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They went off this way and that； to shoot the game which was then so
plentiful； leaving their families almost without protection。 Thus the
Zulus found and slew them。
Presently as I rode forward a little apart from the others someone
overtook me； and I saw that it was Henri Marais。
〃Well； Allan；〃 he said； 〃so God has given you to me for a son…in…law。
Who would have thought it？ You do not look to me like a new…married
man； for that marriage is not natural when the bridegroom rides off and
leaves the bride of an hour。 Perhaps you will never be really married
after all； for God； Who gives sons…in…law； can also take them away；
especially when He was not asked for them。 Ah！〃 he went on； lapsing
into French； as was his wont when moved； 〃qui vivra verra！ qui vivra
verra！〃 Then； shouting this excellent but obvious proverb at the top of
his voice； he struck his horse with the butt of his gun； and galloped
away before I could answer him。
At that moment I hated Henri Marais as I had never hated anyone before；
not even his nephew Hernan。 Almost did I ride to the commandant to
complain of him； but reflecting to myself； first that he was undoubtedly
half mad； and therefore not responsible for his actions； and secondly
that he was better here with us than in the same camp with my wife； I
gave up the idea。 Yet alas！ it is the half…mad who are the most
dangerous of lunatics。
Hans； who had observed this scene and overheard all Marais's talk； and
who also knew the state of the case well enough； sidled his horse
alongside of me； and whispered in a wheedling voice：
〃Baas； I think the old baas is kransick and not safe。 He looks like one
who is going to harm someone。 Now； baas； suppose I let my gun off by
accident； you know we coloured people are very careless with guns！ The
Heer Marais would never be troubled with any more fancies； and you and
the Missie Marie and all of us would be safer。 Also； _you_ could not be
blamed； nor could I； for who can help an accident？ Guns will go off
sometimes； baas； when you don't want them to。〃
〃Get out；〃 I answered。 Yet if Hans's gun had chanced to 〃go off；〃 I
believe it might have saved a multitude of lives！
CHAPTER XVIII
THE TREATY
Our journey to Umgungundhlovu was prosperous and without incident。 When
we were within half a day's march from the Great Kraal we overtook the
herd of cattle that we had recaptured from Sikonyela； for these beasts
had been driven very slowly and well rested that they might arrive in
good condition。 Also the commandant was anxious that we should present
them ourselves to the king。
Driving this multitude of animals before usthere were over five
thousand head of themwe reached the Great Place on Saturday the 3rd of
February about midday； and forced them through its gates into the cattle
kraals。 Then we off…saddled and ate our dinner under those two milk
trees near the gate of the kraal where I had bid good…bye to Dingaan。
After dinner messengers came to ask us to visit the king； and with them
the youth； Thomas Halstead； who told the commandant that all weapons
must be left behind； since it was the Zulu law that no man might appear
before the king armed。 To this Retief demurred； whereon the messengers
appealed to me； whom they had recognised； asking if that were not the
custom of their country。
I answered that I had not been in it long enough to know。 Then there
was a pause while they sent for someone to bear evidence； at the time I
did not know whom； as I was not near enough to Thomas Halstead to make
inquiries。 Presently this someone appeared； and turned out to be none
other than Hernan Pereira。
He advanced towards us attended by Zulus； as though he were a chief；
looking fat and well and handsomer than ever。 Seeing Retief； he lifted
his hat with a flourish and held out his hand； which； I noted； the
commandant did not take。
〃So you are still here； Mynheer Pereira！〃 he said coldly。 〃Now be good
enough to tell me； what is this matter about the abandoning of our
arms？〃
〃The king charges me to say〃 began Hernan。
〃Charges you to say； Mynheer Pereira！ Are you then this black man's
servant？ But continue。〃
〃That none must come into his private enclosure armed。〃
〃Well； then； mynheer； be pleased to go tell this king that we do not
wish to come to his private enclosure。 I have brought the cattle that
