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Reverend Mr。 Owen； the missionary； who was very glad to see me。 He
informed me that Dingaan was in good mind towards us； and had been
asking him if he would write the treaty ceding the land which the Boers
wanted。 I stopped for service at the huts of Mr。 Owen； and then
returned to the camp。 In the afternoon Dingaan celebrated a great war
dance for us to witness； in which about twelve thousand soldiers took
part。
It was a wonderful and awe…inspiring spectacle； and I remember that each
of the regiments employed had a number of trained oxen which manoeuvred
with them； apparently at given words of command。 We did not see Dingaan
that day； except at a distance； and after the dance was over returned to
our camp to eat the beef which he had provided for us in plenty。
On the third daythat was Monday； the 5th of February； there were more
dancings and sham fights； so many more； indeed； that we began to weary
of this savage show。 Late in the afternoon； however； Dingaan sent for
the commandant and his men to come to see him； saying that he wished to
talk with him about the matter of the treaty。 So we went； but only
three or four； of whom I was one； were admitted to Dingaan's presence；
the rest remaining at a little distance； where they could see us but
were out of earshot。
Dingaan then produced a paper which had been written by the Reverend Mr。
Owen。 This document； which I believe still exists； for it was found
afterwards； was drawn up in legal or semi…legal form； beginning like a
proclamation； 〃Know all men。〃
It ceded 〃the place called Port Natal； together with all the land
annexedthat is to say； from Tugela to the Umzimvubu River westward；
and from the sea to the north〃to the Boers； 〃for their everlasting
property。〃 At the king's request； as the deed was written in English by
Mr。 Owen； I translated it to him； and afterwards the lad Halstead
translated it also； being called in to do so when I had finished。
This was done that my rendering might be checked； and the fact impressed
all the Boers very favourably。 It showed them that the king desired to
understand exactly what he was to sign； which would not have been the
case had he intended any trick or proposed to cheat them afterwards。
From that moment forward Retief and his people had no further doubts as
to Dingaan's good faith in this matter； and foolishly relaxed all
precautions against treachery。
When the translating was finished； the commandant asked the king if he
would sign the paper then and there。 He answered； 〃No； he would sign it
on the following morning； before the commission returned to Natal。〃 It
was then that Retief inquired of Dingaan； through Thomas Halstead；
whether it was a true story which he had heard； that the Boer called
Pereira； who had been staying with him； and whom the Zulus knew by the
name of 〃Two…faces；〃 had again asked him； Dingaan； to have me； Allan
Quatermain； whom they called Macumazahn； killed。 Dingaan laughed and
answered：
〃Yes； that is true enough； for he hates this Macumazahn。 But let the
little white Son of George have no fear； since my heart is soft towards
him； and I swear by the head of the Black One that he shall come to no
harm in Zululand。 Is he not my guest； as you are？〃
He then went on to say that if the commandant wished it； he would have
〃Two…faces〃 seized and killed because he had dared to ask for my life。
Retief answered that he would look into that matter himself； and after
Thomas Halstead had confirmed the king's story as to Pereira's conduct；
he rose and said good…bye to Dingaan。
Of this matter of Hernan Pereira； Retief said little as we went back to
the camp outside the Kraal； though the little that he did say showed his
deep anger。 When we arrived at the camp； however； he sent for Pereira
and Marais and several of the older Boers。 I remember that among these
were Gerrit Bothma； Senior； Hendrik Labuschagne and Matthys Pretorius；
Senior； all of them persons of standing and judgment。 I also was
ordered to be present。 When Pereira arrived； Retief charged him openly
with having plotted my murder； and asked him what he had to say。 Of
course； his answer was a flat denial； and an accusation against me of
having invented the tale because we had been at enmity over a maiden
whom I had since married。
〃Then； Mynheer Pereira；〃 said Retief； 〃as Allan Quatermain here has won
the maiden who is now his wife； it would seem that his cause of enmity
must have ceased； whereas yours may well have remained。 However； I have
no time to try cases of the sort now。 But I warn you that this one will
be looked into later on when we get back to Natal； whither I shall take
you with me； and that meanwhile an eye is kept on you and what you do。
Also I warn you that I have evidence for all that I say。 Now be so good
as to go； and to keep out of my sight as much as possible； for I do not
like a man whom these Kaffirs name 'Two…faces。' As for you； friend
Henri Marais； I tell you that you would do well to associate yourself
less with one whose name is under so dark a cloud； although he may be
your own nephew； whom all know you love blindly。〃
So far as I recollect neither of them made any answer to this direct
speech。 They simply turned and went away。 But on the next morning；
that of the fatal 6th of February； when I chanced to meet the Commandant
Retief as he was riding through the camp making arrangements for our
departure to Natal； he pulled up his horse and said：
〃Allan； Hernan Pereira has gone； and Henri Marais with him； and for my
part I am not sorry； for doubtless we shall meet again； in this world or
the next； and find out all the truth。 Here； read this； and give it back
to me afterwards〃； and he threw me a paper and rode on。
I opened the folded sheet and read as follows：
〃To the Commandant Retief； Governor of the Emigrant Boers；
〃Mynheer Commandant；
〃I will not stay here； where such foul accusations are laid on me by
black Kaffirs and the Englishman； Allan Quatermain； who； like all his
race； is an enemy of us Boers； and； although you do not know it； a
traitor who is plotting great harm against you with the Zulus。
Therefore I leave you； but am ready to meet every charge at the right
time before a proper Court。 My uncle； Henri Marais； comes with me； as
he feels that his honour is also touched。 Moreover； he has heard that
his daughter； Marie； is in danger from the Zulus； and returns to protect
her； which he who is called her husband neglects to do。 Allan
Quatermain； the Englishman； who is the friend of Dingaan； can explain
what I mean； for he knows more about the Zulu plans than I do； as you
will find out before the end。〃
Then followed the signatures of Hernan Pereira and Henri Marais。
I put the letter in my pocket； wondering what might be its precise
meaning； and in particular that of the absurd and undefined charge of
treachery against myself。 It seemed to me that Pereira had left us
because he was afraid of somethingeither that he might be placed upon
his trial or of some ultimate catastrophe in which he would be involved。
Marais probably had gone with him for the same reason that a bit of
iron follows a magnet； because he never could resist the attraction of
this evil man； his relative by birth。 Or perhaps he had learned from
him the story of his daughter's danger； upon which I had already acted；
and really was anxious about her safety。 For it must always be
remembered that Marais loved Marie passionately； however ill the reader
of this history may think that he behaved to her。 She was his darling；
the apple of his eye； and her great offence in his sight was that she
cared for me more than she did for him。 That is one of the reasons why
he hated me as much as he loved her。
Almost before I had finished reading this letter； the order came that we
were to go in a body to bid farewell to Dingaan； leaving our arms piled
beneath the two milk trees at the gate of the town。 Most of our
after…riders were commanded to accompany usI think because Retief
wished to make as big a show as possible to impress the Zulus。 A few of
these Hottentots； however； were told to stay behind that they might
collect the horses； that were knee…haltered and grazing at a distance；
and saddle them up。 Among these was Hans； for； as it chanced； I saw and
sent him with the others； so that I might be sure that my own horses
would be found and made ready for the journey。
Just as we were starting； I met the lad William Wood； who had come down
from the Mission huts； where he lived with Mr。 Owen； and was wandering
about with an anxious face。
〃How are you； William？〃 I asked。
〃Not very well； Mr。 Quatermain；〃 he answered。 〃The fact is；〃 he added
with a burst of confidence； 〃I feel queerly about you all。 The Kaffirs
have told me that something is going to happen to you； and I think yo