.
Her own thirst, heightened by the oven-like heat and the long day of
waiting and anxiety, was intense, and Andries, the Hottentot--faithful
and uncomplaining though he was--was in like plight. These things were
as nothing; their sufferings could be borne for another day and night;
but Barend, her beautiful, sunny little Barend, with his now flushed
cheeks and feverish skin and hoarse voice--he must be saved pain at all
cost. Her mind was made up. She looked across to the fire by the other
wagon. There sat Schalk sullenly, his figure bulking against the blaze,
smoking his big pipe as usual.

Hendrika walked steadily across and up to the firelight. Only the Boer
sat there; his servants were already asleep under the wagon. Schalk
turned in his chair and looked up at his visitor as she approached. It
was not a pleasant face to-night. The man was evidently in a sullen,
obstinate fit of temper at the general outlook, and his aspect was
discouraging enough. Hendrika broke the silence.

"Meneer Oosthuysen," she said, rather hurriedly for her, "I have come to
beg some water. My boy is sick and feverish, and my _vatje_ is empty.
I have not a drop of water left. I expected my husband back this
evening with a fresh supply; he has not arrived, and there are no signs
of him. You can help me, can you not?"

A curious expression flitted over the impassive countenance of the Boer:
it passed like a fleeting shadow, but the firelight just caught it.

"Hendrika Van Staden, why should you come to me now?" he said. "All was
over between us, you said; and I wanted to see your face no more. I
have scarcely enough water for myself and my men for another day. My
oxen may not be back, the Lord knows when! In these times one must look
after oneself. Your husband will be back by morning, no doubt, and your
boy can wait till then. No, I cannot help you. Allemaghte! why should
I, indeed? All my troubles come from you. You have treated me scurvily
in the past; my turn has come now!"

The last few days of suffering and disaster--for he had already lost
heavily among his cattle--seemed to have changed the man's nature. All
his evil impulses had come uppermost.

Hendrika argued, pleaded, threatened, cast away her pride and implored
Oosthuysen, by all the memories of their youth together, to help her,
even with a beaker or two of water. But all of no avail. The Boer sat
grim, obstinate, ferocious, and would not be moved.