the stables just as Hans led out the bay mare； a famous
beast that for two years I had saved all my money to buy。 Someone
strapped on the saddle…bags while I tested the girths； someone else
appeared with the stout roan stallion that I knew would follow the mare
to the death。 There was not time to saddle him； so Hans clambered on to
his back like a monkey； holding two guns under his arm； for I carried
but one and my double…barrelled pistol。
〃Send off the messengers；〃 I shouted to my father。 〃If you would see me
again send them swiftly； and follow with every man you can raise。〃
Then we were away with fifteen miles to do and five…and…thirty minutes
before the dawn。
〃Softly up the slope；〃 I said to Hans； 〃till the beasts get their wind；
and then ride as you never rode before。〃
Those first two miles of rising ground！ I thought we should never come
to the end of them； and yet I dared not let the mare out lest she should
bucket herself。 Happily she and her companion； the stalliona most
enduring horse； though not so very swifthad stood idle for the last
thirty hours； and； of course； had not eaten or drunk since sunset。