and at last give them Thy Salvation through the Blood of Jesus the Saviour.  If they are together, let them rejoice in each other.  If they are apart, let them not forget each other.  If one of them dies and the other lives, let that one who lives look forward to the day of reunion and bow the head to Thy Will, and keep that one who dies in Thy holy Hand.  O Thou Who knowest all things, guide the lives of these two according to Thy eternal purpose, and teach them to be sure that whatever Thou doest, is done for the best.  For Thou art a faithful Creator, Who wishes good to His children and not evil, and at the last Thou wilt give them that good if they do but trust in Thee through daylight and through darkness.  Now let no man dare to put asunder those whom Thou hast joined together, O Lord God Almighty, Father of us all.  Amen.”

So he prayed, and all the company echoed that Amen from their hearts.  That is all except one, for Henri Marais turned his back on us and walked away.

“So,” said Retief, wiping his brow with the sleeve of his coat, “you are the last couple that ever I mean to marry.  The work is too hard for a layman who has bad sight for print.  Now kiss each other; it is the right thing to do.”

So we kissed, and the congregation cheered.

“Allan,” went on the commandant, pulling out a silver watch like a turnip, “you have just half an hour before we ride, and the Vrouw Prinsloo says that she has made you a wedding meal in that tent there, so you had best go eat it.”

To the tent we went accordingly, to find a simple but bounteous feast prepared, of which we partook, helping each other to food, as is, or was, the custom with new-wedded folk.  Also, many Boers came in and drank our healths, although the Vrouw Prinsloo told them that it would have been more decent to leave us alone.  But Henri Marais did not come or drink our healths.

Thus the half-hour went all too swiftly, and not a word did we get alone.  At last in despair, seeing that Hans was already waiting with the horses, I drew Marie aside, motioning to everyone to stand back.

“Dearest wife,” I said in broken words, “this is a strange beginning to our married life, but you see it can’t be helped.”

“No, Allan,” she answered, “it can’t be helped; but oh!  I wish my heart were happier about your journey.  I fear Dingaan, and if anything should chance to you I shall die of grief.”

“Why should anything chance, Marie?  We are a strong and well-armed party, and Dingaan looks on us peacefully.”

“I don’t know, husband, but they say Hernan Pereira is with the Zulus, and he hates you.”

“Then he had better mind his manners, or he will not be here long to hate anybody,” I answered grimly, for my gorge rose at the thought of this man and his treacheries.

“Vrouw Prinsloo,” I called to the old lady, who was near, “be pleased to come hither and listen.  And, Marie, do you listen also.  If by chance I should hear anything affecting your safety, and send you a message by someone you can trust, such as that you should remove yourselves elsewhere or hide, promise me that you will obey it without question.”