ning to
look at the cut in your leg. However, I am glad to hear from your worthy
father that it is almost well and that you will soon be able to play
games again, like others of your age."

Now it was my turn to be unable to speak and to feel my eyes fill with
tears, tears of rage, for remember that I was still very feeble. But
Marie spoke for me.

"Yes, Cousin Hernan," she said in a cold voice, "thank God the Heer
Allan Quatermain will soon be able to play games again, such bloody
games as the defence of Maraisfontein with eight men against all the
Quabie horde. Then Heaven help those who stand in front of his rifle,"
and she glanced at the mound that covered the dead Kaffirs, many of
whom, as a matter of fact, I had killed.

"Oh! no offence, no offence, Marie," said Pereira in his smooth, rich
voice. "I did not want to laugh at your young friend, who doubtless is
as brave as they say all Englishmen are, and who fought well when he was
lucky enough to have the chance of protecting you, my dear cousin. But
after all, you know, he is not the only one who can hold a gun straight,
as you seem to think, which I shall be happy to prove to him in a
friendly fashion when he is stronger."

Here he stepped forward a pace and looked down at me, then added with a
laugh, "Allemachte! I fear that won't be just at present. Why, the lad
looks as though one might blow him away like a feather."

Still I said nothing, only glanced up at this tall and splendid man
standing above me in his fine clothes, for he was richly dressed as the
fashion of the time went, with his high colouring, broad shoulders, and
face full of health and vigour. Mentally I compared him with myself,
as I was after my fever and loss of blood, a poor, white-faced rat of
a lad, with stubbly brown hair on my head and only a little down on my
chin, with arms like sticks, and a dirty blanket for raiment. How could
I compare with him in any way? What chance had I against this opulent
bully who hated me and all my race, and in whose hands, even if I were
well, I should be nothing but a child?

And yet, and yet as I lay there humiliated and a mock, an answer came
into my mind, and I felt that whatever might be the case with my outward
form; in spirit, in courage, in determination and in ability, in all,
in short, that really makes a man, I was more than Pereira's equal. Yes,
and that by the help of these qualities, poor as I was and frail as I
seemed to be, I would b