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The crisis came at last； for before that battery was delivered our
available funds were exhausted； and no one would subscribe another
halfpenny。 Debentures； it is true； had been issued and taken up to the
extent of about ￡1；000 out of the ￡5；000 offered； though who bought
them remained at the time a mystery to me。 Ultimately a meeting was
called to consider the question of liquidating the company； and at
this meeting； after three sleepless nights； I occupied the chair。
When I entered the room； to my amazement I found that of the five
directors only one was present besides myself； an honest old retired
sea captain who had bought and paid for 300 shares。 Jacob and the two
friends who represented his interests had； it appeared； taken ship
that morning for Cape Town； whither they were summoned to attend
various relatives who had been seized with illness。
It was a stormy meeting at first。 I explained the position to the best
of my ability； and when I had finished was assailed with a number of
questions which I could not answer to the satisfaction of myself or of
anybody else。 Then a gentleman； the owner of ten shares； who had
evidently been drinking； suggested in plain language that I had
cheated the shareholders by issuing false reports。
I jumped up in a fury and； although he was twice my size； asked him to
come and argue the question outside； whereon he promptly went away。
This incident excited a laugh； and then the whole truth came out。 A
man with coloured blood in him stood up and told a story which was
subsequently proved to be true。 Jacob had employed him to 〃salt〃 the
mine by mixing a heavy sprinkling of gold in the gravel we had first
washed （which the coloured man swore he did in innocence）； and
subsequently had defrauded him of his wages。 That was all。 I sank back
in my chair overcome。 Then some good fellow in the audience； who had
lost money himself in the affair and whom I scarcely knew； got up and
made a noble speech which went far to restore my belief in human
nature。
He said in effect that it was well known that I； Allan Quatermain；
after working like a horse in the interests of the shareholders； had
practically ruined myself over this enterprise； and that the real
thief was Jacob； who had made tracks for the Cape； taking with him a
large cash profit resulting from the sale of shares。 Finally he
concluded by calling for 〃three cheers for our honest friend and
fellow sufferer； Mr。 Allan Quatermain。〃
Strange to say the audience gave them very heartily indeed。 I thanked
them with tears in my eyes； saying that I was glad to leave the room
as poor as I had ever been； but with a reputation which my conscience
as well as their kindness assured me was quite unblemished。
Thus the winding…up resolution was passed and that meeting came to an
end。 After shaking hands with my deliverer from a most unpleasant
situation； I walked homewards with the lightest heart in the world。 My
money was gone； it was true； also my over…confidence in others had led
me to make a fool of myself by accepting as fact； on what I believed
to be the evidence of my eyes； that which I had not sufficient expert
knowledge to verify。 But my honour was saved； and as I have again and
again seen in the course of life； money is nothing when compared with
honour； a remark which Shakespeare made long ago； though like many
other truths this is one of which a full appreciation can only be
gained by personal experience。
Not very far from the place where our meeting had been held I passed a
side street then in embryo； for it had only one or two houses situated
in their gardens and a rather large and muddy sluit of water running
down one side at the edge of the footpath。 Save for two people this
street was empty； but that pair attracted my attention。 They were a
white man； in whom I recognized the stout and half…intoxicated
individual who had accused me of cheating the company and then
departed； and a withered old Hottentot who at that distance； nearly a
hundred yards away； much reminded me of a certain Hans。
This Hans； I must explain； was originally a servant of my father； who
was a missionary in the Cape Colony； and had been my companion in many
adventures。 Thus in my youth he and I alone escaped when Dingaan
murdered Retief and his party of Boers；＇*＇ and he had been one of my
party in our quest for the wonderful orchid； the record of which I
have written down in 〃The Holy Flower。〃
＇*＇ See the book called 〃Marie。〃Editor。
Hans had his weak points； among which must be counted his love of
liquor； but he was a gallant and resourceful old fellow as indeed he
had amply proved upon that orchid…seeking expedition。 Moreover he
loved me with a love passing the love of women。 Now； having acquired
some money in a way I need not stop to describefor is it not written
elsewhere？he was settled as a kind of little chief on a farm not
very far from Durban； where he lived in great honour because of the
fame of his deeds。
The white man and Hans； if Hans it was； were engaged in violent
altercation whereof snatches floated to me on the breeze； spoken in
the Dutch tongue。
〃You dirty little Hottentot！〃 shouted the white man； waving a stick；
〃I'll cut the liver out of you。 What do you mean by nosing about after
me like a jackal？〃 And he struck at Hans； who jumped aside。
〃Son of a fat white sow；〃 screamed Hans in answer （for the moment I
heard his voice I knew that it was Hans）； 〃did you dare to call the
Baas a thief？ Yes； a thief； O Rooter in the mud； O Feeder on filth and
worms； O Hog of the gutterthe Baas； the clipping of whose nail is
worth more than you and all your family； he whose honour is as clear
as the sunlight and whose heart is cleaner than the white sand of the
sea。〃
〃Yes； I did；〃 roared the white man； 〃for he got my money in the gold
mine。〃
〃Then； hog； why did you run away。 Why did you not wait to tell him so
outside that house？〃
〃I'll teach you about running away； you little yellow dog；〃 replied
the other； catching Hans a cut across the ribs。
〃Oh！ you want to see me run； do you？〃 said Hans； skipping back a few
yards with wonderful agility。 〃Then look！〃
Thus speaking he lowered his head and charged like a buffalo。 Fair in
the middle he caught that white man； causing him to double up； fly
backwards and land with a most resounding splash in the deepest part
of the muddy sluit。 Here I may remark that； as his shins are the
weakest； a Hottentot's head is by far the hardest and most dangerous
part of him。 Indeed it seems to partake of the nature of a cannon
ball； for； without more than temporary disturbance to its possessor； I
have seen a half…loaded wagon go over one of them on a muddy road。
Having delivered this home thrust Hans bolted round a corner and
disappeared； while I waited trembling to see what happened to his
adversary。 To my relief nearly a minute later he crept out of the