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〃That is true； he did so； the stinkcat；〃 shouted the Vrouw Prinsloo； and
was ordered to be silent。
〃Do you acknowledge；〃 went on the commandant； 〃that you sent to warn
your wife and those with her to depart from the camp on the Bushman's
River； because it was going to be attacked； charging them to keep the
matter secret； and that afterwards both you and your Hottentot servant
alone returned safely from Zululand； where all those who went with you
lie dead？〃
〃I acknowledge；〃 I answered； 〃that I wrote to tell my wife to come to
this place where I had been building houses； as you see； and to bring
with her any of our companions who cared to trek here； or； failing that；
to go alone。 This I did because Dingaan had told me； whether in jest or
in earnest I did not know； that he had given orders that my said wife
should be kidnapped； as he desired to make her one of his women； having
thought her beautiful when he saw her。 Also what I did was done with
the knowledge and by the wish of the late Governor Retief； as can be
shown by his writing on my letter。 I acknowledge also that I escaped
when all my brothers were killed； as did the Hottentot Hans； and if you
wish to know I will tell you how we escaped and why。〃
The commandant made a further note； then he said：
〃Let the witness Hernan Pereira be called and sworn。〃
This was done and he was ordered to tell his tale。
As may be imagined； it was a long tale； and one that had evidently been
prepared with great care。 I will only set down its blackest falsehoods。
He assured the court that he had no enmity against me and had never
attempted to kill me or do me any harm； although it was true that his
heart felt sore because； against her father's will； I had stolen away
the affection of his betrothed； who was now my wife。 He said that he
had stopped in Zululand because he knew that I should marry her as soon
as she came of age； and it was too great pain for him to see this done。
He said that while he was there； before the arrival of the commission；
Dingaan and some of his captains had told him that I had again and again
urged him； Dingaan； to kill the Boers because they were traitors to the
sovereign of England； but that he； Dingaan； had refused to do so。 He
said that when Retief came up with the commission he tried to warn him
against me； but that Retief would not listen； being infatuated with me
as many others were； and he looked towards the Prinsloos。
Then came the worst of all。 He said that while he was engaged in
mending some guns for Dingaan in one of his private huts； he overheard a
conversation between myself and Dingaan which took place outside the
hut； I； of course； not knowing that he was within。 The substance of
this conversation was that I again urged Dingaan to kill the Boers and
afterwards to send an impi to massacre their wives and families。 Only I
asked him to give me time to get away a girl whom I had married from
among them； and with her a few of my own friends whom I wished should be
spared； as I intended to become a kind of chief over them； and if he
would grant it me； to hold all the land of Natal under his rule and the
protection of the English。 To these proposals Dingaan answered that
〃they seemed wise and good； and that he would think them over very
carefully。〃
Pereira said further that coming out of the hut after Dingaan had gone
away he reproached me bitterly for my wickedness； and announced that he
would warn the Boers； which he did subsequently by word of mouth and in
writing。 That thereon I caused him to be detained by the Zulus while I
went to Retief and told him some false story about him； Pereira； which
caused Retief to drive him out of his camp and give orders that none of
the Boers should so much as speak to him。 That then he did the only
thing he could。 Going to his uncle； Henri Marais； he told him； not all
the truth； but that he had learnt for certain that his daughter Marie
was in dreadful danger of her life because of some intended attack of
the Zulus； and that all the Boers among whom she dwelt were also in
danger of their lives。
Therefore he suggested to Henri Marais that as the General Retief was
besotted and would not listen to his story； the best thing they could do
was to ride away and warn the Boers。 This then they did secretly；
without the knowledge of Retief； but being delayed upon their journey by
one accident and another； which he set out in detail； they only reached
the Bushman's River too late； after the massacre had taken place。
Subsequently； as the commandant knew； hearing a rumour that Marie Marais
and other Boers had trekked to this place before the slaughter； they
came here and learned that they had done so upon a warning sent to them
by Allan Quatermain； whereon they returned and communicated the news to
the surviving Boers at Bushman's River。
That was all he had to say。
Then； as I reserved my cross…examination until I heard all the evidence
against me； Henri Marais was sworn and corroborated his nephew's
testimony on many points as to my relations to his daughter； his
objection to my marriage to her because I was an Englishman whom he
disliked and mistrusted； and so forth。 He added further that it was
true Pereira had told him he had sure information that Marie and the
Boers were in danger from an attack upon them which had been arranged
between Allan Quatermain and Dingaan； that he also had written to Retief
and tried to speak to him but was refused a hearing。 Thereon he had
ridden away from Umgungundhlovu to try to save his daughter and warn the
Boers。 That was all he had to say。
As there were no further witnesses for the prosecution I cross…examined
these two at full length； but absolutely without results； since every
vital question that I asked was met with a direct negative。
Then I called my witnesses； Marie； whose evidence they refused to hear
on the ground that she was my wife and prejudiced； the Vrouw Prinsloo
and her family； and the Meyers。 One and all told a true story of my
relations with Hernan Pereira； Henri Marais； and Dingaan； so far as they
knew them。
After this； as the commandant declined to take the evidence of Hans
because he was a Hottentot and my servant； I addressed the court；
relating exactly what had taken place between me and Dingaan； and how I
and Hans came to escape on our second visit to his kraal。 I pointed out
also that unhappily for myself I could not prove my words； since Dingaan
was not available as a witness； and all the others were dead。 Further；
I produced my letter to Marie； which was endorsed by Retief； and the
letter to Retief signed by Marais and Pereira which remained in my
possession。
By the time that I had finished my speech the sun was setting and
everyone was tired out。 I was ordered to withdraw under guard； while
the court consulted； which it did for a long while。 Then I was called
forward again and the commandant said：
〃Allan Quatermain； after prayer to God we have considered this case to
the best of our judgment and ability。 On the one hand we note that you
are an Englishman； a member of a race which hates and has always
oppressed our people； and that it was to your interest to get rid of two
of them with whom you had quarrelled。 The evidence of Henri Marais and
Hernan Pereira； which we cannot disbelieve； shows that you were wicked
enough； either in order to do this； or because of your malice against
the Boer people； to plot their destruction with a savage。 The result is
that some seven hundred men； women； and children have lost their lives
in a very cruel manner； whereas you； your servant； your wife and your
friends have alone escaped unharmed。 For such a crime as this a hundred
deaths could not pay； indeed； God alone can give to it its just
punishment； and to Him it is our duty to send you to be judged。 We
condemn you to be shot as a traitor and a murderer； and may He have
mercy on your soul。〃
At these dreadful words Marie fell to the ground fainting and a pause
ensued while she was carried off to the Prinsloos' house； whither the
vrouw followed to attend her。 Then the commandant went on：
〃Still； although we have thus passed judgment on you； because you are an
Englishman against whom it might be said that we had prejudices； and
because you have had no opportunity of preparing a defence； and no
witnesses to the facts； since all those whom you say you could have
called are dead； we think it right that this unanimous sentence of ours
should be confirmed by a general court of the emigrant Boers。 Therefore
to…morrow morning you will be taken with us to the Bushman's River camp；
where the case will be settled； and； if necessary； execution done in
accordance with the verdict of the generals and veld…cornets of that
camp。 Meanwhile you will be kept in custody in your own house。 Now
have you anything to say