Then Marais broke out； speaking in Dutch that I might understand：
〃It is you who should be called pig； Leblanc； not this boy； for； early
as it is； you have been drinking。 Look！ the brandy bottle is half
empty。 Is that the example you set to the young？ Speak so again and I
turn you out to starve on the veld。 Allan Quatermain； although； as you
may have heard； I do not like the English； I beg your pardon。 I hope
you will forgive the words this sot spoke； thinking that you did not
understand；〃 and he took off his hat and bowed to me quite in a grand
manner； as his ancestors might have done to a king of France。
Leblanc's face fell。 Then he rose and walked away rather unsteadily； as
I learned afterwards； to plunge his head in a tub of cold water and
swallow a pint of new milk； which were his favourite antidotes after too
much strong drink。 At any rate； when he appeared again； half an hour
later； to begin out lesson； he was quite sober； and extremely polite。
When he had gone； my childish anger being appeased； I presented the Heer
Marais with my father's compliments； also with the buck and the birds；
whereof the latter seemed to please him more than the former。 Then my
saddle…bags were taken to my room； a little cupboard of a place next to
that occupied by Monsieur Leblanc； and Hans was sent to turn the horses
out with the others belonging to the farm； having first knee…haltered
them tightly； so that they should not run away home。
This done； the Heer Marais showed me the room in which we were to have
our lessons； one of the 〃sitkammer〃； or sitting chambers； whereof；
unlike most Boer stead； this house boasted two。 I remember that the
floor was made of 〃daga〃； that is； ant…heap earth mixed with cow…dung；
into which thousands of peach…stones had been thrown while it was still
soft； in order to resist footweara rude but fairly efficient
expedient； and one not unpleasing to the eye。 For the rest； there was
one window opening on to the veranda； which； in that bright climate；
admitted a shaded but sufficient light； especially as it always stood
open； the ceiling was of unplastered reeds； a large bookcase stood in
the corner containing many French works； most of them the property of
Monsieur Leblanc； and in the centre of the room was the strong； rough
table made of native yellow…wood； that once had served as a butcher's
block。 I recollect also a coloured print of the great Napoleon
commanding at some battle in which he was victorious； seated upon a
white horse and waving a field…marshal's baton over piles of dead and
wounded； and near the window； hanging to the reeds of the ceiling； the
nest of a pair of red…tailed swallows； pretty creatures that；
notwithstanding the mess they made； afforded to Marie and me endless
amusement in the intervals of our work。
When； on that day； I shuffled shyly into this homely place； and；
thinking myself alone there； fell to examining it； suddenly I was
brought to a standstill by a curious choking sound which seemed to
proceed from the shadows behind the bookcase。 Wondering as to its
cause； I advanced cautiously to discover a pink…clad shape standing in
the corner like a naughty child； with her head resting against the wall；
and sobbing slowly。
〃Marie Marais； why do you cry？〃 I asked。
She turned； tossing back the locks of long； black hair which hung about
her face； and answered：
〃Allan Quatermain； I cry because of the shame which has been put upon
you and upon our house by that drunken Frenchman。〃
〃What of that？〃 I asked。 〃He only called me a pig； but I think I have
shown him that even a pig has tusks。〃
〃Yes；〃 she replied； 〃but it was not you he meant； it was all the
English； whom he hates； and the worst of it is that my father is of his
mind。 He； too； hates the English； and； oh！ I am sure that trouble will
come of his hatred； trouble and death to many。〃
〃Well； if so； we have nothing to do with it； have we？〃 I replied with
the cheerfulness of extreme youth。
〃What makes you so sure？〃 she said solemnly。 〃Hush！ here comes Monsieur
Leblanc。〃
CHAPTER II
THE ATTACK ON MARAISFONTEIN
I do not propose to set out the history of the years which I spent in
acquiring a knowledge of French and various other subjects； under the
tuition of the learned but prejudiced Monsieur Leblanc。 Indeed； there
is 〃none to tell； sir。〃 When Monsieur Leblanc was sober； he was a most
excellent and well…informed tutor； although one apt to digress into many
side issues； which in themselves were not uninstructive。 When tipsy； he
grew excited and harangued us； generally upon politics and religion； or
rather its reverse； for he was an advanced freethinker； although this
was a side to his character which； however intoxicated he might be； he
always managed to conceal from the Heer Marais。 I may add that a
certain childish code of honour prevented us from betraying his views on
