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last rays of the sinking orb had shown me something as they died。 There
on the slope of the hill stood some mud and wattle houses； such as I had
ordered to be built； and near to them several white…capped wagons。 Only
I did not see any smoke rising from those houses as there should have
been at this hour of the day； when men cooked their evening food。 The
moon would be up presently； I knew； but meanwhile it was dark and the
tired horse stumbled and floundered among the stones which lay about at
the foot of the hill。
I could bear it no longer。
〃Hans；〃 I said； 〃do you stay here with the horse。 I will creep to the
houses and see if any dwell there。〃
〃Be careful； baas；〃 he answered； 〃lest you should find Zulus； for those
black devils are all about。〃
I nodded； for I could not speak； and then began the ascent。 For several
hundred yards I crept from stone to stone； feeling my way； for the
Kaffir path that led to the little plateau where the spring was； above
which the shanties stood； ran at the other end of the hill。 I struck
the spruit or rivulet that was fed by this spring； being guided to it by
the murmur of the water； and followed up its bank till I heard a sound
which caused me to crouch and listen。
I could not be sure because of the ceaseless babble of the brook； but
the sound seemed like that of sobs。 While I waited the great moon
appeared suddenly above a bank of inky cloud； flooding the place with
light； and oh！ by that light； looking more ethereal than woman I sawI
saw Marie！
She stood not five paces from me； by the side of the stream； whither she
had come to draw water； for she held a vessel in her hand。 She was
clothed in some kind of a black garment； such as widows wear； but made
of rough stuff； and above it her face showed white in the white rays of
the moon。 Gazing at her from the shadow； I could even see the tears
running down her cheeks； for it was she who wept in this lonely place；
wept for one who would return no more。
My voice choked in my throat； I could not utter a single word。 Rising
from behind a rock I moved towards her。 She saw me and started； then
said in a thrilling whisper：
〃Oh！ husband； has God sent you to call me？ I am ready； husband； I am
ready！〃 and she stretched out her arms wildly； letting fall the vessel；
that clanked upon the ground。
〃Marie！〃 I gasped at length； and at that word the blood rushed to her
face and brow； and I saw her draw in her breath as though to scream。
〃Hush！〃 I whispered。 〃It is I； Allan； who have escaped alive。〃
The next thing I remember was that she lay in my arms。
〃What has happened here？〃 I asked when I had told my tale； or some of
it。
〃Nothing； Allan；〃 she answered。 〃I received your letter at the camp；
and we trekked away as you bade us； without telling the others why；
because you remember the Commandant Retief wrote to us not to do so。 So
we were out of the great slaughter； for the Zulus did not know where we
had gone； and never followed us here； although I have heard that they
sought for me。 My father and my cousin Hernan only arrived at the camp
two days after the attack； and discovering or guessing our
hiding…placeI know not whichrode on hither。 They say they came to
warn the Boers to be careful； for they did not trust Dingaan； but were
too late。 So they too were out of the slaughter； for； Allan； many； many
have been killedthey say five or six hundred； most of them women and
children。 But thank God！ many more escaped； since the men came in from
the other camps farther off and from their shooting parties； and drove
away the Zulus； killing them by scores。〃
〃Are your father and Pereira here now？〃 I asked。
〃No； Allan。 They learned of the massacre and that the Zulus were all
gone yesterday morning。 Also they got the bad news that Retief and
everyone with him had been killed at Dingaan's town； it is said through
the treachery of the English； who arranged with Dingaan that he should
kill them。〃
〃That is false；〃 I said； 〃but go on。〃
〃Then； Allan； they came and told me that I was a widow like many other
womenI who had never been a wife。 Allan； Hernan said that I should
not grieve for you； as you deserved your fate； since you had been caught
in your own snare； being one of those who had betrayed the Boers。 The
Vrouw Prinsloo answered to his face that he lied； and； Allan； I said
