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for the spear was broken in the Kaffir； and awaited the end。 Looking
back once more I saw that Marie had either failed to get through the
window or abandoned the attempt。 At any rate she was standing near the
chest supporting herself by her right hand。 In my despair I seized the
blade end of the broken assegai and dragged it from the body of the
Kaffir； thinking that it would serve to kill her； then turned to do the
deed。
But even as I turned I heard a voice that I knew well shout： 〃Do you
live； Marie？〃 and in the doorway appeared no savage； but Henri Marais。
Slowly I backed before him； for I could not speak； and the last dreadful
effort of my will seemed to thrust me towards Marie。 I reached her and
threw my hand that still held the gory blade round her neck。 Then as
darkness came over me I heard her cry：
〃Don't shoot； father。 It is Allan； Allan who has saved my life！〃
After that I remember no more。 Nor did she for a while； for we both
fell to the ground senseless。
When my senses returned to me I found myself lying on the floor of the
wagon…house in the back yard。 Glancing from my half…opened eyes； for I
was still speechless； I saw Marie； white as a sheet； her hair all
falling about her dishevelled dress。 She was seated on one of those
boxes that we put on the front of wagons to drive from； 〃voorkissies〃
they are called； and as her eyes were watching me I knew that she lived。
By her stood a tall and dark young man whom I had never seen before。
He was holding her hand and looking at her anxiously； and even then I
felt angry with him。 Also I saw other things； for instance； my old
father leaning down and looking at _me_ anxiously； and outside in the
yard； for there were no doors to the wagon…house； a number of men with
guns in their hands； some of whom I knew and others who were strangers。
In the shadow； too； against the wall； stood my blood mare with her head
hanging down and trembling all over。 Not far from her the roan lay upon
the ground； its flank quite red。
I tried to rise and could not； then feeling pain in my left thigh；
looked and saw that it was red also。 As a matter of fact an assegai had
gone half through it and hit upon the bone。 Although I never felt it at
the time； this wound was dealt to me by that great Quabie whom Hans and
I had received upon our spears； doubtless as he fell。 Hans； by the way；
was there also； an awful and yet a ludicrous spectacle； for the Quabie
had fallen right on the top of him and lain so with results that may； be
imagined。 There he sat upon the ground； looking upwards； gasping with
his fish…like mouth。 Each gasp； I remember； fashioned itself into the
word 〃Allemachte！〃 that is 〃Almighty；〃 a favourite Dutch expression。
Marie was the first to perceive that I had come to life again。 Shaking
herself free from the clasp of the young man； she staggered towards me
and fell upon her knees at my side； muttering words that I could not
catch； for they choked in her throat。 Then Hans took in the situation；
and wriggling his unpleasant self to my other side； lifted my hand and
kissed it。 Next my father spoke； saying：
〃Praise be to God； he lives！ Allan； my son； I am proud of you； you have
done your duty as an Englishman should。〃
〃Had to save my own skin if I could； thank you； father；〃 I muttered。
〃Why as an Englishman more than any other sort of man； Mynheer
Predicant？〃 asked the tall stranger； speaking in Dutch； although he
evidently understood our language。
〃The point is one that I will not argue now； sir；〃 answered my father；
drawing himself up。 〃But if what I hear is true； there was a Frenchman
in that house who did not do his duty； and if you belong to the same
nation； I apologise to you。〃
〃Thank you； sir； as it happens； I do； half。 The rest of me is
Portuguese； not English； thank God。〃
〃God is thanked for many things that must surprise Him；〃 replied my
father in a suave voice。
At that moment this rather disagreeable conversation； which even then
both angered and amused me faintly； came to an end； for the Heer Marais
entered the place。
As might have been expected in so excitable a man； he was in a terrible
state of agitation。 Thankfulness at the escape of his only； beloved
child； rage with the Kaffirs who had tried to kill her； and extreme
distress at the loss of most of his propertyall these conflicting
emotions boiled together in his breast like antagonistic elements in a
crucible。
The resulting fumes were parti…coloured and overpowering。 He rushed up
to me； blessed and thanked me （for he had learnt something of the story
of the defence）； called me a young hero and so forth； hoping that God
would reward me。 Here I may remark that _he_ never did； poor man。 Then
he began to rave at Leblanc； who had brought all this dreadful disaster
upon his house； saying that it was a judgement on himself for having
sheltered an atheist and a drunkard for so many years； just because he
was French and a man of intellect。 Someone； my father as a matter of
fact； who with all his prejudices possessed a great sense of justice；
reminded him that the poor Frenchman had expiated； or perchance was now
expiating any crimes that he might have committed。
This turned the stream of his invective on to the Quabie Kaffirs； who
had burned part of his house and stolen nearly all his stock； making him
from a rich man into a poor one in a single hour。 He shouted for
vengeance on the 〃black devils；〃 and called on all there to help him to
recover his beasts and kill the thieves。 Most of those presentthey
were about thirty in all； not counting the Kaffir and Hottentot
after…ridersanswered that they were willing to attack the Quabies。
Being residents in the district； they felt； and； indeed； said； that his
case to…day might and probably would be their case to…morrow。 Therefore
they were prepared to ride at once。
Then it was that my father intervened。
〃Heeren；〃 he said； 〃it seems to me that before you seek vengeance；
which； as the Book tells us； is the Lord's； it would be well； especially
for the Heer Marais； to return thanks for what has been saved to him。 I
mean his daughter； who might now very easily have been dead or worse。〃
He added that goods came or went according to the chances of fortune；
but a beloved human life； once lost； could not be restored。 This
precious life had been preserved to him； he would not say by manhere
he glanced at mebut by the Ruler of the world acting through man。
Perhaps those present did not quite understand what he （my father） had
learned from Hans the Hottentot； that I； his son； had been about to blow
out the brains of Marie Marais and my own when the sound of the shots of
those who had been gathered through the warning which I left before I
rode from the Mission Station； had stayed my hand。 He called upon the
said Hans and Marie herself to tell them the story； since I was too weak
to do so。
Thus adjured； the little Hottentot； smothered as he was in blood； stood
up。 In the simple； dramatic style characteristic of his race； he
narrated all that had happened since he met the woman on the veld but
little over twelve hours before； till the arrival of the rescue party。
Never have I seen a tale followed with deeper interest； and when at last
Hans pointed to me lying on the ground and said； 〃There is he who did
these things which it might be thought no man could dohe； but a boy；〃
even from those phlegmatic Dutchmen there came a general cheer。 But；
lifting myself upon my hands； I called out：
〃Whatever I did； this poor Hottentot did also； and had it not been for
him I could not have done anythingfor him and the two good horses。〃
Then they cheered again； and Marie； rising； said：
〃Yes； father； to these two I owe my life。〃
After this； my father offered his prayer of thanksgiving in very bad
Dutchfor； having begun to learn it late in life； he never could really
master that languageand the stalwart Boers； kneeling round him； said
〃Amen。〃 As the reader may imagine； the scene； with all its details；
which I will not repeat； was both remarkable and impressive。
What followed this prayer I do not very well remember； for I became
faint from exhaustion and the loss of blood。 I believe； however； that
the fire having been extinguished； they removed the dead and wounded
from the unburnt portion of the house and carried me into the little
room where Marie and I had gone through that dreadful scene when I went
within an ace of killing her。 After this the Boers and Marais's
Kaffirs； or rather slaves； whom he had collected from where they lived
away from the house； to the number of thirty or forty； started to follow
the defeated Quabie； leaving about ten of their number as a guard。 Here
I may mention that of the seven or eight men who slept in the
outbuildings and had fought with us； two were kill