hat we Boers had stolen six hundred head of his cattle.
But I showed him that it was the chief, Sikonyela, who lives yonder on
the Caledon River, who had dressed up his people in white men's clothes
and put them upon horses, and afterwards drove the cattle through one of
our camps to make it appear that we were the thieves. Then he asked me
what was my object in visiting him. I answered that I sought a grant of
the land south of the Tugela to the sea.

"'Bring me back the cattle that you say Sikonyela has stolen,' he said,
'and we will talk about this land.' To this I agreed and soon after left
the kraal."

"What did you do with Hernan Pereira, uncle?" I asked.

"This, Allan. When I was at Umgungundhlovu I sought out the truth of
that story you told me as to his having made a plot to get you killed by
the Zulus on the ground that you were a wizard."

"And what did you discover, uncle?"

"I discovered that it was true, for Dingaan told me so himself. Then I
sent for Pereira and ordered him out of my camp, telling him that if
he came back among the Boers I would have him put on his trial for
attempted murder. He said nothing, but went away."

"Whither did he go?"

"To a place that Dingaan gave him just outside his kraal. The king said
that he would be useful to him, as he could mend guns and teach his
soldiers to shoot with them. So there, I suppose, he remains, unless he
has thought it wiser to make off. At any rate, I am sure that he will
not come here to trouble you or anyone."

"No, uncle, but he may trouble you _there_," I said doubtfully.

"What do you mean, Allan?"

"I don't quite know, but he is black-hearted, a traitor by nature, and
in one way or the other he will stir up sorrow. Do you think that
he will love you, for instance, after you have hunted him out like a
thief?"

Retief shrugged his shoulders and laughed as he answered:

"I will take my chance of that. What is the use of troubling one's head
about such a snake of a man? And now, Allan, I have something to ask
you. Are you married yet?"

"No, uncle, nor can be for another five weeks, when Marie comes of age.
Her father still holds that his oath binds him, and I have promised that
I will not take her till then."

"Does he indeed, Allan? I think that Henri Marais is 'kransick' (that
is, cracked), or else his cursed nephew, Hernan, has fascinated him, as
a snake does a bird. Still, I suppose that he has the law on his side,
and, as I am