that I would never speak to him again until we met before the Judgment
Seat of God； nor will I do so。〃
〃But I will speak to him；〃 I muttered。 〃Well； where are they now？〃
〃They rode this morning back to the other Boers。 I think they want to
bring a party of them here to settle； if they like this place； as it is
so easy to defend。 They said they would return to…morrow； and that
meanwhile we were quite safe； as they had sure tidings that all the
Zulus were back over the Tugela； taking some of their wounded with them；
and also the Boer cattle as an offering to Dingaan。 But come to the
house； Allanour home that I had made ready for you as well as I could。
Oh！ my God！ our home on the threshold of which I believed you would
never set a foot。 Yes； when the moon rose from that cloud I believed
it； and look； they are still quite close together。 Hark； what is that？〃
I listened； and caught the sound of a horse's hoofs stumbling among the
rocks。
〃Don't be frightened；〃 I answered； 〃it is only Hans with my horse。 He
escaped also； I will tell you how afterwards。〃 And as I spoke he
appeared； a woebegone and exhausted object。
〃Good day； missie；〃 he said with an attempt at cheerfulness。 〃Now you
should give me a fine dinner； for you see I have brought the baas back
safe to you。 Did I not tell you； baas； that everything would come
right？〃
Then he grew silent from exhaustion。 Nor were we sorry； who at that
moment did not wish to listen to the poor fellow's talk。
Something over two hours had gone by since the moon broke out from the
clouds。 I had greeted the Vrouw Prinsloo and all my other friends； and
been received by them with rapture as one risen from the dead。 If they
had loved me before； now a new gratitude was added to their love； since
had it not been for my warning they also must have made acquaintance
with the Zulu spears and perished。 It was on their part of the camp
that the worst of the attack fell。 Indeed； from those wagons hardly
anyone escaped。
I had told them all the story； to which they listened in dead silence。
Only when it was finished the Heer Meyer； whose natural gloom had been
deepened by all these events； said：
〃Allemachte！ but you have luck； Allan； to be left when everyone else is
taken。 Now； did I not know you so well； like Hernan Pereira I should
think that you and that devil Dingaan had winked at each other。〃
The Vrouw Prinsloo turned on him furiously。
〃How dare you say such words； Carl Meyer？〃 she exclaimed。 〃Must Allan
always be insulted just because he is English； which he cannot help？
For my part； I think that if anyone winked at Dingaan it was the
stinkcat Pereira。 Otherwise why did he come away before the killing and
bring that madman； Henri Marais； with him？〃
〃I don't know； I am sure； aunt；〃 said Meyer humbly； for like everyone
else he was afraid of the Vrouw Prinsloo。
〃Then why can't you hold your tongue instead of saying silly things
which must give pain？〃 asked the vrouw。 〃No； don't answer； for you will
only make matters worse； but take the rest of that meat to the poor
Hottentot； Hans〃I should explain that we had been supping〃who；
although he has eaten enough to burst any white stomach； I dare say can
manage another pound or two。〃
Meyer obeyed meekly； and the others melted away also as they were wont
to do when the vrouw showed signs of war； so that she and we two were
left alone。
〃Now；〃 said the vrouw； 〃everyone is tired； and I say that it is time to
go to rest。 Good night； nephew Allan and niece Marie；〃 and she waddled
away leaving us together。
〃Husband；〃 said Marie presently； 〃will you come and see the home that I
made ready for you before I thought that you were dead？ It is a poor
place； but I pray God that we may be happy there；〃 and she took me by
the hand and kissed me once and twice and thrice。
About noon on the following day； when my wife and I were laughing and
arguing over some little domestic detail of our meagre establishmentso
soon are great griefs forgotten in an overwhelming joy； of a sudden I
saw her face change； and asked what was the matter。
〃Hist！〃 she said； 〃I hear horses；〃 and she pointed in a certain
direction。
I looked； and there； round the corner of the hill； came a body of Boers
with their after…riders； thirty…two or three of them in all； of whom
twenty were white men。
〃See；〃 said Marie； 〃my father is among them； and my cousin Hernan rides
at his side。〃