marie-第52章

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Pereira；　Dingaan；　and　the　late　Commandant　Retief。



Here　I　may　state　that　my　condition　at　the　time　was　not　one　of　fear；　but

rather　of　burning　indignation。　　Indeed；　I　had　not　the　slightest　doubt

but　that　when　my　case　was　re…tried　before　the　great　council；　I　should　be

able　to　establish　my　complete　innocence　of　the　abominable　charges　that

had　been　brought　against　me。　　Therefore　it　came　about　that　when　Marie

suggested　that　I　should　try　to　escape；　I　begged　her　almost　roughly　not

to　mention　such　a　thing　again。



〃Run　away！〃　I　said。　　〃Why；　that　would　be　to　confess　myself　guilty；　for

only　the　guilty　run　away。　　What　I　want　is　to　have　all　this　business

thrashed　out　and　that　devil　Pereira　exposed。〃



〃But；　Allan；〃　said　Marie；　〃how　if　you　should　never　live　to　have　it

thrashed　out？　　How　if　you　should　be　shot　first？〃　　Then　she　rose；　and

having　looked　to　see　that　the　shutter…board　was　fast　in　the　little

window…place　and　the　curtain　that　she　had　made　of　sacking　drawn　over　it；

returned　and　whispered：　〃Hans　here　has　heard　a　horrible　tale；　Allan。　

Tell　it　to　the　baas；　Hans。〃



So　while　Vrouw　Prinsloo；　in　order　to　deceive　any　prying　eyes　if　such　by

chance　could　see　us；　busied　herself　with　lighting　a　fire　on　the　hearth

in　the　second　room　on　which　to　warm　the　food；　Hans　told　his　story　much

as　it　has　already　been　set　out。



I　listened　to　it　with　growing　incredulity。　　The　thing　seemed　to　me

impossible。　　Either　Hans　was　deceived　or　lying；　the　latter　probably；　for

well　I　knew　the　Hottentot　powers　of　imagination。　　Or　perhaps　he　was

drunk；　indeed；　he　smelt　of　liquor；　of　which　I　was　aware　be　could　carry　a

great　quantity　without　outward　signs　of　intoxication。



〃I　cannot　believe　it；〃　I　said　when　he　had　finished。　　〃Even　if　Pereira　is

such　a　fiend；　as　is　possible；　would　Henri　Marais；　your　fatherwho；　at

any　rate；　has　always　been　a　good　and　God…fearing　manconsent　to　work

such　a　crime　upon　his　daughter's　husband；　though　he　does　dislike　him？〃



〃My　father　is　not　what　he　was；　Allan；〃　said　Marie。　　〃Sometimes　I　think

that　his　brain　has　gone。〃



〃He　did　not　speak　like　a　man　whose　brain　has　gone　this　afternoon；〃　I

replied。　　〃But　let　us　suppose　that　this　tale　is　true；　what　is　it　that

you　wish　me　to　do？〃



〃Allan；　I　wish　you　to　dress　up　in　my　clothes　and　get　away　to　a

hiding…place　which　Hans　and　the　vrouw　know；　leaving　me　here　instead　of

you。〃



〃Why；　Marie？〃　I　said。　　〃Then　you　might　get　yoursTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsao
TsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsao
TsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsao
TsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsao
TsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsao
TsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsao
TsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsao
TsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaoTsaore　was　any

thought　of　my　being　shot　to…morrow　morning；　it　will　be　abandoned。　　You

can　refuse　to　say　who　told　you　the　tale。〃



〃Yes；　please　do　that；〃　muttered　Hans；　〃else　I　know　one　who　will　be

shot。〃



〃Good；　I　will　go；〃　said　the　vrouw；　and　she　went；　the　guards　letting　her

pass　after　a　few　words　which　we　could　not　hear。



Half　an　hour　later　she　returned　and　called　to　us　to　open　the　door。



〃Well？〃　I　asked。



〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　failed；　nephew。　　Except　those　sentries　outside

