, eyeing the voracious Hottentot
suspiciously, she added: "That yellow dog of yours hasn't stolen it, has
he? If so, I'll teach him."

"No, no, vrouw," answered Hans in alarm. "No meat has passed my lips
this day, except what I licked out of the pan after breakfast."

"Then, Allan, you will certainly have indigestion, which is just what I
wanted to avoid. Have I not often told you that you should chew your bit
twenty times before you swallow, which I would do myself if I had any
back teeth left? Here, drink this milk; it is only a little sour and
will settle your stomach," and she produced a black bottle and subjected
it to the attentions of the vatdoek, growing quite angry when I declined
it and sent for water.

Next she insisted upon my getting into her own bed in the wagon to
sleep, forbidding me to smoke, which she said made the hand shake.
Thither, then, I went, after a brief conversation with Hans, whom I
directed to clean my rifle thoroughly. For I wished to be alone and
knew that I had little chance of solitude outside of that somewhat fusty
couch.

To tell the truth, although I shut my eyes to deceive the vrouw, who
looked in occasionally to see how I was getting on, no sleep came to
me that afternoon--at least, not for a long while. How could I sleep in
that hot place when my heart was torn with doubt and terror? Think of
it, reader, think of it! An hour or two, and on my skill would hang the
lives of eight white people--men, women, and children, and the safety
or the utter shame of the woman whom I loved and who loved me. No, she
should be spared the worst. I would give her my pistol, and if there
were need she would know what to do.

The fearful responsibility was more than I could bear. I fell into a
veritable agony; I trembled and even wept a little. Then I thought of my
father and what he would do in such circumstances, and began to pray as
I had never prayed before.

I implored the Power above me to give me strength and wisdom; not to let
me fail in this hour of trouble, and thereby bring these poor people to
a bloody death. I prayed till the perspiration streamed down my face;
then suddenly I fell into sleep or swoon. I don't know how long I lay
thus, but I think it must have been the best part of an hour. At last
I woke up all in an instant, and as I woke I distinctly heard a tiny
voice, unlike any other voice in the whole world, speak inside my head,
or so it seemed to me, saying:

_"Go to th