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ached； and he would have liked to lie down； but he dared not； for fear he
should drop asleep。 He leaned forward with his hands between his crossed
knees； and watched the blaze he had made。
Then； after a while； Peter Halket's thoughts became less clear： they
became at last； rather； a chain of disconnected pictures； painting
themselves in irrelevant order on his brain； than a line of connected
ideas。 Now； as he looked into the crackling blaze； it seemed to be one of
the fires they had make to burn the natives' grain by； and they were
throwing in all they could not carry away： then； he seemed to see his
mother's fat ducks waddling down the little path with the green grass on
each side。 Then； he seemed to see his huts where he lived with the
prospectors； and the native women who used to live with him； and he
wondered where the women were。 Thenhe saw the skull of an old Mashona
blown off at the top； the hands still moving。 He heard the loud cry of the
native women and children as they turned the maxims on to the kraal； and
then he heard the dynamite explode that blew up a cave。 Then again he was
working a maxim gun； but it seemed to him it was more like the reaping
machine he used to work in England； and that what was going down before it
was not yellow corn； but black men's heads； and he thought when he looked
back they lay behind him in rows； like the corn in sheaves。
The logs sent up a flame clear and high； and； where they split； showed a
burning core inside： the cracking and spluttering sounded in his brain
like the discharge of a battery of artillery。 Then he thought suddenly of
a black woman he and another man caught alone in the bush； her baby on her
back； but young and pretty。 Well； they didn't shoot her！and a black
woman wasn't white！ His mother didn't understand these things； it was all
so different in England from South Africa。 You couldn't be expected to do
the same sort of things here as there。 He had an unpleasant feeling that
he was justifying himself to his mother； and that he didn't know how to。
He leaned further and further forward： so far at last； that the little
white lock of his hair which hung out under his cap was almost singed by
the fire。 His eyes were still open； but the lids drooped over them； and
his hands hung lower and lower between his knees。 There was no picture
left on his brain now； but simply an impress of the blazing logs before
him。
Then； Trooper Peter Halket started。 He sat up and listened。 The wind had
gone； there was not a sound： but he listened intently。 The fire burnt up
into the still air； two clear red tongues of flame。
Then； on the other side of the kopje he heard the sound of footsteps
ascending； the slow even tread of bare feet coming up。
The hair on Trooper Peter Halket's forehead slowly stiffened itself。 He
had no thought of escaping； he was paralyzed with dread。 He took up his
gun。 A deadly coldness crept from his feet to his head。 He had worked a
maxim gun in a fight when some hundred natives fell and only one white man
had been wounded； and he had never known fear； but tonight his fingers were
stiff on the lock of his gun。 He knelt low； tending a little to one side
of the fire； with his gun ready。 A stone half sheltered him from anyone
coming up from the other side of the kopje； and the instant the figure
appeared over the edge he intended to fire。
Then； the thought flashed on him； what； and if it were one of his own
comrades come in search of him； and no bare…footed enemy！ The anguish of
suspense wrung his heart； for an instant he hesitated。 Then； in a cold
agony of terror； he cried out； 〃Who is there？〃
And a voice replied in clear； slow English； 〃A friend。〃
Peter Halket almost let his gun drop； in the revulsion of feeling。 The
cold sweat which anguish had restrained burst out in large drops on his
forehead； but he still knelt holding his gun。
〃What do you want？〃 he cried out quiveringly。
From the darkness at the edge of the kopje a figure stepped out into the
full blaze of the firelight。
Trooper Peter Halket looked up at it。
It was the tall figure of a man； clad in one loose linen garment； reaching
lower than his knees； and which clung close about him。 His head； arms； and
feet were bare。 He carried no weapon of any kind； and on his shoulders
hung heavy locks of dark hair。
Peter Halket looked up at him with astonishment。 〃Are you alone？〃 he
asked。
〃Yes； I am alone。〃
Peter Halket lowered his gun and knelt up。
〃Lost your way； I suppose？〃 he said； still holding his weapon loosely。
〃No； I have come to ask whether I may sit beside your fire for a while。〃
〃Certainly； certainly！〃 said Peter； eyeing the stranger's dress carefully；
still holding his gun； but with the hand off the lock。 〃I'm confoundedly
glad of any company。 It's a beastly night for anyone to be out alone。
Wonder you find your way。 Sit down！ sit down！〃 Peter looked intently at
the stranger； then he put his gun down at his side。
The stranger sat down on the opposite side of the fire。 His complexion was
dark； his arms and feet were bronzed； but his aquiline features； and the
domed forehead； were not of any South African race。
〃One of the Soudanese Rhodes brought with him from the north； I suppose？〃
said Peter； still eyeing him curiously。
No； Cecil Rhodes has had nothing to do with my coming here；〃 said the
stranger。
〃Oh〃 said Peter。 〃You didn't perhaps happen to come across a company of
men today； twelve white men and seven coloured； with three cart loads of
provisions？ We were taking them to the big camp； and I got parted from my
troop this morning。 I've not been able to find them； though I've been
seeking for them ever since。〃
The stranger warmed his hands slowly at the fire； then he raised his head：…
…〃They are camped at the foot of those hills tonight；〃 he said； pointing
with his hand into the darkness at the left。 〃Tomorrow early they will be
here； before the sun has risen。〃
〃Oh； you've met them； have you！〃 said Peter joyfully； 〃that's why you
weren't surprised at finding me here。 Take a drop！〃 He took the small
flask from his pocket and held it out。 〃I'm sorry there's so little； but a
drop will keep the cold out。〃
The stranger bowed his head； but thanked and declined。
Peter raised the flask to his lips and took a small draught； then returned
it to his pocket。 The stranger folded his arms about his knees； and looked
into the fire。
〃Are you a Jew？〃 asked Peter； suddenly； as the firelight fell full on the
stranger's face。
〃Yes； I am a Jew。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Peter； 〃that's why I wasn't able to make out at first what
nation you could be of； your dress； you know〃 Then he stopped； and said；
〃Trading here； I suppose？ Which country do you come from； are you a
Spanish Jew？〃
〃I am a Jew of Palestine。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Peter； 〃I haven't seen many from t