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can refuse to come out of the house to…morrow morning until you are
quite sure。 And now let us eat some supper； for we shall not make
matters better by going hungry。 Hans； bring the food。〃
So we ate； or made pretence to eat； and I； being thirsty； drank two cups
of the black coffee dashed with spirit to serve as milk。 After this I
grew strangely sleepy。 The last thing I remember was Marie looking at
me with her beautiful eyes； that were fullah！ so full of tender love；
and kissing me again and again upon the lips。
I dreamed all sorts of dreams； rather pleasant dreams on the whole。
Then I woke up by degrees to find myself in an earthen pit shaped like a
bottle and having the remains of polished sides to it。 It made me think
of Joseph who was let down by his brethren into a well in the desert。
Now； who on earth could have let me down into a well； especially as I
had no brethren？ Perhaps I was not really in a well。 Perhaps this was
a nightmare。 Or I might be dead。 I began to remember that there were
certain good reasons why I should be dead。 Only； onlywhy should they
have buried me in woman's clothes as I seemed to wear？
And what was that noise that had wakened me？
It could not be the trump of doom； unless the trumping of doom went off
like a double…barrelled gun。
I began to try to climb out of my hole； but as it was nine feet deep and
bottle…shaped； which the light flowing in from the neck showed； I found
this impossible。 Just as I was giving up the attempt； a yellow face
appeared in that neck； which looked to me like the face of Hans； and an
arm was projected downwards。
〃Jump； if you are awake； baas；〃 said a voicesurely it was the voice of
Hans〃and I will pull you out。〃
So I jumped； and caught the arm above the wrist。 Then the owner of the
arm pulled desperately； and the end of it was that I succeeded in
gripping the edge of the bottle…like hole； and； with the help of the
arm； in dragging myself out。
〃Now； baas；〃 said Hans； for it _was_ Hans； 〃run； run before the Boers
catch you。〃
〃What Boers？〃 I asked； sleepily； 〃and how can I run with these things
flapping about my legs？〃
Then I looked about me； and； although the dawn was only just breaking；
began to recognise my surroundings。 Surely this was the Prinsloos'
house to my right； and that； faintly seen through the mist about a
hundred paces away； was Marie's and my own。 There seemed to be
something going on yonder which excited my awakening curiosity。 I could
see figures moving in an unusual manner； and desired to know what they
were doing。 I began to walk towards them； and Hans； for his part； began
to try to drag me in an opposite direction； uttering all sorts of
gibberish as to the necessity of my running away。 But I would not be
dragged； indeed； I struck at him； until at last； with an exclamation of
despair； he let go of me and vanished。
So I went on alone。 I came to my house； or what I thought resembled it；
and there saw a figure lying on its face on the ground some ten or
fifteen yards to the right of the doorway； and noted abstractedly that
it was dressed in my clothes。 The Vrouw Prinsloo； in her absurd night
garments； was waddling towards the figure； and a little way off stood
Hernan Pereira； apparently in the act of reloading a double…barrelled
gun。 Beyond； staring at him； stood the lantern…faced Henri Marais；
pulling at his long beard with one hand and holding a rifle in the
other。 Behind were two saddled horses in the charge of a raw Kaffir；
who looked on stupidly。
The Vrouw Prinsloo reached the body that lay upon the ground dressed in
what resembled my clothes； and bending down her stout shape with an
effort； turned it over。 She glared into its face and then began to
shriek。
〃Come here； Henri Marais；〃 she shrieked； 〃come； see what your beloved
nephew has done！ You had a daughter who was all your life to you； Henri
Marais。 Well； come； look at her after your beloved nephew has finished
his work with her！〃
Henri Marais advanced slowly like one who does not understand。 He stood
over the body on the ground； and looked down upon it through the morning
mists。
Then suddenly he went mad。 His broad hat fell from his head； and his
long hair seemed to stand up。 Also his beard grew big and bristled like
the feathers of a bird in frosty weather。 He turned on Hernan Pereira。
