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thirty hours； and； of course； had not eaten or drunk since sunset。
Therefore being in fine fettle； they were keen for the business； also we
were light weights。
I held in the mare as she spurted up the rise； and the horse kept his
pace to hers。 We reached its crest； and before us lay the great level
plain； eleven miles of it； and then two miles down hill to
Maraisfontein。
〃Now；〃 I said to Hans； shaking loose the reins； 〃keep up if you can！〃
Away sped the mare till the keen air of the night sung past my ears； and
behind her strained the good roan horse with the Hottentot monkey on its
back。 Oh！ what a ride was that！
Further I have gone for a like cause； but never at such speed； for I
knew the strength of the beasts and how long it would last them。 Half
an hour of it they might endure； more； and at this pace they must
founder or die。
And yet such was the agony of my fear； that it seemed to me as though I
only crept along the ground like a tortoise。
The roan was left behind； the sound of his foot…beats died away； and I
was alone with the night and my fear。 Mile added itself to mile； for
now and again the starlight showed me a stone or the skeleton of some
dead beast that I knew。 Once I dashed into a herd of trekking game so
suddenly； that a springbok； unable to stop itself； leapt right over me。
Once the mare put her foot in an ant…bear hole and nearly fell； but
recovered herselfthanks be to God； unharmedand I worked myself back
into the saddle whence I had been almost shaken。 If I had fallen； oh！
if I had fallen！
We were near the end of the flat； and she began to fail。 I had
over…pressed her； the pace was too tremendous。 Her speed lessened to an
ordinary fast gallop as she faced the gentle rise that led to the brow。
And now； behind me； once more I heard the sound of the hoofs of the
roan。 The tireless beast was coming up。 By the time we reached the
edge of the plateau he was quite near； not fifty yards behind； for I
heard him whinny faintly。
Then began the descent。 The morning star was setting； the east grew
grey with light。 Oh！ could we get there before the dawn？ Could we get
there before the dawn？ That is what my horse's hoofs beat out to me。
Now I could see the mass of the trees about the stead。 And now I dashed
into something； though until I was through it； I did not know that it
was a line of men； for the faint light gleamed upon the spear of one of
them who had been overthrown！
So it was no lie！ The Kaffirs were there！ As I thought it； a fresh
horror filled my heart； perhaps their murdering work was already done
and they were departing。
The minute of suspenseor was it but seconds？seemed an eternity。 But
it ended at last。 Now I was at the door in the high wall that enclosed
the outbuildings at the back of the house； and there； by an inspiration；
pulled up the mareglad enough she was to stop； poor thingfor it
occurred to me that if I rode to the front I should very probably be
assegaied and of no further use。 I tried the door； which was made of
stout stinkwood planks。 By design； or accident； it had been left
unbolted。 As I thrust it open Hans arrived with a rush； clinging to the
roan with his face hidden in its mane。 The beast pulled up by the side
of the mare which it had been pursuing； and in the faint light I saw
that an assegai was fixed in its flank。
Five seconds later we were in the yard and locking and barring the door
behind us。 Then； snatching the saddle…bags of ammunition from the
horses； we left them standing there； and I ran for the back entrance of
the house； bidding Hans rouse the natives； who slept in the
outbuildings； and follow with them。 If any one of them showed signs of
treachery he was to shoot him at once。 I remember that as I went I tore
the spear out of the stallion's flank and brought it away with me。
Now I was hammering upon the back door of the house； which I could not
open。 After a pause that seemed long； a window was thrown wide； and a
voiceit was Marie'sasked in frightened tones who was there。
〃I； Allan Quatermain；〃 I answered。 〃Open at once； Marie。 You are in
great danger； the Red Kaffirs are going to attack the house。〃
She flew to the door in her nightdress； and at length I was in the
place。
〃Thank God！ you are still safe；〃 I gasped。 〃Put on your clothes while I
call Leblanc。 No； stay； do you call him； I must wait here for Hans and
