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will do with you？ They will throw you out of the house； and leave you to
settle your quarrel with Quabie alone。〃
Leblanc looked first at the pistol； and next at the faces of the
natives； and saw something in one or other of them； or in both； that
caused him to change his note。
〃Pardon； monsieur；〃 he said； 〃I was excited。 I knew not what I said。
If you are young you are brave and clever； and I will obey you；〃 and he
went to his station and began to re…load his gun。 As he did so a great
shout of fury rose from the cattle kraal。 The wounded herald had
reached the Quabies and was telling them of the treachery of the white
people。
CHAPTER III
THE RESCUE
The second Quabie advance did not begin till about half…past seven。
Even savages love their lives and appreciate the fact that wounds hurt
very much； and these were no exception to the rule。 Their first rush
had taught them a bitter lesson； of which the fruit was evident in the
crippled or dying men who rolled to and fro baked in the hot sun within
a few yards of the stoep； not to speak of those who would never stir
again。 Now； the space around the house being quite open and bare of
cover； it was obvious that it could not be stormed without further heavy
losses。 In order to avoid such losses a civilised people would have
advanced by means of trenches； but of these the Quabies knew nothing；
moreover； digging tools were lacking to them。
So it came about that they hit upon another； and in the circumstances a
not inefficient expedient。 The cattle kraal was built of rough；
unmortared stones。 Those stones they took； each man carrying two or
three； which； rushing forward； they piled up into scattered rough
defences of about eighteen inches or two feet high。 These defences were
instantly occupied by as many warriors as could take shelter behind
them； lying one on top of the other。 Of course； those savages who
carried the first stones were exposed to our fire； with the result that
many of them fell； but there were always plenty more behind。 As they
were being built at a dozen different points； and we had but seven guns；
before we could reload； a particular schanz； of which perhaps the first
builders had fallen； would be raised so high that our slugs could no
longer hurt those who lay behind it。 Also； our supply of ammunition was
limited； and the constant expenditure wasted it so much that at length
only about six charges per man remained。 At last； indeed； I was obliged
to order the firing to cease； so that we might reserve ourselves for the
great rush which could not now be much delayed。
Finding that they were no longer harassed by our bullets； the Quabies
advanced more rapidly； directing their attack upon the south end of the
house； where there was but one window； and thus avoiding the fire that
might be poured upon them from the various openings under the veranda。
At first I wondered why they selected this end； till Marie reminded me
that this part of the dwelling was thatched with reeds； whereas the rest
of the building； which had been erected more recently； was slated。
Their object was to fire the roof。 So soon as their last wall was near
enough （that is； about half…past ten of the clock） they began to throw
into the thatch assegais to which were attached bunches of burning
grass。 Many of these went out； but at length； as we gathered from their
shouts； one caught。 Within ten minutes this part of the house was
burning。
Now our state became desperate。 We retreated across the central
passage； fearing lest the blazing rafters should fall upon our natives；
who were losing heart and would no longer stay beneath them。 But the
Quabies； more bold； clambered in through the south window； and attacked
us in the doorway of the larger sitting…room。
Here the final fight began。 As they rushed at us we shot； till they
went down in heaps。 Almost at our last charge they gave back； and just
then the roof fell upon them。
Oh； what a terrible scene was that！ The dense clouds of smoke； the
screams of the trapped and burning men； the turmoil； the agony！
The front door was burst in by a flank onslaught。
Leblanc and a slave who was near him were seized by black； claw…like
hands and dragged out。 What became of the Frenchman I do not know； for
the natives hauled him away； but I fear his end must have been dreadful；
as he was taken alive。 The servant I saw them assegai； so at least he
died at once。 I fired my last shot； killing a fellow who was
flourishing a battle…axe； then dashed the butt of the gun into the face
of the man behind him； felling him； and； seizing Marie by the hand；
dragged her back into the northernmost roomthat in which I was
accustomed to sleepand shut and barred the door。
〃Allan；〃 she gasped； 〃 Allan dear； it is finished。 I cannot fall into
the hands of those men。 Kill me； Allan。〃
〃All right；〃 I answered； 〃I will。 I have my pistol。 One barrel for you
and one for me。〃
〃No； no！ Perhaps you might escape after all； but； you see； I am a
woman； and dare not risk it。 Come now； I am ready；〃 and she knelt down；
opening her arms to receive the embrace of death； and looked up at me
with her lovely； pitiful eyes。
〃It doesn't do to kill one's love and live on oneself；〃 I answered
hoarsely。 〃We have got to go together；〃 and I cocked both barrels of
the pistol。
The Hottentot； Hans； who was in the place with us； saw and understood。
〃It is right； it is best！〃 he said； and turning； he hid his eyes with
his hand。
〃Wait a little； Allan；〃 she exclaimed； 〃it will be time when the door is
down； and perhaps God may still help us。〃
〃He may；〃 I answered doubtfully； 〃but I would not count on it。 Nothing
can save us now unless the others come to rescue us； and that's too much
to hope for。〃
Then a thought struck me； and I added with a dreadful laugh： 〃I wonder
where we shall be in five minutes。〃
〃Oh！ together； dear； together for always in some new and beautiful
world； for you do love me； don't you； as I love you？ Maybe that's
better than living on here where we should be sure to have troubles and
perhaps be separated at last。〃
I nodded my head； for though I loved life； I loved Marie more； and I
felt that we were making a good end after a brave fight。 They were
battering at the door now； but； thank Heaven； Marais had made strong
doors； and it held a while。
The wood began to give at last； an assegai appeared through a shattered
plank； but Hans stabbed along the line of it with the spear he held；
that which I had snatched from the flank of the horse； and it was
dropped with a scream。 Black hands were thrust through the hole； and
the Hottentot hacked and cut at them with the spear。 But others came；
more than he could pierce； and the whole door…frame began to be dragged
outwards。
〃Now； Marie； be ready；〃 I gasped； lifting the pistol。
〃Oh； Christ receive me！〃 she answered faintly。 〃It won't hurt much；
will it； Allan？〃
〃You will never feel anything；〃 I whispered； as with the cold sweat
pouring from me I placed the muzzle within an inch of her forehead and
began to press the trigger。 My God！ yes； I actually began to press the
trigger softly and steadily； for I wished to make no mistake。
It was at this very moment； above the dreadful turmoil of the roaring
flames； the yells of the savages and the shrieks and groans of wounded
and dying men； that I heard the sweetest sound which ever fell upon my
earsthe sound of shots being fired； many shots； and quite close by。
〃Great Heaven！〃 I screamed； 〃the Boers are here to save us。 Marie； I
will hold the door while I can。 If I fall； scramble through the
windowyou can do it from the chest beneathdrop to the ground； and
run towards the firing。 There's a chance for you yet； a good chance。〃
〃And you； you；〃 she moaned。 〃I would rather die with you。〃
〃Do what I bid you；〃 I answered savagely； and bounded forward towards
the rocking door。
It was falling outward； it fell； and on the top of it appeared two great
savages waving broad spears。 I lifted the pistol； and the bullet that
had been meant for Marie's brain scattered that of the first of them；
and the bullet which had been meant for my heart pierced that of the
second。 They both went down dead； there in the doorway。
I snatched up one of their spears and glanced behind me。 Marie was
climbing on to the chest； I could just see her through the thickening
smoke。 Another Quabie rushed on。 Hans and I received him on the points
of our assegais； but so fierce was his charge that they went through him
as though he were nothing； and being but light； both of us were thrown
backwards to the ground。 I scrambled to my feet again； defenceless now；
for the spear was broken in the Kaffir； and awaited the end。 Looking
back once more I saw that M