〃You devil！〃 he shouted； and his voice sounded like the roar of a wild
beast； 〃you devil； you have murdered my daughter！ Because you could not
get Marie for yourself； you have murdered her。 Well； I will pay you
back！〃
Without more ado he lifted his gun and fired straight at Hernan Pereira；
who sank slowly to the ground and lay there groaning。
Just then I grew aware that horsemen were advancing upon us； a great
number of horsemen； though whence they came at that time I did not know。
One of these I recognised even in my half…drunken state； for he had
impressed himself very vividly upon my mind。 He was the dark…browed
commandant who had tried and condemned me to death。 He dismounted； and；
staring at the two figures that lay upon the ground； said in a loud and
terrible voice：
〃What is this？ Who are these men； and why are they shot？ Explain；
Henri Marais。〃
〃Men！〃 wailed Henri Marais； 〃they are not men。 One is a womanmy only
child； and the other is a devil； who； being a devil； will not die。 See！
he will not die。 Give me another gun that I may make him die。〃
The commandant looked about him wildly； and his eye fell upon the Vrouw
Prinsloo。
〃What has chanced； vrouw？〃 he asked。
〃Only this；〃 she replied in a voice of unnatural calm。 〃Your murderers
whom you set on in the name of law and justice have made a mistake。 You
told them to murder Allan Quatermain for reasons of your own。 Well；
they have murdered his wife instead。〃
Now the commandant struck his hand upon his forehead and groaned； and I；
half awakened at last； ran forward； shaking my fists and gibbering。
〃Who is that？〃 asked the commandant。 〃Is it a man or a woman？〃
〃It is a man in woman's clothing； it is Allan Quatermain；〃 answered the
vrouw； 〃whom we drugged and tried to hide from your butchers。〃
〃God above us！〃 exclaimed the commandant； 〃is this earth or hell？〃
Then the wounded Pereira raised himself upon one hand。
〃I am dying；〃 he cried； 〃my life is bleeding away； but before I die I
must speak。 All that story I told against the Englishman is false。 He
never plotted with Dingaan against the Boers。 It was I who plotted with
Dingaan。 Although I hated him because he found me out； I did not wish
Retief and our people to be killed。 But I did wish Allan Quatermain to
be killed； because he had won her whom I loved； though； as it happened；
all the others were slain； and he alone escaped。 Then I came here and
learned that Marie was his wifeyes； his wife indeedand grew mad with
hate and jealousy。 So I bore false witness against him； and； you fools；
you believed me and ordered me to shoot him who is innocent before God
and man。 Then things went wrong。 The woman tricked me againfor the
last time。 She dressed herself as the man； and in the dawnlight I was
deceived。 I killed her； her whom I love alone； and now her father； who
loved her also； has killed me。〃
By this time I understood all； for my drugged brain had awakened at
last。 I ran to the brute upon the ground； grotesque in my woman's
garments all awry； I leaped on him and stamped out the last of his life。
Then； standing over his dead body； I shook my fists and cried：
〃Men； see what you have done。 May God pay you back all you owe her and
me！〃
They dismounted； they came round me； they protested； they even wept。
And I； I raved at them upon the one side； while the mad Henri Marais
raved upon the other； and the Vrouw Prinsloo； waving her big arms；
called down the curse of God and the blood of the innocent upon their
heads and those of their children for ever。
Then I remember no more。
When I came to myself two weeks afterwards； for I had been very ill and
in delirium； I was lying in the house of the Vrouw Prinsloo alone。 The
Boers had all gone； east and west and north and south； and the dead were
long buried。 They had taken Henri Marais with them； so I was told；
dragging him away in a bullock cart； to which he was tied； for he was
raving mad。 Afterwards he became quieter； and； indeed； lived for years；
walking about and asking all whom he met if they could lead him to
Marie。 But enough of himpoor man； poor man！
The tale which got about was that Pereira had murdered Marie out of
jealousy； and been shot by her father。 But there were so many tragic
histories in those days of war and massacre that this particular one was
soon quite forgotten； especially as those concerned in it for one reason
and another did not talk overmuch of