the　door；　the　commandant　and　all　the　Boers　have　ridden　off；　I　know　not

where；　taking　our　people　with　them。〃



〃That's　odd；〃　I　answered；　〃but　I　suppose　they　thought　they　had　not

enough　grass　for　their　horses；　or　Heaven　knows　what　they　thought。　　Stay

now；　I　will　do　something；〃　and；　opening　the　door；　I　called　to　the

guards；　honest　fellows　in　their　way；　whom　I　had　known　in　past　times。



〃Listen；　friends；〃　I　said。　　〃A　tale　has　been　brought　to　me　that　I　am　not

to　be　taken　to　the　big　camp　to　have　my　case　inquired　of　by　the　council；

but　am　to　be　shot　down　in　cold　blood　when　I　come　out　of　this　house

to…morrow　morning。　　Is　that　true？〃



〃Allemachte；　Englishman！〃　answered　one　of　them。　　〃Do　you　take　us　for

murderers？　　Our　orders　are　to　lead　you　to　the　commandant　wherever　he　may

appoint；　so　have　no　fear　that　we　shall　shoot　you　like　a　Kaffir。　　Either

you　or　they　who　told　you　such　a　story　are　mad。〃



〃So　I　thought；　friends；〃　I　answered。　　〃But　where　is　the　commandant　and

where　are　the　others？　　The　Vrouw　Prinsloo　here　has　been　to　see　them；　and

reports　that　they　are　all　gone。〃



〃That　is　very　likely；〃　said　the　Boer。　　〃There　is　a　rumour　that　some　of

your　Zulu　brothers　have　come　across　the　Tugela　again　to　hunt　us；　which；

if　you　want　to　know　the　truth；　is　why　we　visited　this　place。　　Well；　the

commandant　has　taken　his　men　for　a　ride　to　see　if　he　can　meet　them　by

this　bright　moonlight。　　Pity　he　could　not　take　you；　too；　since　you　would

have　known　so　well　where　to　find　them；　if　they　are　there　at　all。　　Now

please　talk　no　more　nonsense　to　us；　which　it　makes　us　sick　to　hear；　and

don't　think　that　you　can　slip　away　because　we　are　only　two；　for　you　know

our　roers　are　loaded　with　slugs；　and　we　have　orders　to　use　them。〃



〃There；〃　I　said　when　I　had　shut　the　door；　〃now　you　have　heard　for

yourselves。　　As　I　thought；　there　is　nothing　in　this　fine　story；　so　I

hope　you　are　convinced。〃



Neither　the　vrouw　nor　Marie　made　any　answer；　and　Hans　also　held　his

tongue。　　Yet；　as　I　remembered　afterwards；　I　saw　a　strange　glance　pass

between　the　two　women；　who　were　not　at　all　convinced；　and；　although　I

never　dreamed　of　such　a　thing；　had　now　determined　to　carry　out　their　own

desperate　plan。　　But　of　this　I　repeat　the　vrouw　and　Hans　only　knew　one

half；　the　rest　was　locked　in　Marie's　loving　heart。



〃Perhaps　you　are　right；　Allan；〃　said　the　vrouw　in　the　tone　of　one　who

gives　way　to　an　unreasonable　child。　　〃I　hope　so；　and；　at　any　rate；　you

can　refuse　to　come　out　of　the　house　to…morrow　morning　until　you　are

quite　sure。　　And　now　let　us　eat　some　supper；　for　we　shall　not　make

matters　better　by　going　hungry。　　Hans；　bring　the　food。〃



So　we　ate；　or　made　pretence　to　eat；　and　I；　being　thirsty；　drank　two　cups

of　the　black　coffee　dashed　with　spirit　to　serve　as　milk。　　After　this　I

grew　strangely　sleepy。　　The　last　thing　I　remember　was　Marie　looking　at

me　with　her　beautiful　eyes；　that　were　fullah！　so　full　of　tender　love；

and　kissing　me　again　and　again　upon　the　lips。





I　dreamed　all　sorts　of　dreams；　rather　pleasant　dreams　on　the　whole。　

Then　I　woke　up　by　degrees　to　find　myself　in　an　earthen　pit　shaped　like　a

bottle　and　having　the　remains　of　polished　sides　to　it。　　It　made　me　think

of　Joseph　who　was　let　down　by　his　brethren　into　a　well　in　the　desert。　

Now；　who　on　earth　could　have　let　me　down　into　a　well；　especially　as　I

had　no　brethren？　　Perhaps　I　was　not　really　in　a　well。　　Perhaps　this　was

a　nightmare。　　Or　I　might　be　dead。　　I　began　to　remember　that　there　were

certain　good　reasons　why　I　should　be　dead。　　Only；　onlywhy　should　they

have　buried　me　in　woman's　clothes　as　I　seemed　to　wear？



And　what　was　that　noise　that　had　wakened　me？



It　could　not　be　the　trump　of　doom；　unless　the　trumping　of　doom　went　off

