Part 31 (1/2)
”Yes,” I answered, speaking more to myself than to hi and the peace of the night?”
It was arranged that the co the native after-riders, consisted of over a hundred people, a them several boys, ere little more than children, was to ride at one hour before noon nobody could get about to make the necessary preparations until the heavy rain had passed ahich it did a little after eight o'clock Therefore when I left the wagon to eat, or try to eat some breakfast, I found the whole ca to their servants, horses were being exas of their husbands and fathers with spare clothes, the pack-beasts were being laden with biltong and other provisions, and so forth
In the an to wonder whether otten, since it seees However, about ten o'clock when, having done everything that I had to do, I was sitting disconsolately upontoo shy to o to the Prinsloos' camp to make inquiries, the vrouw herself appeared
”Co and swearing because you are not there Also, there is another waiting, and oh! she looks lovely When they see her, every ot a wife or not, for in that h you mayn't think so just now, they are all the same as the Kaffirs Oh!
I know them, I know them, a white skin makes no difference”
While she held forth thus in her usual outspoken fashi+on, the vrouas dragging hty little boy Nor could I get free froreat bulk was in ainst it Of course, so her errand, had followed her, set up a shout of cheers and laughter, which attracted everybody to the procession
”It is too late to hang back now, Englishman” ”You e your mind, you should have done it before,” men and wo words, till at length I felt myself turn the colour of a red vlei lily
So we ca circle She was clothed in a soft white gownstuff, and she wore upon her dark hair a wreath woven by the other maidens in the camp, a bevy of whom stood behind her
Noere face to face Our eyes met, and oh! hers were full of love and trust They dazzled and bewilderedwhat to say, I ,”
whereon everyone broke into a roar of laughter, except Vrouw Prinsloo, who exclaimed:
”Did any one ever see such a fool?” and even Marie smiled
Then Piet Retief appeared fro clothes, such as the Boers wore in those days Handing the roer he was carrying to one of his sons, afterhe produced a book frorass
”Now then,” he said, ”be silent, all, and show respect, for remember I am not a , and, being a commandant and a veld cornet and other officers all rolled into one, by virtue of the law I a people, so help me God Don't any of you witnesses ever say afterwards that they are not rightly and soundly married, because I tell you that they are, or will be” He paused for breath, and someone said, ”Hear, hear,” or its Dutch equivalent, whereon, having glared the offender into silence, Retief proceeded:
”Youngwoman, what are your names?”
”Don't ask silly questions, commandant,” broke in Vrouw Prinsloo; ”you know their nah”
”Of course I do, aunt,” he answered; ”but for this purpose I must pretend not to know them Are you better acquainted with the law than I am? But stay, where is the father, Henri Marais?”
Someone thrust Marais forward, and there he stood quite silent, staring at us with a queer look upon his face and his gun in his hand, for he, too, was ready to ride
”Take away that gun,” said Retief; ”it o off and cause disturbance or perhaps accidents,” and sohter to be married to this man?”
”No,” said Marais softly
”Very well, that is just like you, but it doesn't ive herself Is she not of age, Henri Marais? Don't stand there like a horse with the staggers, but tell e?”
”I believe so,” he answered in the same soft voice
”Then take notice, people all, that this woives herself to be married to this man, don't you, ht, now for it,” and, opening the book, he held it up to the light, and began to read, or, rather, to stue service
Presently he stuck fast, being, like reat scholar, and exclaimed:
”Here, one of you help me with these hard words”
As nobody volunteered, Retief handed the book to :