She said that some young men of the tribe of the chief Quabie, who lives in the hills yonder, had been visiting at their kraal, and that a few hours before a messenger had arrived from the chief saying that they must return at once, as this morning at dawn he and all his men were going to attack Maraisfontein and kill everyone in it and take the cattle!" "Good God!" I ejaculated.

"Why ?" "Because, young baas," drawled the Hottentot from the other side of the window, "because someone from Maraisfontein--I think it was the Vulture" (the natives gave this name to Leblanc on account of his bald head and hooked nose)--"shot Quabie's son on Sunday when he was holding his horse." "Good God!" I said again, "the old fool must have been drunk.

When did you say the attack was to be--at dawn ?" and I glanced at the stars, adding, "Why, that will be within less than an hour, and the Baas Marais is away." "Yes," croaked Hans; "and Missie Marie--think of what the Red Kaffirs will do with Missie Marie when their blood is up." I thrust my fist through the window and struck the Hottentot's toad-like face on which the starlight gleamed faintly.
"Dog!" I said, "saddle my mare and the roan horse and get your gun.

In two minutes I come.

Be swift or I kill you." "I go," he answered, and shot out into the night like a frightened snake.
Then I began to dress, shouting as I dressed, till my father and the Kaffirs ran into the room.