Part 10 (1/2)
”I don't see what geese have to do with omens, sweetheart,” I answered--”that is, since the time of the ancient Romans Anyhow, I should say that the o to be a row presently”
Just then Retief put up his hand, calling out:
”Silence! I have decided The writing of the match did not say that the bullets were not to be cut, and therefore Hernan Pereira's birdsdoes say that any bird accidentally killed should not count, and therefore one goose must be subtracted from Pereira's total, which leaves the two shooters equal So either the eese have ceased to come, it must be shot off another day”
”Oh! if there is any question,” said Pereira, who felt that public opinion was lishman take the money I dare say that he needs it, as the sons of missionaries are not rich”
”There is no question,” I said, ”since, rich or poor, not for a thousand pounds would I shoot again against one who plays such tricks Keep your money, Mynheer Pereira, and I will keep my mare The u is finished”
”Not quite,” interrupted Retief, ”for I have a word to say Friend Allan, you have played fair, and I believe that there is no one who can shoot like you in Africa”
”That is so,” said the audience of Boers
”Mynheer Pereira,” went on Retief, ”although you, too, are a fine shot, as is well known, I believe that had you played fair also you would have been beaten, but as it is you have saved your hundred pounds Mynheer Pereira,” he added in a great voice, ”you are a cheat, who have brought disgrace upon us Boers, and for ain”
Now, at these outspoken words, for when his indignation was aroused Retief was no h-coloured face hite as a sheet
”Mein Gott, mynheer,” he said, ”I am minded to make you answer for such talk,” and his hand went to the knife at his girdle
”What!” shouted Retief, ”do you want another shooting match? Well, if so I am ready hole bullets or with split ones None shall say that Pieter Retief was afraid of any man, and, least of all, of one who is not ashamed to try to steal a prize as a hyena steals a bone from a lion Come on, Hernan Pereira, come on!”
Now, I ah I am quite certain that Pereira had no stomach for a duel with the redoubtable Retief, a hout the land as was his perfect uprightness of character At any rate, seeing that things looked very black, Henri Marais, who had been listening to this altercation with evident annoyance, stepped forward and said:
”Mynheer Retief and nephew Hernan, you are bothover this foolishness, especially as I am sure that Hernan never intended to cheat, but only to do what he thought was allowed Why should he, who is one of the finest shots in the Colony, though itAllan Quatermain here is even better? Will you not say so, too, friend Retief, especially just nohen it is necessary that we should all be as brothers?” he added pleadingly
”No,” thundered Retief, ”I will not tell a lie to please you or anyone”
Then, seeing that the co, Marais went up to his nephew and whispered to him for a while What he said I do not know The result of it was, however, that after favouring both Retief and ry scowl, Pereira turned and walked to where his horse stood, mounted it, and rode off, followed by two Hottentot after-riders
That was the last I saw of Hernan Pereira for a long while to come, and heartily do I wish that it had been the last I ever saw of him But this was not to be
CHAPTER VI THE PARTING
The Boers, who ostensibly had coh, in fact, for a very different purpose, now began to disperse Soons which they had outspanned at a distance, and trekked off to their separate holad to say that before they left quite a nuratulatedAlso not a few expressed their views concerning Pereira in very straightforward language
Now, the arrangeht at Marais's stead, returning ho But my father, who had been a silent but not unobservant witness of all this scene, co to the conclusion that after what had happened we should scarcely be welcome there, and that the company of Pereira was to be avoided just noent up to Marais and bade hi that ould send for uests to-night Also, fear not, Hernan will be away He has gone a journey upon some business”
As my father hesitated, Marais added: ”Friend, I pray you to come, for I have some important words to say to you, which cannot be said here”
Then ht and relief For if he had not, what chance would there have been ofso collected the geese and the two falcons, which I proposed to skin for Marie, I was helped into the cart, and we drove off, reaching Maraisfontein just as night set in
That evening, after we had eaten, Heer Marais asked -rooht also, or so it see away the dishes and hom as yet I had found no opportunity to talk, to come in with us and close the door behind her
When all were seated and we h apprehension of as to follow quite took away lish, which he knew to a certain extent This was for the benefit of my father, who h he would answer Marais in that language when _he_ pretended not to understand English To me he spoke in Dutch, and occasionally in French to Marie It was aAllan,” he said, ”and you, daughter Marie, I have heard stories concerning you that, although I never gave you leave to 'opsit'” (that is, to sit up alone at night with candles, according to the Boer fashi+on between those who are courting), ”you have beenlove to each other”