You have shot a messenger carrying a flag of truce, and that the Quabies will never forgive.

Oh! I tell you that you have hit us as well as him, who had it not been for you might have been spared." These words I said quite quietly and in Dutch, so that our Kaffirs might understand them, though really I was boiling with wrath.
But Leblanc did not answer quietly.
"Who are you," he shouted, "you wretched little Englishman, who dare to lecture me, Leblanc, the friend of the great Napoleon ?" Now I drew my pistol and walked up to the man.
"Be quiet, you drunken sot," I said, for I guessed that he had drunk more of the brandy in the darkness.

"If you are not quiet and do not obey me, who am in command here, either I will blow your brains out, or I will give you to these men," and I pointed to Hans and the Kaffirs, who had gathered round him, muttering ominously.

"Do you know what they will do with you?
They will throw you out of the house, and leave you to settle your quarrel with Quabie alone." Leblanc looked first at the pistol, and next at the faces of the natives, and saw something in one or other of them, or in both, that caused him to change his note.
"Pardon, monsieur," he said; "I was excited.

I knew not what I said.
If you are young you are brave and clever, and I will obey you," and he went to his station and began to re-load his gun.