in what is now the Transvaal territory. This occupied a
long time, as these Boers were widely scattered, and at each camp we
had to stop for several days while Retief explained everything to its
leaders. Also he arranged with them to come down into Natal, so as to
be ready to people it as soon as he received the formal cession of
the country from Dingaan. Indeed, most of them began to trek at once,
although jealousies between the various commandants caused some of the
bands, luckily for themselves, to remain on the farther side of the
mountains.

At length, everything being settled, we rode away, and reached the
Bushman's River camp on a certain Saturday afternoon. Here, to my joy,
we found all well. Nothing had been heard of Hernan Pereira, while the
Zulus, if we might judge from messengers who came to us, seemed to
be friendly. Marie, also, had now quite recovered from the fears and
hardships which she had undergone. Never had I seen her look so sweet
and beautiful as she did when she greeted me, arrayed no longer in
rags, but in a simple yet charming dress made of some stuff that she
had managed to buy from a trader who came up to the camp from Durban.
Moreover, I think that there was another reason for the change, since
the light of dawning happiness shone in her deep eyes.

The day, as I have said, was Saturday, and on the Monday she would come
of age and be free to dispose of herself in marriage, for on that day
lapsed the promise which we had given to her father. But, alas! by a
cursed perversity of fate, on this very Monday at noon the Commandant
Retief had arranged to ride into Zululand on his second visit to
Dingaan, and with Retief I was in honour bound to go.

"Marie," I said, "will not your father soften towards us and let us be
married to-morrow, so that we may have a few hours together before we
part?"

"I do not know, my dear," she answered, blushing, "since about this
matter he is very strange and obstinate. Do you know that all the time
you were absent he never mentioned your name, and if anyone else spoke
it he would get up and go away!"

"That's bad," I said. "Still, if you are willing, we might try."

"Indeed and indeed, Allan, I am willing, who am sick of being so near to
you and yet so far. But how shall we do so?"

"I think that we will ask the Commandant Retief and the Vrouw Prinsloo
to plead for us, Marie. Let us go to seek them."

She nodded, and hand in hand we walked through the Boe