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things happen in the world which we mock at as insults to our limited
intelligence because we cannot understand them。〃 （Very soon I was to
have another proof of this remark。） 〃But what are you driving at？ You
are keeping something back。〃
〃Only this； Ragnall。 If your wife were utterly mad I cannot conceive
how it came about that she searched you out and spoke to you even in a
visionfor the thing was not an individual dream since both you and
Savage saw her。 Nor did she actually visit you in the flesh； as the
door never opened and the spider's web across it was not broken。 So it
comes to this： either some part of her is not mad but can still
exercise sufficient will to project itself upon your senses； or she is
dead and her disembodied spirit did this thing。 Now we know that she
is not dead； for we have seen her and Har？t has confessed as much。
Therefore I maintain that； whatever may be her temporary state； she
must still be fundamentally of a reasonable mind； as she is of a
natural body。 For instance； she may only be hypnotized； in which case
the spell will break one day。〃
〃Thank you for that thought； old fellow。 It never occurred to me and
it gives me new hope。 Now listen！ If I should come to grief in this
business； which is very likely； and you should survive； you will do
your best to get her home； will you not？ Here is a codicil to my will
which I drew up after that night of dream； duly witnessed by Savage
and Hans。 It leaves to you whatever sums may be necessary in this
connexion and something over for yourself。 Take it； it is best in your
keeping； especially as if you should be killed it has no value。〃
〃Of course I will do my best；〃 I answered as I put away the paper in
my pocket。 〃And now don't let us take any more thought of being
killed； which may prevent us from getting the sleep we want。 I don't
mean to be killed if I can help it。 I mean to give those beggars； the
Black Kendah； such a doing as they never had before； and then start
for the coast with you and Lady Ragnall； as； God willing； we shall do。
Good night。〃
After this I slept like a top for some hours； as I believe Ragnall did
also。 When I awoke； which happened suddenly and completely； the first
thing that I saw was Hans seated at the entrance to my little shelter
smoking his corn…cob pipe； and nursing the single…barrelled rifle；
Intombi； on his knee。 I asked him what the time was； to which he
replied that it lacked two hours to dawn。 Then I asked him why he had
not been sleeping。 He replied that he had been asleep and dreamed a
dream。 Idly enough I inquired what dream； to which he replied：
〃Rather a strange one； Baas； for a man who is about to go into battle。
I dreamed that I was in a large place that was full of quiet。 It was
light there； but I could not see any sun or moon； and the air was very
soft and tasted like food and drink； so much so； Baas； that if anyone
had offered me a cup quite full of the best 'Cape smoke' I should have
told him to take it away。 Then； Baas； suddenly I saw your reverend
father； the Predikant； standing beside me and looking just as he used
to look； only younger and stronger and very happy； and so of course
knew at once that I was dead and in hell。 Only I wondered where the
fire that does not go out might be； for I could not see it。 Presently
your reverend father said to me： 'Good day； Hans。 So you have come
here at last。 Now tell me； how has it gone with my son； the Baas
Allan？ Have you looked after him as I told you to do？'
〃I answered： 'I have looked after him as well as I could； O reverend
sir。 Little enough have I done； still； not once or twice or three
times only have I offered up my life for him as was my duty； and yet
we both have lived。' And that I might be sure he heard the best of me；
as was but natural； I told him the times； Baas； making a big story out
of small things； although all the while I could see that he knew
exactly just where I began to lie and just where I stopped from lying。
Still he did not scold me； Baas； indeed； when I had finished； he said：
〃'Well done； O good and faithful servant；' words that I think I have
heard him use before when he was alive； Baas； and used to preach to us
for such a long time on Sunday afternoons。 Then he asked： 'And how
goes it with Baas Allan； my son； now； Hans？' to which I replied：
〃'The Baas Allan is going to fight a very great battle in which he may
well fall； and if I could feel sorry here； which I can't； I should
weep； O reverend sir； because I have died before that battle began and
therefore cannot stand at his side in the battle and be killed for him
as a servant should for his master！'
〃'You will stand at his side in the battle；' said your ＇missing line
in printed versionJB＇ do as it is fitting that you should。 And
afterwards； Hans； you will make report to me of how the battle went
and of what honour my son has won therein。 Moreover； know this； Hans；
that though while you live in the world you seem to see many other
things； they are but dreams； since in all the world there is but one
real thing； and its name is Love； which if it be but strong enough；
the stars themselves must obey； for it is the king of every one of
them； and all who dwell in them worship it day and night under many
names for ever and for ever； Amen。'
〃What he meant by that I am sure I don't know； Baas； seeing that I
have never thought much of women； at least not for many years since my
last old vrouw went and drank herself to death after lying in her
sleep on the baby which I loved much better than I did her； Baas。
〃Well； before I could ask him； or about hell either； he was gone like
a whiff of smoke from a rifle mouth in a strong wind。〃
Hans paused； puffed at his pipe； spat upon the ground in his usual
reflective way and asked：
〃Is the Baas tired of the dream or would he like to hear the rest？〃
〃I should like to hear the rest；〃 I said in a low voice； for I was
strangely moved。
〃Well； Baas； while I was standing in that place which was so full of
quiet； turning my hat in my hands and wondering what work they would
set me to there among the devils； I looked up。 There I saw coming
towards me two very beautiful women； Baas； who had their arms round
each other's necks。 They were dressed in white； with the little hard
things that are found in shells hanging about them； and bright stones
in their hair。 And as they came； Baas； wherever they set a foot
flowers sprang up； very pretty flowers； so that all their path across
the quiet place was marked with flowers。 Birds too sang as they
passed； at least I think they were birds though I could not see them。〃
〃What were they like； Hans？〃 I whispered。
〃One of them； Baas； the taller I did not know。 But the other I knew
well enough； it was she whose name is holy； not to be mentioned。 Yet I
must mention that name； it was the Missie Marie herself as last we saw
her alive many； many years ago； only gro