human
This is one of the men who carried you away, said Hume,
gpt
It is not so, said Piet furiously;
human
Put your guns down,
gpt
You are angry,
human
They threatened to flog me--me--a Boer in my own country. Verdomde, when my people hear of it they will whip every uitlander in the place.
gpt
Perhaps they will ask your forgiveness; and what has brought you here?
human
I followed you,
gpt
Yes, true, you followed me, and why?
human
Because--because--
gpt
Because I rode away?
human
Yes, on my horse.
gpt
It was your horse you wanted, then?
human
Yes--no--it was you, and my horse which had run away with you.
gpt
I see, it was the horse that ran away with me; it was the horse that caused my hands to be torn, it was the horse that came in the night when my friends were away, and carried me off by force.
human
I do not understand,
gpt
You know that I was taken from my friends at night, and you must understand, surely, that that was the act of robbers.
human
But he said you wished to escape.
gpt
Who?
human
That Portuguese Gobo. He told me you were of his country, and that these men were carrying you off into the desert, so that they could benefit from your death without being detected.
gpt
Is this the truth?
human
I am a Boer, replied the young Dutchman with some dignity,
gpt
He is a bad man. These are my friends who have helped me in great danger, and you caused them great suffering in taking me away. You have acted like a child; but it is because I see you have been misled I forgive you.
human
Now, my brothers, she said, with a brilliant smile,
gpt
What, she said,
human
No, madam. If he has been the tool of a man more cunning than himself, he has been a willing tool. That mark across your forehead--how did it come there?
gpt
From the lash of a rebounding branch, as I galloped through the bush.
human
I am very sorry,
gpt
Then go, shouted Hume,
human
I will remember you, growled Piet, as he moved off,