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〃one gets so little to eat。〃
There was a silence： he was picking the little fine feathers from the
bird； and the Englishman was watching the ants。
〃Mind you；〃 the Colonial said at last； 〃I don't say that in this case the
Captain was to blame； Halket made an awful ass of himself。 He's never been
quite right since that time he got lost and spent the night out on the
kopje。 When we found him in the morning he was in a kind of dead sleep； we
couldn't wake him； yet it wasn't cold enough for him to have been frozen。
He's never been the same man since； queer； you know； giving his rations
away to the coloured boys； and letting the other fellows have his dot of
brandy at night； and keeping himself sort of apart to himself； you know。
The other fellows think he's got a touch of fever on； caught wandering
about in the long grass that day。 But I don't think it's that； I think
it's being alone in the veld that's got hold of him。 Man； have you ever
been out like that； alone in the veld； night and day； and not a soul to
speak to？ I have； and I tell you； if I'd been left there three days longer
I'd have gone mad or turned religious。 Man； it's the nights； with the
stars up above you； and the dead still all around。 And you think； and
think； and think！ You remember all kinds of things you've never thought of
for years and years。 I used to talk to myself at last； and make believe it
was another man。 I was out seven days： and he was only out one night。
But I think it's the loneliness that got hold of him。 Man； those stars are
awful； and that stillness that comes toward morning！〃 He stood up。 〃It's
a great pity； because he's as good a fellow as ever was。 But perhaps he'll
come all right。〃
He walked away towards the pot with the bird in his hand。 When he had gone
the Englishman turned round on to his back； and lay with his arm across his
forehead。
High； high up； between the straggling branches of the tree； in the clear；
blue African sky above him； he could see the vultures flying southward。
。。。
That evening the men sat eating their suppers round the fires。 The large
troop had not come up； and the mules had been brought in； and they were to
make a start early the next morning。
Halket was released from his duty； and had come up； and lain down a little
in the background of the group who gathered round their fire。
The Colonial and the Englishman had given orders to all the men of their
mess that Halket was to be left in quiet； and no questions were to be asked
him； and the men； fearing the Colonial's size and the Englishman's nerve；
left him in peace。 The men laughed and chatted round the fire； while the
big Colonial ladled out the mealies and rice into tin plates； and passed
them round to the men。 Presently he passed one to Halket； who lay half
behind him leaning on his elbow。 For a while Halket ate nothing； then he
took a few mouthfuls； and again lay on his elbow。
〃You are eating nothing； Halket；〃 said the Englishman； cheerily； looking
back。
〃I am not hungry now；〃 he said。 After a while he took out his red
handkerchief； and emptied carefully into it the contents of the plate； and
tied it up into a bundle。 He set it beside him on the ground； and again
lay on his elbow。
〃You won't come nearer to the fire； Halket？' asked the Englishman。
〃No； thank you； the night is warm。〃
After a while Peter Halket took out from his belt a small hunting knife
with a rough wooden handle。 A small flat stone lay near him； and he passed
the blade slowly up and down on it； now and then taking it up； and feeling
the edge with his finger。 After a while he put it back in his belt； and
rose slowly； taking up his small bundle and walked away to the tent。
〃He's had a pretty stiff day；〃 said the Colonial。 〃I expect he's glad
enough to turn in。〃
Then all the men round the fire chatted freely over his concerns。 Would
the Captain stick to his word tomorrow？ Was Halket going to do it？ Had
the Captain any right to tell one man off for the work； instead of letting
them fire a volley？ One man said he would do it gladly in Halket's place；
if told off； why had he made such a fool of himself？ So they chatted till
nine o'clock； when the Englishman and Colonial left to turn in。 They found
Halket asleep； close to the side of the tent； with his face turned to the
canvas。 And they lay down quietly that they might not disturb him。
At ten o'clock all the camp was asleep； excepting the two men told off to
keep guard； who paced from one end of the camp to the other to keep
themselves awake； or stood chatting by the large fire； which still burnt at
one end。
In the Captain's tent a light was kept burning all night； which shone
through the thin canvas sides； and shed light on the ground about； but； for
the rest； the camp was dead and still。
By half…past one the moon had gone down； and there was left only a blaze of
stars in the great African sky。
Then Peter Halket rose up； softly he lifted the canvas and crept out。 On
the side furthest from the camp he stood upright。 On his arm was tied his
red handkerchief with its contents。 For a moment he glanced up at the
galaxy of stars over him； then he stepped into the long grass； and made his
way in a direction opposite to that in which the camp lay。 But after a
short while he turned； and made his way down into the river bed。 He walked
in it for a while。 Then after a time he sat down upon the bank and took
off his heavy boots and threw them into the grass at the side。 Then
softly； on tip…toe； he followed the little footpath that the men had
trodden going down to the river for water。 It led straight up to the
Captain's tent； and the little flat…topped tree； with its white stem； and
its two gnarled branches spread out on either side。 When he was within
forty paces of it； he paused。 Far over the other side of the camp the two
men who were on guard stood chatting by the fire。 A dead stillness was
over the rest of the camp。 The light through the walls of the Captain's
tent made all clear at the stem of the little tree； but there was no sound
of movement within。
For a moment Peter Halket stood motionless； then he walked up to the tree。
The black man hung against the white stem； so closely bound to it that they
seemed one。 His hands were tied to his sides； and his head drooped on his
breast。 His eyes were closed； and his limbs； which had once been those of
a powerful man； had fallen away； making the joints stand out。 The wool on
his head was wild and thick with neglect； and stood out roughly in long
strands； and his skin was rough with want and exposure。
The riems had cut a little into his ankles； and a small flow of blood had
made the ground below his feet dark。
Peter Halket looked up at him； the man seemed dead。 He touched him softly
on the arm； then shook it slightly。
The man opened his eyes slowly； without raising his hea