like　a　double…barrelled　gun。



I　began　to　try　to　climb　out　of　my　hole；　but　as　it　was　nine　feet　deep　and

bottle…shaped；　which　the　light　flowing　in　from　the　neck　showed；　I　found

this　impossible。　　Just　as　I　was　giving　up　the　attempt；　a　yellow　face

appeared　in　that　neck；　which　looked　to　me　like　the　face　of　Hans；　and　an

arm　was　projected　downwards。



〃Jump；　if　you　are　awake；　baas；〃　said　a　voicesurely　it　was　the　voice　of

Hans〃and　I　will　pull　you　out。〃



So　I　jumped；　and　caught　the　arm　above　the　wrist。　　Then　the　owner　of　the

arm　pulled　desperately；　and　the　end　of　it　was　that　I　succeeded　in

gripping　the　edge　of　the　bottle…like　hole；　and；　with　the　help　of　the

arm；　in　dragging　myself　out。



〃Now；　baas；〃　said　Hans；　for　it　_was_　Hans；　〃run；　run　before　the　Boers

catch　you。〃



〃What　Boers？〃　I　asked；　sleepily；　〃and　how　can　I　run　with　these　things

flapping　about　my　legs？〃



Then　I　looked　about　me；　and；　although　the　dawn　was　only　just　breaking；

began　to　recognise　my　surroundings。　　Surely　this　was　the　Prinsloos'

house　to　my　right；　and　that；　faintly　seen　through　the　mist　about　a

hundred　paces　away；　was　Marie's　and　my　own。　　There　seemed　to　be

something　going　on　yonder　which　excited　my　awakening　curiosity。　　I　could

see　figures　moving　in　an　unusual　manner；　and　desired　to　know　what　they

were　doing。　　I　began　to　walk　towards　them；　and　Hans；　for　his　part；　began

to　try　to　drag　me　in　an　opposite　direction；　uttering　all　sorts　of

gibberish　as　to　the　necessity　of　my　running　away。　　But　I　would　not　be

dragged；　indeed；　I　struck　at　him；　until　at　last；　with　an　exclamation　of

despair；　he　let　go　of　me　and　vanished。



So　I　went　on　alone。　　I　came　to　my　house；　or　what　I　thought　resembled　it；

and　there　saw　a　figure　lying　on　its　face　on　the　ground　some　ten　or

fifteen　yards　to　the　right　of　the　doorway；　and　noted　abstractedly　that

it　was　dressed　in　my　clothes。　　The　Vrouw　Prinsloo；　in　her　absurd　night

garments；　was　waddling　towards　the　figure；　and　a　little　way　off　stood

Hernan　Pereira；　apparently　in　the　act　of　reloading　a　double…barrelled

gun。　　Beyond；　staring　at　him；　stood　the　lantern…faced　Henri　Marais；

pulling　at　his　long　beard　with　one　hand　and　holding　a　rifle　in　the

other。　　Behind　were　two　saddled　horses　in　the　charge　of　a　raw　Kaffir；

who　looked　on　stupidly。



The　Vrouw　Prinsloo　reached　the　body　that　lay　upon　the　ground　dressed　in

what　resembled　my　clothes；　and　bending　down　her　stout　shape　with　an

effort；　turned　it　over。　　She　glared　into　its　face　and　then　began　to

shriek。



〃Come　here；　Henri　Marais；〃　she　shrieked；　〃come；　see　what　your　beloved

nephew　has　done！　　You　had　a　daughter　who　was　all　your　life　to　you；　Henri

Marais。　　Well；　come；　look　at　her　after　your　beloved　nephew　has　finished

his　work　with　her！〃



Henri　Marais　advanced　slowly　like　one　who　does　not　understand。　　He　stood

over　the　body　on　the　ground；　and　looked　down　upon　it　through　the　morning

mists。



Then　suddenly　he　went　mad。　　His　broad　hat　fell　from　his　head；　and　his

long　hair　seemed　to　stand　up。　　Also　his　beard　grew　big　and　bristled　like

the　feathers　of　a　bird　in　frosty　weather。　　He　turned　on　Hernan　Pereira。　

〃You　devil！〃　he　shouted；　and　his　voice　sounded　like　the　roar　of　a　wild

beast；　〃you　devil；　you　have　murdered　my　daughter！　　Because　you　could　not

get　Marie　for　yourself；　you　have　murdered　her。　　Well；　I　will　pay　you

back！〃



Without　more　ado　he　lifted　his　gun　and　fired　straight　at　Hernan　Pereira；

who　sank　slowly　to　the　ground　and　lay　there　groaning。



Just　then　I　grew　aware　that　horsemen　were　advancing　upon　us；　a　great

number　of　horsemen；　though　whence　they　came　at　that　time　I　did　not　know。

　One　of　these　I　recognised　even　in　my　half…drunken　state；　for　he　had

impressed　himself　very　vividly　upon