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white； Mashonas and Matabele were poor ignorant folk； and we had to take
care of them。 And then he started out； that we ought to let this man go；
we ought to give him food for the road； and tell him to go back to his
people； and tell them we hadn't come to take their land but to teach them
and love them。 'It's hard to love a nigger； Captain； but we must try it；
we must try it！'And every five minutes he'd break out with； 'And I think
this is a man I know； Captain； I'm not sure； but I think he comes from up
Lo Magundis way！'as if any born devil cared whether a bloody nigger came
from Lo Magundis or anywhere else！ I'm sure he said it fifteen times。 And
then he broke out； 'I don't mean that I'm better than you or anybody else；
Captain； I'm as bad a man as any in camp； and I know it。' And off he
started； telling us all the sins he'd ever committed； and he kept on； 'I'm
an unlearned； ignorant man； Captain； but I must stand by this nigger； he's
got no one else！' And then he says'If you let me take him up to Lo
Magundis； sir； I'm not afraid； and I'll tell the people there that it's not
their land and their women that we want； it's them to be our brothers and
love us。 If you'll only let me go； sir； I'll go and make peace； give the
man to me； sir！'〃 The Colonial shook with laughter。
〃What did the Captain say？〃 asked the Englishman。
〃The Captain； well； you know the smallest thing sets him off swearing all
round the world； but he just stood there with his arms hanging down at each
side of him； and his eyes staring； and his face getting redder and redder：
and all he could say was； 'My Gawd！ my Gawd！' I thought he'd burst。 And
Halket stood there looking straight in front of him； as though he didn't
see a soul of us all there。〃
〃What did the Captain do？〃
〃Oh； as soon as Halket turned away he started swearing； but he got the tail
of one oath hooked on to the head of another。 It was nearly as good as
Halket himself。 And when he'd finished and got sane a bit； he said Halket
was to walk up and down there all day and keep watch on the nigger。 And he
gave orders that if the big troop didn't come up tonight； that he was to be
potted first thing in the morning； and that Halket was to shoot him。〃
The Englishman started： 〃What did Halket say？〃
〃Nothing。 He's been walking there with his gun all day。〃
The Englishman watched with his clear eyes the spot where Halket's head
appeared and disappeared。
〃Is the nigger hanging there now？〃
〃Yes。 The Captain said no one was to go near him； or give him anything to
eat or drink all day： but〃 The Colonial glanced round where the trooper
lay under the bushes； and then lowering his voice added； 〃This morning； a
couple of hours ago； Halket sent the Captain's coloured boy to ask me for a
drink of water。 I thought it was for Halket himself； and the poor devil
must be hot walking there in the sun； so I sent him the water out of my
canvas bag。 I went along afterwards to see what had become of my mug； the
boy had gone； and there； straight in front of the Captain's tent； before
the very door； was Halket letting that bloody nigger drink out of my mug。
The riem was so tight round his neck he couldn't drink but slowly； and
there was Halket holding it up to him！ If the Captain had looked out！
W…h…e…w！ I wouldn't have been Halket！〃
〃Do you think he will try to make Halket do it？〃 asked the Englishman。
〃Of course he will。 He's the Devil in； and Halket had better not make a
fuss about it； or it'll be the worse for him。〃
〃His time's up tomorrow evening！〃
〃Yes； but not tomorrow morning。 And I wouldn't make a row about it if I
was Halket。 It doesn't do to fall out with the authorities here。 What's
one nigger more or less？ He'll get shot some other way； or die of hunger；
if we don't do it。〃
〃It's hardly sport to shoot a man tied up neck and legs；〃 said the
Englishman； his finely drawn eyebrows contracting and expanding a little。
〃Oh； they don't feel； these niggers； not as we should； you know。 I've seen
a man going to be shot； looking full at the guns； and falling like that！
without a sound。 They've no feeling； these niggers； I don't suppose they
care much whether they live or die； not as we should； you know。〃
The Englishman's eyes were still fixed on the bushes； behind which Halket's
head appeared and disappeared。
〃They have no right to order Halket to do itand he will not do it！〃 said
the Englishman slowly。
〃You're not going to be such a fool as to step in； are you？〃 said the
Colonial； looking curiously at him。 〃It doesn't pay。 I've made up my mind
never to speak whatever happens。 What's the good？ Suppose one were to
make a complaint now about this affair with Halket； if he's made to shoot
the nigger against his will； what would come of it？ There'd be half…a…
dozen fellows here squared to say what headquarters wantednot to speak of
a fellow like that〃turning his thumb in the direction of the sleeping
trooper〃who are paid to watch。 I believe he reports on the Captain
himself to the big headquarters。 All one's wires are edited before they go
down； only what the Company wants to go； go through。 There are many
downright good fellows in this lot； but how many of us are there； do you
think； who could throw away all chance of ever making anything in
Mashonaland； for the sake of standing by Halket； even if he had a real row
with the Company？ I've a great liking for Halket myself； he's a real good
fellow； and he's done me many a good turntook my watch only last night；
because I was off colour； I'd do anything for him in reason。 But； I say
this flatly； I couldn't and wouldn't fly in the face of the authorities for
him or anyone else。 I've my own girl waiting for me down in the Colony；
and she's been waiting for me these five years。 And whether I'm able to
marry her or not depends on how I stand with the Company： and I say；
flatly； I'm not going to fall out with it。 I came here to make money； and
I mean to make it！ If other people like to run their heads against stone
walls； let them： but they mustn't expect me to follow them。 This isn't a
country where a man can say what he thinks。〃
The Englishman rested his elbows on the ground。 〃And the Union Jack is
supposed to be flying over us。〃
〃Yes； with a black bar across it for the Company；〃 laughed the Colonial。
〃Do you ever have the nightmare？〃 asked the Englishman suddenly。
〃I？ Oh yes； sometimes〃； he looked curiously at his companion； 〃when I've
eaten too much； I get it。〃
〃I always have it since I came up here；〃 said the Englishman。 〃It is that
a vast world is resting on mea whole globe： and I am a midge beneath it。
I try to raise it； and I cannot。 So I lie still under itand let it crush
me！〃
〃It's curious you should have the nightmare so up here；〃 said the Colonial；
〃one gets so little to eat。〃
There was a silence： he was picking the little fine