marie-第18章
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kloof; in which doubtless they bred; apparently quite undisturbed by the
shooting。 Or; perhaps; they had their eyes upon some of the fallen
geese。 I took the rifle and waited for a long while; till at last my
opportunity came。 I saw that the larger hen falcon was about to cross
directly over the circle of its mate; there being perhaps a distance of
ten yards between them。 I aimed; I judgedfor a second my mind was a
kind of calculating machinethe different arcs and speeds of the birds
must be allowed for; and the lowest was ninety yards away。 Then; with
something like a prayer upon my lips; I pressed while every eye stared
upwards。
Down came the lower falcon; a pause of half a second; and down came the
higher one also; falling dead upon its dead mate!
Now; even from those Boers; who did not love to see an Englishman excel;
there broke a shout of acclamation。 Never had they beheld such a shot
as this; nor in truth had I。
〃Mynheer Retief;〃 I said; 〃I gave you notice that I intended to try to
kill both of them; did I not?〃
〃You did。 Allemachte! you did! But tell me; Allan Quatermain; are your
eye and hand quite human?〃
〃You must ask my father;〃 I answered with a shrug as I sat myself down
upon my stool and mopped my brow。
The Boers came up with a rush; Marie flying ahead of them like a
swallow; and their stout womenfolk waddling behind; and formed a circle
round us; all talking at once。 I did not listen to their conversation;
till I heard Pereira; who was engaged in some eye…play with Marie; say
in a loud voice:
〃Yes; it was pretty; very pretty; but all the same; Uncle Retief; I
claim the match; as I shot six geese against five。〃
〃Hans;〃 I said; 〃bring my geese;〃 and they were brought; each with a
neat hole through it; and laid down near those that Pereira had shot。
〃Now;〃 I said to Retief; 〃examine the wounds in these birds; and then
that on the second bird which the Heer Pereira killed when he brought
down two at once。 I think it will be found that his bullet must have
splintered。〃
Retief went and studied all the birds; taking them up one by one。 Then
he threw down the last with a curse and cried in a great voice:
〃Mynheer Pereira; why do you bring shame on us before these two
Englishmen? I say that you have been using loopers; or else bullets
that were sawn in quarters and glued or tied with thread。 Look; look!〃
and he pointed to the wounds; of which in one case there were as many as
three on a single bird。
〃Why not?〃 answered Pereira coolly。 〃The bargain was that we were to
use bullets; but it was never said that they should not be cut。
Doubtless the Heer Allan's were treated in the same way。〃
〃No;〃 I answered; 〃when I said that I would shoot with a bullet I meant
a whole bullet; not one that had been sawn in pieces and fixed together
again; so that after it left the muzzle it might spread out like shot。
But I do not wish to talk about the matter。 It is in the hands of the
Heer Pieter Retief; who will give judgment as it pleases him。〃
Now; much excited argument ensued among the Boers; in the midst of which
Marie managed to whisper to me unheard:
〃Oh! I am glad; Allan; for whatever they may decide; you won; and the
omen is good。〃
〃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 omens are bad; for there is going 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 birds must
count。 But that writing does 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
match is dead or; since the geese 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 much against him; 〃let the Englishman 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 umpire has said
that the match is dead; so everything 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 my part I never want to shake your hand
again。〃
Now; at these outspoken words; for when his indignation was aroused
Retief was no measurer of language; Pereira's high…coloured face went
white 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 with whole 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 am sure I cannot say what would have happened; although I am
quite certain that Pereira had no stomach for a duel with the
redoubtable Retief; a man whose courage was as proverbial throughout 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 both my guests; and I will
not permit quarrelling over 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 it may be that young Allan Quatermain here is even better? Will
you not say so; too; friend Retief; especially just now when 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 commandant was utterly uncompromising; 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 myself with an angry 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 come to the kloof to see the shooting
match; although; in fact; for a very different purpose; now began to
disperse。 Some of them rode straight away; while some went to wagons
which they had outspanned at a distance; and trekked off to their
separate homes。 I am glad to say that before they left quite a number
of the best of them came up and congratulated me both on the defence of
Maraisfontein and on my shooting。 Also not a few expressed their views
concerning Pereira in very straightforward language。
Now; the arrangement was that my father and I were to sleep that night
at Marais's stead; returning home on the following