marie-第50章
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of water fed by a strong spring。 Half…way down this hill; facing to the
east; and irrigable by the stream; was a plateau several acres in
extent; which furnished about the best site for a house that I know in
all South Africa。 Here I determined we would build our dwelling…place
and become rich by the breeding up of great herds of cattle。 I should
explain that this ground; which once; as the remains of their old kraals
showed; had belonged to a Kaffir tribe killed out by Chaka; the Zulu
king; was to be had for the taking。
Indeed; as there was more land than we could possibly occupy; I
persuaded Henri Marais; the Prinsloos and the Meyers; with whom I had
trekked from Delagoa; to visit it with me。 When they had seen it they
agreed to make it their home in the future; but meanwhile elected to
return to the other Boers for safety's sake。 So with the help of some
Kaffirs; of whom there were a few in the district; remnants of those
tribes which Chaka had destroyed; I pegged out an estate of about twelve
thousand acres for myself; and; selecting a site; set the natives to
work to build a rough mud house upon it which would serve as a temporary
dwelling。 I should add that the Prinsloos and the Meyers also made
arrangements for the building of similar shelters almost alongside of my
own。 This done; I returned to Marie and the trek…Boers。
On the morning after my return to the camp Piet Retief appeared there
with his five or six companions。 I asked him how he had got on with
Dingaan。
〃Well enough; nephew;〃 he answered。 〃At first the king was somewhat
angry; saying that we Boers had stolen six hundred head of his cattle。
But I showed him that it was the chief; Sikonyela; who lives yonder on
the Caledon River; who had dressed up his people in white men's clothes
and put them upon horses; and afterwards drove the cattle through one of
our camps to make it appear that we were the thieves。 Then he asked me
what was my object in visiting him。 I answered that I sought a grant of
the land south of the Tugela to the sea。
〃'Bring me back the cattle that you say Sikonyela has stolen;' he said;
'and we will talk about this land。' To this I agreed and soon after
left the kraal。〃
〃What did you do with Hernan Pereira; uncle?〃 I asked。
〃This; Allan。 When I was at Umgungundhlovu I sought out the truth of
that story you told me as to his having made a plot to get you killed by
the Zulus on the ground that you were a wizard。〃
〃And what did you discover; uncle?〃
〃I discovered that it was true; for Dingaan told me so himself。 Then I
sent for Pereira and ordered him out of my camp; telling him that if he
came back among the Boers I would have him put on his trial for
attempted murder。 He said nothing; but went away。〃
〃Whither did he go?〃
〃To a place that Dingaan gave him just outside his kraal。 The king said
that he would be useful to him; as he could mend guns and teach his
soldiers to shoot with them。 So there; I suppose; he remains; unless he
has thought it wiser to make off。 At any rate; I am sure that he will
not come here to trouble you or anyone。〃
〃No; uncle; but he may trouble you _there_;〃 I said doubtfully。
〃What do you mean; Allan?〃
〃I don't quite know; but he is black…hearted; a traitor by nature; and
in one way or the other he will stir up sorrow。 Do you think that he
will love you; for instance; after you have hunted him out like a
thief?〃
Retief shrugged his shoulders and laughed as he answered:
〃I will take my chance of that。 What is the use of troubling one's
head about such a snake of a man? And now; Allan; I have something to
ask you。 Are you married yet?〃
〃No; uncle; nor can be for another five weeks; when Marie comes of age。
Her father still holds that his oath binds him; and I have promised that
I will not take her till then。〃
〃Does he indeed; Allan? I think that Henri Marais is 'kransick' (that
is; cracked); or else his cursed nephew; Hernan; has fascinated him; as
a snake does a bird。 Still; I suppose that he has the law on his side;
and; as I am commandant; I cannot advise anyone to break the law。 Now
listen。 It is no use your staying here looking at the ripe peach you
may not pluck; for that only makes the stomach sick。 Therefore the best
thing that you can do is to come with me to get those cattle from
Sikonyela; for I shall be very glad of your company。 Afterwards; too; I
want you to return with me to Zululand when I go for the grant of all
this country。〃
〃But how about my getting married?〃 I asked in dismay。
〃Oh! I dare say you will be able to marry before we start。 Or if not;
it must be when we return。 Listen now; do not disappoint me in this
matter; Allan。 None of us can speak Zulu except you; who takes to these
savage languages like a duck to water; and I want you to be my
interpreter with Dingaan。 Also the king specially asked that you should
come with me when I brought the cattle; as he seems to have taken a
great fancy to you。 He said that you would render his words honestly;
but that he did not trust the lad whom he has there to translate into
Dutch and English。 So you see it will help me very much in this big
business if you come with me。〃
Still I hesitated; for some fear of the future lay heavy on my heart;
warning me against this expedition。
〃Allemachte!〃 said Retief angrily; 〃if you will not grant me a favour;
let it be。 Or is it that you want reward? If so; all I can promise you
is twenty thousand acres of the best land in the country when we get
it。〃
〃No; Mynheer Retief;〃 I replied; 〃it is no question of reward; and as
for the land; I have already pegged out my farm on a river about thirty
miles to the east。 It is that I do not like to leave Marie alone;
fearing lest her father should play some trick on me as regards her and
Hernan Pereira。〃
〃Oh; if that is all you are afraid of; Allan; I can soon settle matters;
for I will give orders to the Predicant Celliers that he is not to marry
Marie Marais to anyone except yourself; even if she asks him。 Also I
will order that if Hernan Pereira should come to the camp; he is to be
shut up until I return to try him。 Lastly; as commandant; I will name
Henri Marais as one of those who are to accompany us; so that he will be
able to plot nothing against you。 Now are you satisfied?〃
I said 〃Yes〃 as cheerfully as I could; though I felt anything but
cheerful; and we parted; for; of course; the Commandant Retief had much
to occupy him。
Then I went and told Marie what I had promised。 Somewhat to my surprise
she said that she thought I had acted wisely。
〃If you stayed here;〃 she added; 〃perhaps some new quarrel would arise
between you and my father which might make bitterness afterwards。 Also;
dear; it would be foolish for you to offend the Commandant Retief; who
will be the great man in this country; and who is very fond of you。
After all; Allan; we shall only be separated for a little while; and
when that is done we have the rest of our lives to spend together。 As
for me; do not be afraid; for you know I will never marry anyone but
youno; not to save myself from death。〃
So I left her somewhat comforted; knowing how sound was her judgment;
and went off to make my preparations for the expedition to Sikonyela's
country。
All this conversation with Retief I have set down in full; as nearly as
I can remember it; because of its fateful consequences。 Ah! if I could
have foreseen; if only I could have foreseen!
CHAPTER XVI
THE COUNCIL
Two days later we started to recover Dingaan's cattle; sixty or seventy
of us; all well armed and mounted。 With us went two of Dingaan's
captains and a number of Zulus; perhaps a hundred; who were to drive the
cattle if we recovered them。 As I could speak their language I was more
or less in c