“See,” said Marie, “my father is among them, and my cousin Hernan rides at his side.”

It was true.  There was Henri Marais, and just behind him, talking into his ear, rode Hernan Pereira.  I remember that the two of them reminded me of a tale I had read about a man who was cursed with an evil genius that drew him to some dreadful doom in spite of the promptings of his better nature.  The thin, worn, wild-eyed Marais, and the rich-faced, carnal Pereira whispering slyly into his ear; they were exact types of that man in the story and his evil genius who dragged him down to hell.  Prompted by some impulse, I threw my arms round Marie and embraced her, saying: 

“At least we have been very happy for a while.”

“What do you mean, Allan?” she asked doubtfully.

“Only that I think our good hours are done with for the present.”

“Perhaps,” she answered slowly; “but at least they have been very good hours, and if I should die to-day I am glad to have lived to win them.”

Then the cavalcade of Boers came up.

Hernan Pereira, his senses sharpened perhaps by the instincts of hate and jealousy, was the first to recognise me.

“Why, Mynheer Allan Quatermain,” he said, “how is it that you are here?  How is it that you still live?  Commandant,” he added, turning to a dark, sad-faced man of about sixty whom at that time I did not know, “here is a strange thing.  This Heer Quatermain, an Englishman, was with the Governor Retief at the town of the Zulu king, as the Heer Henri Marais can testify.  Now, as we know for sure Pieter Retief and all his people are dead, murdered by Dingaan, how then does it happen that this man has escaped?”

“Why do you put riddles to me, Mynheer Pereira?” asked the dark Boer.  “Doubtless the Englishman will explain.”

“Certainly I will, mynheer,” I said.  “Is it your pleasure that I should speak now?”

The commandant hesitated.  Then, having called Henri Marais apart and talked to him for a little while, he replied: 

“No, not now, I think; the matter is too serious.  After we have eaten we will listen to your story, Mynheer Quatermain, and meanwhile I command you not to leave this place.”

“Do you mean that I am a prisoner, commandant?” I asked.

“If you put it so—­yes, Mynheer Quatermain—­a prisoner who has to explain how some sixty of our brothers, who were your companions, came to be butchered like beasts in Zululand, while you escaped.  Now, no more words; by and by doubtless there will be plenty of them.  Here you, Carolus and Johannes, keep watch upon this Englishman, of whom I hear strange stories, with your guns loaded, please, and when we send to you, lead him before us.”

“As usual, your cousin Hernan brings evil gifts,” I said to Marie bitterly.  “Well, let us also eat our dinner, which perhaps the Heeren Carolus and Johannes will do us the honour to share—­bringing their loaded guns with them.”