CHAPTER XII.
WHAT THE COW SHOWED ZINTI Twelve days passed, and one morning when I went out to feed the chickens, I saw the red Kaffir with the scar on his face seated beyond the _stoep_ taking snuff.
"What is it ?" I asked.
"A letter," he answered, giving me a paper.
I took it into the house, where the others were gathered for breakfast, and as before Ralph read it.

It was to this effect: "Well-beloved Heer Botmar,--I have received your honoured letter, and I think that the unchristian spirit which it shows cannot be pleasing to our Lord.

Still, as I seek peace and not war, I take no offence, nor shall I come near your place to provoke the shedding of the blood of men.

I love your daughter, but if she rejects me for another, I have nothing more to say, except that I hope she may be happy in the life she has chosen.

For me, I am leaving this part of the country, and if you, Heer Botmar, like to buy my farm, I shall be happy to sell it to you at a fair price; or perhaps the Heer Kenzie will buy it to live on after he is married; if so, he can write to me by this messenger.