Part 38 (2/2)
Meyer obeyed meekly, and the others melted away also as they ont to do when the vroued signs of war, so that she and ere left alone
”Now,” said the vrouw, ”everyone is tired, and I say that it is tiht, nephew Allan and niece Marie,” and she waddled away leaving us together
”Husband,” said Marie presently, ”will you coht that you were dead? It is a poor place, but I pray God that we may be happy there,” and she took me by the hand and kissed me once and twice and thrice
About noon on the following day, whenover sore establish joy, of a sudden I saw her face change, and asked as the matter
”Hist!” she said, ”I hear horses,” and she pointed in a certain direction
I looked, and there, round the corner of the hill, came a body of Boers with their after-riders, thirty-two or three of them in all, of whom twenty hitethem, and my cousin Hernan rides at his side”
It was true There was Henri Marais, and just behind hi into his ear, rode Hernan Pereira I remember that the two of them reminded me of a tale I had read about a enius that drew his of his better nature The thin, worn, wild-eyed Marais, and the rich-faced, carnal Pereira whispering slyly into his ear; they were exact types of that ed him down to hell
Prompted by some i:
”At least we have been very happy for a while”
”What do you mean, Allan?” she asked doubtfully
”Only that I think our good hours are done with for the present”
”Perhaps,” she answered slowly; ”but at least they have been very good hours, and if I should die to-day I alad to have lived to win them”
Then the cavalcade of Boers came up
Hernan Pereira, his senses sharpened perhaps by the instincts of hate and jealousy, was the first to recognise me
”Why, Mynheer Allan Quatermain,” he said, ”how is it that you are here?
How is it that you still live? Co to a dark, sad-faced man of about sixty who This Heer Quaterlish, as the Heer Henri Marais can testify Now, as we know for sure Pieter Retief and all his people are dead, aan, how then does it happen that this man has escaped?”
”Why do you put riddles to me, Mynheer Pereira?” asked the dark Boer
”Doubtless the Englishman will explain”
”Certainly I will, mynheer,” I said ”Is it your pleasure that I should speak now?”
The co called Henri Marais apart and talked to him for a little while, he replied:
”No, not now, I think; the matter is too serious After we have eaten ill listen to your story, Mynheer Quatermain, and meanwhile I command you not to leave this place”
”Do you mean that I am a prisoner, commandant?” I asked
”If you put it so--yes, Mynheer Quatermain--a prisoner who has to explain how some sixty of our brothers, ere your companions, came to be butchered like beasts in Zululand, while you escaped Now, no more words; by and by doubtless there will be plenty of thelishuns loaded, please, and e send to you, lead him before us”