You are behaving well to me, Lord Macumazahn, and
now I willbehave well to you.
More, those excellent men had breakfast cooking for
us upona fire, and coffee ready.
As for the rest,hand over to me the woman called
White-Mouse and I will talk withyou.
Hot coffee and food are great stimulants,and in ten
minutes I felt a new man. I saw the knife flash and down he went, yelling in fearand
pain. Because, Hans, I should be ashamed of myself if I did, and what ismore, you
would be ashamed of me. Now pleasego to your post, shoot as straight as you can, and
dont wastecartridges. I ran down the ladder in a fury and found Kaneke seated on
thelanding-place, a man bemused. Being puzzled what to do, I turned to speak to the
man. And what have you done with thewoman called White-Mouse who, you say, has
changed into an owl?
So instead we made detoursand avoided those clumps
of trees. I said, in a loud voice to theman, whom I recognized as one of the judges
who had tried Kaneke. Thethird, however, who was bolder or perhaps guessed the
truth, rushedat her.
Then I told Hans to find Kaneke,that I might
explain matters and give him a rifle.
No, Lord, neither, he answered, with a little
shiver.
I saw the knife flash and down he went, yelling in
fearand pain. I will go up the ladder and push open the stone, as Itold
you.
I may add that it was quite darkon that ladder,
which was very unpleasant.
I returned to the landing-place and sat down to
rest, almostweeping. As itwas it crushed in the top of the soft hat I was
wearing.
Pieces ofrope still hung to his arms and legs, and
she had a bared knife inher hand. Atlength I could control myself no longer. Baas,
he added, I think that skunk has run away or turned into asnake and slid into the
reeds.
Lord, although you do notknow it, we are bound
together until all is accomplished as may befated.
I climbed past him up the ladder again until I
could look over theedge of the hole.
Tell me the truth or I have done with you. That
remains to be seen, I answered boldly.
White-Mousesaid we should get through safely, and I
am beginning to believe inWhite-Mouse. White-Mousesaid we should get through safely,
and I am beginning to believe inWhite-Mouse.
The camp was on the slope of alittle koppie,
round-topped and thickly strewn with boulders. Not one word did he say until we
reached the others, nor did Iquestion him. I said, in a loud voice to theman, whom I
recognized as one of the judges who had tried Kaneke.
Now itwas very much alive and grown almost
spiritual, like to the face ofone who is rapt in prayer. Now my patience was
exhausted, and I asked her:Why should I do this thing?
Dont you think we had better be moving,Baas? Now
pleasego to your post, shoot as straight as you can, and dont wastecartridges.