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protect us。
Of course this idea was hopeless from the first。 The moonlight was
almost as bright as day； and the veld quite open for a long way round；
so that we should certainly have been seen and re…captured； which of
course would have meant instant death。 Further； as it happened； the
guards had been warned against touching liquor of any sort since it was
thought probable that an attempt would be made to intoxicate them。
Still the women determined to try this scheme if they could find a
chance。 At least it was a second string to their bow。
Meanwhile they made their preparations。 Hans went away for a little and
returned with a supply of his sleep…producing drug； though whether he
got this from the Kaffirs or gathered it himself； I do not remember； if
I ever heard。 At any rate it was boiled up in the water with which they
made the coffee that I was to drink； though not in that which Marie
proposed to drink with me； the strong taste and black hue of the coffee
effectually hiding any flavour or colour that there might be in the
herb。 Also the vrouw cooked some food which she gave to Hans to carry。
First； however； he went to investigate the old mealie…pit which was
within a few paces of the back door of the Prinsloos' house。 He
reported that it would do well to hide a man in； especially as tall
grass and bushes grew about its mouth。
Then the three of them started； and arriving at the door of my house；
which was about a hundred yards away； were of course challenged by the
sentries。
〃Heeren；〃 said Marie； 〃the commandant has given us leave to bring food
to my husband； whom you guard within。 Pray do not prevent us from
entering。〃
〃No；〃 answered one of them gently enough； for he was touched with pity
at her plight。 〃We have our orders to admit you； the Vrouw Prinsloo and
the native servant； though why three of you should be needed to carry
food to one man； I don't know。 I should have thought that at such a
time he would have preferred to be alone with his wife。〃
〃The Vrouw Prinsloo wishes to ask my husband certain questions about his
property here and what is to be done while he and her men are away at
the main camp for the second trial； as I； whose heart is full of sorrow；
have no head for such things。 Also the Hottentot must have orders as to
where he is to get a horse to ride with him； so pray let us pass；
mynheer。〃
〃Very good； it is no affair of ours； Vrouw Quatermain Stay； I suppose
that you have no arms under that long cloak of yours。〃
〃Search me； if you will； mynheer；〃 she answered； opening the cloak；
whereon； after a quick glance； he nodded and bade them enter； saying：
〃Mind； you are to come out by ten o'clock。 You must not pass the night
in that house； or we shall have the little Englishman oversleeping
himself in the morning。〃
Then they entered and found me seated at a table preparing notes for my
defence and setting down the heads of the facts of my relations with
Pereira； Dingaan； and the late Commandant Retief。
Here I may state that my condition at the time was not one of fear； but
rather of burning indignation。 Indeed； I had not the slightest doubt
but that when my case was re…tried before the great council； I should be
able to establish my complete innocence of the abominable charges that
had been brought against me。 Therefore it came about that when Marie
suggested that I should try to escape； I begged her almost roughly not
to mention such a thing again。
〃Run away！〃 I said。 〃Why； that would be to confess myself guilty； for
only the guilty run away。 What I want is to have all this business
thrashed out and that devil Pereira exposed。〃
〃But； Allan；〃 said Marie； 〃how if you should never live to have it
thrashed out？ How if you should be shot first？〃 Then she rose； and
having looked to see that the shutter…board was fast in the little
window…place and the curtain that she had made of sacking drawn over it；
returned and whispered： 〃Hans here has heard a horrible tale； Allan。
Tell it to the baas； Hans。〃
So while Vrouw Prinsloo； in order to deceive any prying eyes if such by
chance could see us； busied herself with lighting a fire on the hearth
in the second room on which to warm the food； Hans told his story much
as it has already been set out。
I listened to it with growing incredulity。 The thing seemed to me
impossible。 Either Hans was deceived or lying； the latter probably； for
well I knew the Hottentot powers of imagination。 Or perhaps he was
drunk； indeed； he smelt of liquor； of which I was aware be could carry a
great quantity without outward signs of intoxication。
〃I cannot believe it；〃 I said when he had finished。 〃Even if Pereira is
such a fiend； as is possible； would Henri Marais； your fatherwho； at
any rate； has always been a good and God…fearing manconsent to work
such a crime upon his daughter's husband； though he does dislike him？〃
〃My father is not what he was； Allan；〃 said Marie。 〃Sometimes I think
that his brain has gone。〃
〃He did not speak like a man whose brain has gone this afternoon；〃 I
replied。 〃But let us suppose that this tale is true； what is it that
you wish me to do？〃
〃Allan； I wish you to dress up in my clothes and get away to a
hiding…place which Hans and the vrouw know； leaving me here instead of
you。〃
〃Why； Marie？〃 I said。 〃Then you might get yoursTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsao
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thought of my being shot to…morrow morning； it will be abandoned。 You
can refuse to say who told you the tale。〃
〃Yes； please do that；〃 muttered Hans； 〃else I know one who will be
shot。〃
〃Good； I will go；〃 said the vrouw； and she went； the guards letting her
pass after a few words which we could not hear。
Half an hour later she returned and called to us to open the door。
〃Well？〃 I asked。
〃Well；〃 she said； 〃I have failed； nephew。 Except those sentries outside
the door； the commandant and all the Boers have ridden off； I know not
where； taking our people with them。〃
〃That's odd；〃 I answered； 〃but I suppose they thought they had not
enough grass for their horses； or Heaven knows what they thought。 Stay
now； I will do something；〃 and； opening the door； I called to the
guards； honest fellows in their way； whom I had known in past times。
〃Listen； friends；〃 I said。 〃A tale has been brought to me that I am not
to be taken to the big camp to have my case inquired of by the council；
but am to be shot down in cold blood when I come out of this house
to…morrow morning。 Is that true？〃
〃Allemachte； Englishman！〃 answered one of them。 〃Do you take us for
murderers？ Our orders are to lead you to the commandant wherever he may
appoint； so have no fear that we shall shoot you like a Kaffir。 Either
you or they who told you such a story are mad。〃
〃So I thought； friends；〃 I answered。 〃But where is the commandant and
where are the others？ The Vrouw Prinsloo here has been to see them； and
reports that they are all gone。〃
〃That is very likely；〃 said the Boer。 〃There is a rumour that some of
your Zulu brothers have come across the Tugela again to hunt us； which；
if you want to know the truth； is why we visited this place。 Well； the
commandant has taken his men for a ride to see if he can meet them by
this bright moonlight。 Pity he could not take you； too； since you would
have known so well where to find them； if they are there at all。 Now
please talk no more nonsense to us； which it makes us sick to hear； and
don't think that you can slip away because we are only two； for you know
our roers are loaded with slugs； and we have orders to use them。〃
〃There；〃 I said when I had shut the door； 〃now you have heard for
yourselves。 As I thought； there is nothing in this fine story； so I
hope you are convinced。〃
Neither the vrouw nor Marie made any answer； and Hans also held his
tongue。 Yet； as I remembered afterwards； I saw a strange glance pass
between the two women； who were not at all convinced； and； although I
never dreamed of such a thing； had now determined to carry out their own
desperate plan。 But of this I repeat the vrouw and Hans only knew one
half； the rest was locked in Marie's loving heart。
〃Perhaps you are right； Allan；〃 said the vrouw in the tone of one who
gives way to an unreasonable child。 〃I hope so； and； at any rate； you
can refuse to come out of the house to…morrow morning until you are