go back with your uncle,
Henri Marais, to the trek-Boers, where they can be laid before a court
and settled according to law."

"If so, he will go back alone," said the Vrouw Prinsloo. "He will not
go back with us, for we will elect a field-cornet and shoot him--the
stinkcat, who left us to starve and afterwards tried to kill little
Allan Quatermain, who saved our lives"; and the chorus behind her
echoed:

"Ja, ja, we will shoot him."

"Hernan Pereira," said Retief, rubbing his broad forehead, "I don't
quite know why it is, but no one seems to want you as a companion.
Indeed, to speak truth, I don't myself. Still, I think you would be
safer with me than with these others whom you seem to have offended.
Therefore, I suggest that you come on with us. But listen here, man," he
added sternly, "if I find you plotting against us among the Zulus, that
hour you are dead. Do you understand?"

"I understand that I am one slandered," replied Pereira. "Still, it is
Christian to submit to injuries, and therefore I will do as you wish. As
to these bearers of false witness, I leave them to God."

"And I leave you to the devil," shouted Vrouw Prinsloo, "who will
certainly have you soon or late. Get out of my sight, stinkcat, or I
will pull your hair off." And she rushed at him, flapping her dreadful
vatdoek--which she produced from some recess in her raiment--in his
face, driving him away as though he were a noxious insect.

Well, he went I know not where, and so strong was public opinion against
him that I do not think that even his uncle, Henri Marais, sought him
out to console him.

When Pereira was gone, our party and that of Retief fell into talk, and
we had much to tell. Especially was the commandant interested in the
story of my bet with Dingaan, whereby I saved the lives of all my
companions by shooting the vultures.

"It was not for nothing, nephew, that God Almighty gave you the power
of holding a gun so straight," said Retief to me when he understood the
matter. "I remember that when you killed those wildfowl in the Groote
Kloof with bullets, which no other man could have done, I wondered why
you should have such a gift above all the rest of us, who have practised
for so many more years. Well, now I understand. God Almighty is no fool;
He knows His business. I wish you were coming back with me to Dingaan;
but as that tainted man, Hernan Pereira, is of my company, perhaps it is
better that you should stay away. Tel