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probably be killed。〃
〃To try to save you；〃 I answered simply。 〃What would you have had me
do？〃
〃To try to save me？ Oh！ that is good of you； but you should have
thought of yourself。〃
〃Then I should still have thought of you； Marie。〃
〃Why； Allan？〃
〃Because you are myself and more than myself。 If anything happened to
you； what would my life be to me？〃
〃I don't quite understand； Allan；〃 she replied； staring down at the
floor。 〃Tell me； what do you mean？〃
〃Mean； you silly girl；〃 I said； 〃what can I mean； except that I love
you； which I thought you knew long ago。〃
〃Oh！〃 she said； 〃_now_ I understand。〃 Then she raised herself upon her
knees； and held up her face to me to kiss； adding； 〃There； that's my
answer； the first and perhaps the last。 Thank you； Allan dear； I am
glad to have heard that； for you see one or both of us may die soon。〃
As she spoke the words； an assegai flashed through the window…place；
passing just between our heads。 So we gave over love…making and turned
our attention to war。
Now the light was beginning to grow； flowing out of the pearly eastern
sky； but no attack had yet been delivered； although that one was
imminent that spear fixed in the plaster of the wall behind us showed
clearly。 Perhaps the Kaffirs had been frightened by the galloping of
horses through their line in the dark； not knowing how many of them
there might have been。 Or perhaps they were waiting to see better where
to deliver their onset。 These were the ideas that occurred to me； but
both were wrong。
They were staying their hands until the mist lifted a little from the
hollow below the stead where the cattle kraals were situated； for while
the fog remained they could not see to get the beasts out。 These they
wished to make sure of and drive away before the fight began； lest
during its progress something should happen to rob them of their booty。
Presently； from these kraals； where the Heer Marais's horned beasts and
sheep were penned at night； about one hundred and fifty of the former
and some two thousand of the latter； to say nothing of the horses； for
he was a large and prosperous farmer； there arose a sound of bellowing；
neighing； and baaing； and with it that of the shouting of men。
〃They are driving off the stock；〃 said Marie。 〃Oh！ my poor father； he
is ruined； it will break his heart。〃
〃Bad enough；〃 I answered； 〃but there are things that might be worse。
Hark！〃
As I spoke there came a sound of stamping feet and of a wild war chant。
Then in the edge of the mist that hung above the hollow where the cattle
kraals were； figures appeared； moving swiftly to and fro； looking
ghostly and unreal。 The Kaffirs were marshalling their men for the
attack。 A minute more and it had begun。 On up the slope they came in
long； wavering lines； several hundreds of them； whistling and screaming；
shaking their spears； their war…plumes and hair trappings blown back by
the breeze； the lust of slaughter in their rolling eyes。 Two or three
of them had guns； which they fired as they ran； but where the bullets
went I do not know； over the house probably。
I called out to Leblanc and the Kaffirs not to shoot till I did； for I
knew that they were poor marksmen and that much depended upon our first
volley being effective。 Then as the captain of this attack came within
thirty yards of the stoepfor now the light； growing swiftly； was
strong enough to enable me to distinguish him by his apparel and the
rifle which he heldI loosed at him with the 〃roer〃 and shot him dead。
Indeed the heavy bullet passing through his body mortally wounded
another of the Quabies behind。 These were the first men that I ever
killed in war。
As they fell； Leblanc and the rest of our people fired also； the slugs
from their guns doing great execution at that range； which was just long
enough to allow them to scatter。 When the smoke cleared a little I saw
that nearly a dozen men were down； and that the rest； dismayed by this
reception； had halted。 If they had come on then； while we were loading；
doubtless they might have rushed the place； but； being unused to the
terrible effects of firearms； they paused； amazed。 A number of them；
twenty or thirty perhaps； clustered about the bodies of the fallen
Kaffirs； and； seizing my second gun； I fired both barrels at these with
such fearful effect that the whole regiment took to their heels and