this and sundry other matters。 When absolutely drunk； which； on an
average； was not more than once a month； he simply slept； and we did
what we pleaseda fact which our childish code of honour also prevented
us from betraying。
But； on the whole； we got on very well together； for； after the incident
of our first meeting； Monsieur Leblanc was always polite to me。 Marie
he adored； as did every one about the place； from her father down to the
meanest slave。 Need I add that I adored her more than all of them put
together； first with the love that some children have for each other；
and afterwards； as we became adult； with that wider love by which it is
at once transcended and made complete。 Strange would it have been if
this were not so； seeing that we spent nearly half of every week
practically alone together； and that； from the first； Marie； whose
nature was as open as the clear noon； never concealed her affection for
me。 True； it was a very discreet affection； almost sisterly； or even
motherly； in its outward and visible aspects； as though she could never
forget that extra half…inch of height or month or two of age。
Moreover； from a child she was a woman； as an Irishman might say； for
circumstances and character had shaped her thus。 Not much more than a
year before we met； her mother； whose only child she was； and whom she
loved with all her strong and passionate heart； died after a lingering
illness； leaving her in charge of her father and his house。 I think it
was this heavy bereavement in early youth which coloured her nature with
a grey tinge of sadness and made her seem so much older than her years。
So the time went on； I worshipping Marie in my secret thought； but
saying nothing about it； and Marie talking of and acting towards me as
though I were her dear younger brother。 Nobody； not even her father or
mine； or Monsieur Leblanc； took the slightest notice of this queer
relationship； or seemed to dream that it might lead to ultimate
complications which； in fact； would have been very distasteful to them
all for reasons that I will explain。
Needless to say； in due course； as they were bound to do； those
complications arose； and under pressure of great physical and moral
excitement the truth came out。 It happened thus。
Every reader of the history of the Cape Colony has heard of the great
Kaffir War of 1835。 That war took place for the most part in the
districts of Albany and Somerset； so that we inhabitants of Cradock； on
the whole； suffered little。 Therefore； with the natural optimism and
carelessness of danger of dwellers in wild places； we began to think
ourselves fairly safe from attack。 Indeed； so we should have been； had
it not been for a foolish action on the part of Monsieur Leblanc。
It seems that on a certain Sunday； a day that I always spent at home
with my father； Monsieur Leblanc rode out alone to some hills about five
miles distant from Maraisfontein。 He had often been cautioned that this
was an unsafe thing to do； but the truth is that the foolish man thought
he had found a rich copper mine in these hills； and was anxious that no
one should share his secret。 Therefore； on Sundays； when there were no
lessons； and the Heer Marais was in the habit of celebrating family
prayers； which Leblanc disliked； it was customary for him to ride to
these hills and there collect geological specimens and locate the strike
of his copper vein。 On this particular Sabbath； which was very hot；
after he had done whatever he intended to do； he dismounted from his
horse； a tame old beast。 Leaving it loose； he partook of the meal he
had brought with him； which seems to have included a bottle of peach
brandy that induced slumber。
Waking up towards evening； he found that his horse had gone； and at once
jumped to the conclusion that it had been stolen by Kaffirs； although in
truth the animal had but strolled over a ridge in search of grass。
Running hither and thither to seek it； he presently crossed this ridge
and met the horse； apparently being led away by two of the Red Kaffirs；
who； as was usual； were armed with assegais。 As a matter of fact these
men had found the beast； and； knowing well to whom it belonged； were
seeking its owner； whom； earlier in the day； they had seen upon the
hills； in order to restore it to him。 This； however； never occurred to
the mind of Monsieur Leblanc； excited as it was by the fumes of the
peach brandy。
Lifting the double…barrelled gun he carried； he fired at the first
Kaffir； a young man who chanced to be the eldest son and heir of the
chief of the tribe； and； as the range was very close； shot him dead。
Thereon his companion； leaving go of the horse； ran for his life。 At
him Leblanc fired also； wounding him slightly in the thigh； but no more；
so that he escaped to tell the tale of what he and every other native
for miles round considered a wanton and premeditated murder。 The