Part 17 (2/2)
Then I did understand The onificance of his tone sufficed for that But all attempts to convince him that his place lay here too, were futile
”Those who ran aill have obtained help froed But in vain
The while Beryl was striving to reassure her young brother, and she had all her work cut out for her, for the poor boy's reht of potential pains and penalties hanging over his own head entered into this, which was actuated by sheer horror of having taken life--several lives, for all we could at present tell
”It was pure accident, George, we all know that,” she said ”And you must do all you can in reparation You will remember that, dear, won't you, whatever happens”
”Oh, they can hang me if they like The sooner the better”
”They won't do that, at any rate It was an accident” And then Beryl went on to soothe and conetisood effect
This andthe situation with their father
”This is ato have happened, Kenrick,”
the latter was saying ”As soon as Brian coe, I shall have to send into Fort Laistrate The boy hter”
”But the thing was a sheer accident Surely they won't hold a kid like that cri what Shattuck'll do or won't do--he's such an officious fool”
”Yes, he's all that,” I agreed, having an acid recollection of the demeanour of the official in question over such a triviala firearm permit
”He has a 'down' on us farmers too, and will always favour a Kafir under the Masters and Servants Act if he gets a chance It's just the saht to have put hiistracy A man like that has no business on the frontier”
”I blaht never to have allowed a young feather-head like George to go out alone with a gun
The only thing is, I have always believed in boys learning to shoot as soon as possible in a country like this Even girls ought to Beryl can”
”Rather,” I said ”Haven't I seen evidence of that?”
Septi worn and ill, and very anxious He had been ailing for some days past, and this deplorable eventuality had not exactly gone towards setting him up I reood” one, from an insurance point of view, and feltat all well yourself,” I said ”Now, don't let this affair get on your mind too much It'll all blow over, depend upon it”
”Oh, I'ht, Kenrick Don't you worry aboutyou up with soirl--always telling me to take care of myself; and so on I pretend to take it all in, of course Hallo! Wait adirectly with a field-glass
”Quite a lot of the it to me after a look down the kloof ”We shall have trouble over this, Kenrick, apart fro on us I wish Brian was back again”
So did I, as I stood with the glass toup the kloof, so at a swinging trot to keep pace with the horseht be no doubt as to their hostile intent, I could see that all carried a couple of business-like kerries apiece, and not a few of theais as well
”Hadn't we better arested