your slaves。〃
Away she sped without a word； and presently Hans arrived； bringing with
him eight frightened men； who as yet scarcely knew whether they slept or
woke。
〃Is that all？〃 I asked。 〃Then bar the door and follow me to the
'sitkammer'； where the baas keeps his guns。〃
Just as we reached it； Leblanc entered； clad in his shirt and trousers；
and was followed presently by Marie with a candle。
〃What is it？〃 he asked。
I took the candle from Marie's hand； and set it on the floor close to
the wall； lest it should prove a target for an assegai or a bullet。
Even in those days the Kaffirs had a few firearms； for the most part
captured or stolen from white men。 Then in a few words I told them all。
〃And when did you learn all this？〃 asked Leblanc in French。
〃At the Mission Station a little more than half an hour ago；〃 I
answered； looking at my watch。
〃At the station a little more than half an hour ago！ Peste！ it is not
possible。 You dream or are drunken；〃 he cried excitedly。
〃All right； monsieur； we will argue afterwards；〃 I answered。 〃Meanwhile
the Kaffirs are here； for I rode through them； and if you want to save
your life； stop talking and act。 Marie； how many guns are there？〃
〃Four；〃 she answered； 〃of my father's； two 'roers' and two smaller
ones。〃
〃And how many of these men〃and I pointed to the Kaffirs〃can shoot？〃
〃Three well and one badly； Allan。〃
〃Good；〃 I said。 〃Let them load the guns with 'loopers'〃that is；
slugs； not bullets〃and let the rest stand in the passage with their
assegais； in case the Quabies should try to force the back door。〃
Now； in this house there were in all but six windows； one to each
sitting…room； one to each of the larger bedrooms； these four opening on
to the veranda； and one at either end of the house； to give light and
air to the two small bedrooms； which were approached through the larger
bedrooms。 At the back； fortunately； there were no windows； for the
stead was but one room deep with passage running from the front to the
back door； a distance of little over fifteen feet。
As soon as the guns were loaded I divided up the men； a man with a gun
at each window。 The right…hand sitting…room window I took myself with
two guns； Marie coming with me to load； which； like all girls in that
wild country； she could do well enough。 So we arranged ourselves in a
rough…and…ready fashion； and while we were doing it felt quite
cheerfulthat is； all except Monsieur Leblanc； who； I noticed； seemed
very much disturbed。
I do not for one moment mean to suggest that he was afraid； as he might
well have been； for he was an extremely brave and even rash man； but I
think the knowledge that his drunken act had brought this terrible
danger upon us all weighed on his mind。 Also there may have been more；
some subtle fore…knowledge of the approaching end to a life that； when
all allowances were made； could scarcely be called well spent。 At any
rate he fidgeted at his window…place cursing beneath his breath； and
soon； as I saw out of the corner of my eye； began to have recourse to
his favourite bottle of peach brandy； which he fetched out of a
cupboard。
The slaves； too； were gloomy； as all natives are when suddenly awakened
in the night； but as the light grew they became more cheerful。 It is a
poor Kaffir that does not love fighting； especially when he has a gun
and a white man or two to lead him。
Now that we had made such little preparations as we could； which； by the
way； I supplemented by causing some furniture to be piled up against the
front and back doors； there came a pause； which； speaking for my own
partbeing； after all； only a lad at the timeI found very trying to
the nerves。 There I stood at my window with the two guns； one a
double…barrel and one a single 〃roer〃； or elephant gun； that took a
tremendous charge； but both； be it remembered； flint locks； for；
although percussion caps had been introduced； we were a little behind
the times in Cradock。 There； too； crouched on the ground beside me；
holding the ammunition ready for re…loading； her long； black hair
flowing about her shoulders； was Marie Marais； now a well…grown young
woman。 In the intense silence she whispered to me：
〃Why did you come here； Allan？ You were safe yonder； and now you will
probably be killed。〃
〃To try to save you；〃 I answered simply。 〃What would you have had me
do？〃
〃To try to save me？