16/25 Well, the Heer Marais was sitting under that tree, and we all know what happens to him who is under a tree when the lightning strikes it. My second black-man reason, about which there can be no mistake, for it has always been true since there was a black man, is that the girl is yours by blood. You saved her life with your blood," and he pointed to my leg, "and therefore bought her for ever, for blood is more than cattle. Therefore, too, he who would divide her from you brings blood on her and on the other man who tries to steal her, blood, blood! and on himself I know not what." And he waved his yellow arms, staring up at me with his little black eyes in a way that was most uncanny. "Why do you talk such bad words ?" "Because they are true words, Baas Allan. |