fled； leaving their dead and wounded on the ground。 As they ran our
servants cheered； but I called to them to be silent and load swiftly；
knowing well that the enemy would soon return。
For a time； however； nothing happened； although we could hear them
talking somewhere near the cattle kraal； about a hundred and fifty yards
away。 Marie took advantage of this pause； I remember； to fetch food and
distribute it among us。 I； for one； was glad enough to get it。
Now the sun was up； a sight for which I thanked Heaven； for； at any
rate； we could no longer be surprised。 Also； with the daylight； some of
my fear passed away； since darkness always makes danger twice as
terrible to man and beast。 Whilst we were still eating and fortifying
the window…places as best we could； so as to make them difficult to
enter； a single Kaffir appeared； waving above his head a stick to which
was tied a white ox…tail as a sign of truce。 I ordered that no one
should fire； and when the man； who was a bold fellow； had reached the
spot where the dead captain lay； called to him； asking his business； for
I could speak his language well。
He answered that he had come with a message from Quabie。 This was the
message： that Quabie's eldest son had been cruelly murdered by the fat
white man called 〃Vulture〃 who lived with the Heer Marais； and that he；
Quabie； would have blood for blood。 Still； he did not wish to kill the
young white chieftainess （that was Marie） or the others in the house；
with whom he had no quarrel。 Therefore if we would give up the fat
white man that he might make him 〃die slowly；〃 Quabie would be content
with his life and with the cattle that he had already taken by way of a
fine； and leave us and the house unmolested。
Now； when Leblanc understood the nature of this offer he went perfectly
mad with mingled fear and rage； and began to shout and swear in French。
〃Be silent；〃 I said； 〃we do not mean to surrender you； although you have
brought all this trouble on us。 Your chance of life is as good as ours。
Are you not ashamed to act so before these black people？〃
When at last he grew more or less quiet I called to the messenger that
we white folk were not in the habit of abandoning each other； and that
we would live or die together。 Still； I bade him tell Quabie that if we
did die； the vengeance taken on him and all his people would be to wipe
them out till not one of them was left； and therefore that he would do
well not to cause any of our blood to flow。 Also； I added； that we had
thirty men in the house （which； of course； was a lie） and plenty of
ammunition and food； so that if he chose to continue the attack it would
be the worse for him and his tribe。
On hearing this the herald shouted back that we should every one of us
be dead before noon if he had his way。 Still； he would report my words
faithfully to Quabie and bring his answer。
Then he turned and began to walk off。 Just as he did so a shot was
fired from the house； and the man pitched forward to the ground； then
rose again and staggered back towards his people； with his right
shoulder shattered and his arm swinging。
〃Who did that？〃 I asked through the smoke； which prevented me from
seeing。
〃I； parbleu！〃 shouted Leblanc。 〃Sapristi！ that black devil wanted to
torture me； Leblanc； the friend of the great Napoleon。 Well； at least I
have tortured him whom I meant to kill。〃
〃Yes； you fool；〃 I answered； 〃and we； too； shall be tortured because of
your wickedness。 You have shot a messenger carrying a flag of truce；
and that the Quabies will never forgive。 Oh！ I tell you that you have
hit us as well as him； who had it not been for you might have been
spared。〃
These words I said quite quietly and in Dutch； so that our Kaffirs might
understand them； though really I was boiling with wrath。
But Leblanc did not answer quietly。
〃Who are you；〃 he shouted； 〃you wretched little Englishman； who dare to
lecture me； Leblanc； the friend of the great Napoleon？〃
Now I drew my pistol and walked up to the man。
〃Be quiet； you drunken sot；〃 I said； for I guessed that he had drunk
more of the brandy in the darkness。 〃If you are not quiet and do not
obey me； who am in command here； either I will blow your brains out； or
I will give you to these men；〃 and I pointed to Hans and the Kaffirs；
who had gathered round him； muttering ominously。 〃Do you know what they
will do with you？ They will throw you ou