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disappeared； while I waited trembling to see what happened to his
adversary。 To my relief nearly a minute later he crept out of the
sluit covered with mud and dripping with water and hobbled off slowly
down the street； his head so near his feet that he looked as though he
had been folded in two； and his hands pressed upon what I believe is
medically known as the diaphragm。 Then I also went upon my way roaring
with laughter。 Often I have heard Hottentots called the lowest of
mankind； but； reflected I； they can at any rate be good friends to
those who treat them wella fact of which I was to have further proof
ere long。
By the time I reached my house and had filled my pipe and sat myself
down in the dilapidated cane chair on the veranda； that natural
reaction set in which so often follows rejoicing at the escape from a
great danger。 It was true that no one believed I had cheated them over
that thrice…accursed gold mine； but how about other matters？
I mused upon the Bible narrative of Jacob and Esau with a new and very
poignant sympathy for Esau。 I wondered what would become of my Jacob。
Jacob； I mean the original； prospered exceedingly as a result of his
deal in porridge； and； as thought I； probably would his artful
descendant who so appropriately bore his name。 As a matter of fact I
do not know what became of him； but bearing his talents in mind I
think it probable that； like Van Koop； under some other patronymic he
has now been rewarded with a title by the British Government。 At any
rate I had eaten the porridge in the shape of worthless but dearly
purchased shares； after labouring hard at the chase of the golden
calf； while brother Jacob had got my inheritance； or rather my money。
Probably he was now counting it over in sovereigns upon the ship and
sniggering as he thought of the shareholders' meeting with me in the
chair。 Well； he was a thief and would run his road to whatever end is
appointed for thieves； so why should I bother my head more about him？
As I had kept my honourlet him take my savings。
But I had a son to support； and now what was I to do with scarcely
three hundred pounds； a good stock of guns and this little Durban
property left to me in the world？ Commerce in all its shapes I
renounced once and for ever。 It was too highor too lowfor me； so
it would seem that there remained to me only my old business of
professional hunting。 Once again I must seek those adventures which I
had forsworn when my evil star shone so brightly over a gold mine。
What was it to be？ Elephants； I supposed； since these are the only
creatures worth killing from a money point of view。 But most of my old
haunts had been more or less shot out。 The competition of younger
professionals； of wandering backveld Boers and even of poaching
natives who had obtained guns； was growing severe。 If I went at all I
should have to travel farther afield。
Whilst I meditated thus； turning over the comparative advantages or
disadvantages of various possible hunting grounds in my mind； my
attention was caught by a kind of cough that seemed to proceed from
the farther side of a large gardenia bush。 It was not a human cough；
but rather resembled that made by a certain small buck at night；
probably to signal to its mate； which of course it could not be as
there were no buck within several miles。 Yet I knew it came from a
human throat； for had I not heard it before in many an hour of
difficulty and danger？
〃Draw near； Hans；〃 I said in Dutch； and instantly out of a clump of
aloes that grew in front of the pomegranate hedge； crept the withered
shape of the old Hottentot； as a big yellow snake might do。 Why he
should choose this method of advance instead of that offered by the
garden path I did not know； but it was quite in accordance with his
secretive nature； inherited from a hundred generations of ancestors
who spent their lives avoiding the observation of murderous foes。
He squatted down in front of me； staring in a vacant way at the fierce
ball of the westering sun without blinking an eyelid； just as a
vulture does。
〃You look to me as though you had been fighting； Hans；〃 I said。 〃The
crown of your hat is knocked out； you are splashed with mud and there
is the mark of a stick upon your left side。〃
〃Yes； Baas。 You are right as usual； Baas。 I had a quarrel with a man
about sixpence that he owed me； and knocked him over with my head；
forgetting to take my hat off first。 Therefore it is spoiled； for
which I am sorry； as it was quite a new hat； not two years old。 The
Baas gave it me。 He bought it in a store at Utrecht when we were
coming back from Pongoland。〃
〃Why do you lie to me？〃 I asked 〃You have been fighting a white man
and for more than sixpence。 You knocked him into a sluit and the mud
splashed up over you。〃
〃Yes； Baas； that is so。 Your spirit speaks truly to you of the matter。
Yet it wanders a little from the path； since I fought the white man
for less than sixpence。 I fought him for love； which is nothing at
all。〃
〃Then you are even a bigger fool than I took you for； Hans。 What do
you want now？〃
〃I want to borrow a pound； Baas。 The white man will take me before the
magistrate； and I shall be fined a pound； or fourteen days in the
/trunk/ （i。e。 jail）。 It is true that the white man struck me first；
but the magistrate will not believe the word of a poor old Hottentot
against his； and I have no witness。 He will say； 'Hans； you were drunk
again。 Hans； you are a liar and deserve to be flogged； which you will
be next time。 Pay a pound and ten shillings more； which is the price
of good white justice； or go to the /trunk/ for fourteen days and make
baskets there for the great Queen to use。' Baas； I have the price of
the justice which is ten shillings； but I want to borrow the pound for
the fine。〃
〃Hans； I think that just now you are better able to lend me a pound
than I am to lend one to you。 My bag is empty； Hans。〃
〃Is it so； Baas？ Well； it does not matter。 If necessary I can make
baskets for the great white Queen to put her food in； for fourteen
days； or mats on which she will wipe her feet。 The /trunk/ is not such
a bad place； Baas。 It gives time to think of the white man's justice
and to thank the Great One in the Sky； because the little sins one did
not do have been found out and punished； while the big sins one did
do； such aswell； never mind； Baashave not been found out at all。
Your reverend father； the Predikant； always taught me to have a
thankful heart； Baas； and when I remember that I have only been in the
/trunk/ for three months altogether who； if all were known； ought to
have been there for years； I remember his words； Baas。〃
〃Why should you go to the /trunk/ at all； Hans； when you are rich and
can pay a fine； even if it were a hundred pounds？〃
〃A month or two ago it is true I was rich； Baas； but now I am poor。 I
have nothing left except ten shillings。〃
〃Hans；〃 I said se