Old Hans is a drunkard, yes, or at least
he used to be, and old Hans gambles, yes, and perhaps old Hans will go
to hell. But meanwhile old Hans can think, as he thought one day
before the attack on Maraisfontein, as he thought one day on the Hill
of Slaughter by Dingaan's kraal, and as he thought this morning up
there among the bushes. Oh! he knew how it must end. He saw that those
dogs of Arabs were cutting down a tree to make a bridge across that
deep stream and get round to the high ground at the back of you,
whence they would have shot you all in five minutes. And now, Baas, my
stomach feels very queer. There was no breakfast on the hillside and
the sun was very hot. I think that just one tot of brandy--oh! I know,
I promised not to drink, but if /you/ give it me the sin is yours, not
mine."
Well, I gave him the tot, a stiff one, which he drank quite neat,
although it was against my principles, and locked up the bottle
afterwards. Also I shook the old fellow's hand and thanked him, which
seemed to please him very much, for he muttered something to the
effect that it was nothing, since if I had died he would have died
too, and therefore he was thinking of himself, not of me.
Pages:
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206