The Golden Rock Part 28

"By Jove! that was a clean blow," said one of Piet's friends, "and he deserved it."

"Ay, and so do you," said Webster sternly.

The two men flushed, then they helped the Dutchman to his feet, and went off with him.

"Frank, shake!"

The two friends shook hands.

"The next time it will be my quarrel. You were too quick for me then."

"You have to be quick," said Frank quietly, "when a man like that is about to strike or shoot. Remember that well."

"I did not think you had it in you to strike such a blow. Do you think there'll be more trouble?"

"If we remain here there will; but we must get away to-morrow, and place it beyond the power of anyone to annoy Miss Anstrade."

"Ay, her position is trying. Don't you think, Frank, we have made a mistake?"

"We have, by all social rules; but surely there can be no harm in friendship."

"Hang convention and social rules! We have just seen the result of them in the behaviour of these men, who felt themselves at liberty to be impertinent, because she was not the wife or sister of either of us."

"Even out here in this new land we cannot escape the touch of suspicion, and she feels it deeply. Have you noticed?"

"I have marked a change in her manner lately, as though she had just awakened to the difficulties before her. Shall we ask her to go back?"

"She is very proud, and if we did so she would be deeply humiliated--"

"Well, Frank?"

"I could not bear to lose her."

"Nor could I."

They remained for some time silent, looking at the starry heavens, when Hume spoke again.

"We are friends, you and I. When she is with us day by day in the lonely veld we may both of us grow to love her, and how, then, will our friendship bear the strain of rivalry?"

Webster leant forward with a sigh.

"It is best to face the danger," said Hume, in a low voice.

"I love her already, my lad;" and the sailor threw his head up, with a deep flush in his cheeks. "How could I help it?"

Hume drew in his breath and turned his head away.

"Is that why you came?" he said, with his face still averted.

"Hume, look at me! Ah! you love her also?"

Hume bowed his head.

"And has your love already darkened your heart to me? Lad, you are wrong. G.o.d knows I would let nothing come between you and me, still less because of your love for her; but if you are suspicious of me, you have the remedy."

"And what is that?" asked Hume quickly, suspecting that Webster would offer to draw out.

"Why, marry her now. It is your opportunity. She is distressed, and would see in marriage a way out of the difficulty."

Hume's brows cleared; he smiled, and stretched forth his hand.

"No, no," he said, "that would be taking a mean advantage of her. We know each other's secret, and let us forget, treating her as our dearest friend, and beloved sister; then when all is done, and she is once more settled, let each do his best to win her."

"That is fair, Frank; but she is not for me, and I never dreamt she was.

You will let nothing come between us."

"I will try, Jim; but I hope she will leave her fan behind, for the play of it fires my heart."

"Trust me, I'll burn it. And she goes with us?"

"Of course; for if she does not, we will never find the Golden Rock, because then neither you nor I would set out to find it."

The next morning they overhauled their outfit, consisting of a tent waggon, provisions for two months, span of eighteen oxen, and two Kaffir boys--one to drive, the other to lead and look after the oxen.

While engaged packing the provisions in the bed of the waggon to make a level ground for Miss Anstrade's bed, for this was to be her room, Piet Coetzee, the big Dutchman, with two or three companions, lounged up and criticised the preparations.

"Pay no attention," whispered Hume; "they want to pick a quarrel, and we would then be locked up to a certainty."

They went on with their work regardless of the pointed remarks intended for them, and presently Piet and his friends moved off.

"You'll hear from me again," said Piet, shaking his fist.

"Did you notice the little dark fellow, Webster?"

"No; but I took the measurement of that mountain of flesh, and by this and that, I'll put a hitch in his jaw-tackle if ever we meet."

"Oh, he's top-heavy--the little fellow is more to be feared. Do you remember the Lieutenant at Madeira?--he was among that group."

"What! Lieutenant Gobo?"

"The same; and I heard this morning that a party of Portuguese had arrived in Pretoria last week on a political mission. They are in favour with the Government here, and if that little beggar has recognised us, he may play us a trick."

"Well, then, let us get under way."

"All right; you remain here by the waggon while I go for Miss Anstrade."

Before noon the oxen were inspanned, and the waggon moved off. After a "scoff" of ten miles they outspanned, and while they were having their meal under the shade of a canvas awning, or "scherm," stretched from the top of the tent, two hors.e.m.e.n rode slowly by.

They were Piet Coetzee and Lieutenant Gobo.