he desired me to fetch； and I am willing to deliver them to him wherever
he wishes； but we will not unarm in order to do so。〃
Now there was talk； and messengers were despatched； who returned at full
speed presently to say that Dingaan would receive the Boers in the great
dancing place in the midst of the kraal； and that they might bring their
guns； as he wished to see how they fired them。
So we rode in； making as fine a show as we could； to find that the
dancing place； which measured a good many acres in extent； was lined
round with thousands of plumed but unarmed warriors arranged in
regiments。
〃You see；〃 I heard Pereira say to Retief； 〃these have no spears。〃
〃No；〃 answered the commandant； 〃but they have sticks； which when they
are a hundred to one would serve as well。〃
Meanwhile the vast mob of cattle were being driven in a double stream
past a knot of men at the head of the space； and then away through gates
behind。 When the beasts had all gone we approached these men； among
whom I recognised the fat form of Dingaan draped in a bead mantle。 We
ranged ourselves in a semicircle before him； and stood while he searched
us with his sharp eyes。 Presently he saw me； and sent a councillor to
say that I must come and interpret for him。
So； dismounting； I went with Retief； Thomas Halstead； and a few of the
leading Boers。
〃Sakubona ＇Good day＇； Macumazahn；〃 said Dingaan。 〃I am glad that you
have come； as I know that you will speak my words truly； being one of
the People of George whom I love； for Tho…maas here I do not trust；
although he is also a Son of George。〃
I told Retief what he said。
〃Oh！〃 he exclaimed with a grunt； 〃it seems that you English are a step
in front of us Boers； even here。〃
Then he went forward and shook hands with the king； whom； it will be
remembered； he had visited before。
After that the 〃indaba〃 or talk began； which I do not propose to set out
at length； for it is a matter of history。 It is enough to say that
Dingaan； after thanking Retief for recovering the cattle； asked where
was Sikonyela； the chief who had stolen them； as he wished to kill him。
When he learned that Sikonyela remained in his own country； he became；
or affected to become； angry。 Then he asked where were the sixty horses
which he heard we had captured from Sikonyela； as they must be given up
to him。
Retief； by way of reply； touched his grey hairs； and inquired whether
Dingaan thought that he was a child that he； Dingaan； should demand
horses which did not belong to him。 He added that these horses had been
restored to the Boers； from whom Sikonyela had stolen them。
When Dingaan had expressed himself satisfied with this answer； Retief
opened the question of the treaty。 The king replied however； that the
white men had but just arrived； and he wished to see them dance after
their own fashion。 As for the business； it might 〃sit still〃 till
another day。
So in the end the Boers 〃danced〃 for his amusement。 That is； they
divided into two parties； and charged each other at full gallop； firing
their guns into the air； an exhibition which seemed to fill all present
with admiration and awe。 When they paused； the king wished them to go
on firing 〃a hundred shots apiece；〃 but the commandant declined； saying
he had no more powder to waste。
〃What do you want powder for in a peaceful country？〃 asked Dingaan
suspiciously。
Retief answered through me：
〃To kill food for ourselves； or to protect ourselves if any evil…minded
men should attack us。〃
〃Then it will not be wanted here；〃 said Dingaan； 〃since I will give you
food； and as I； the king； am your friend； no man in Zululand dare be
your enemy。〃
Retief said he was glad to hear it； and asked leave to retire with the
Boers to his camp outside the gate； as they were all tired with riding。
This Dingaan granted； and we said good…bye and went away。 Before I
reached the gate； however； a messenger； I remember it was my old friend
Kambula； overtook me； and said that the king wished to speak with me
alone。 I answered him that I could not speak with the king alone
without the permission of the commandant。 Thereon Kambula said：
〃Come with me； I pray you； O Macumazahn； since otherwise you will be
taken by force。〃
Now； I told Hans to gallop on to Retief； and tell him of my predicament；
for already I saw that at some sign from Kambula I was being surrounded
by Zulu