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and found none； she sought it in the starlit skies； and oh！ they were
very far away。 Death reigned within her who outwardly was so fair to
see。
In the society of her father； indeed； she took pleasure； for he loved
her； and love comforted her wounded heart。 In that of Jacob Meyer also
she found interest； for now her first fear of the man had died away；
and undoubtedly he was very interesting； well…bred also after a
fashion； although a Jew who had lost his own faith and rejected that
of the Christians。
He told her that he was a German by birth； that he had been sent to
England as a boy； to avoid the conscription； which Jews dislike； since
in soldiering there is little profit。 Here he had become a clerk in a
house of South African merchants； and； as a consequencehaving shown
all the ability of his racewas despatched to take charge of a branch
business in Cape Colony。 What happened to him there Benita never
discovered； but probably he had shown too much ability of an oblique
nature。 At any rate； his connection with the firm terminated； and for
years he became a wandering 〃smouse；〃 or trader； until at length he
drifted into partnership with her father。
Whatever might have been his past； however； soon she found that he was
an extremely able and agreeable man。 It was he and no other who had
painted the water…colours that adorned her room； and he could play and
sing as well as he painted。 Also； as Robert had told her； Mr。 Meyer
was very well…read in subjects that are not usually studied on the
veld of South Africa； indeed； he had quite a library of books； most of
them histories or philosophical and scientific works； of which he
would lend her volumes。 Fiction； however； he never read； for the
reason； he told her； that he found life itself and the mysteries and
problems which surround it so much more interesting。
One evening； when they were walking together by the lake； watching the
long lights of sunset break and quiver upon its surface； Benita's
curiosity overcame her； and she asked him boldly how it happened that
such a man as he was content to live the life he did。
〃In order that I may reach a better；〃 he answered。 〃Oh！ no； not in the
skies； Miss Clifford； for of them I know nothing； nor； as I believe；
is there anything to know。 But herehere。〃
〃What do you mean by a better life； Mr。 Meyer？〃
〃I mean；〃 he answered； with a flash of his dark eyes； 〃great wealth；
and the power that wealth brings。 Ah！ I see you think me very sordid
and materialistic； but money is God in this world； Miss Clifford
money is God。〃
She smiled and answered： 〃I fear； then； that he is likely to prove an
invisible god on the high veld； Mr。 Meyer。 You will scarcely make a
great fortune out of horse…breeding； and here there is no one to
rule。〃
〃Do you suppose； then； that is why I stop at Rooi Krantz； just to
breed horses？ Has not your father told you about the great treasure
hidden away up there among the Makalanga？〃
〃I have heard something of it；〃 she answered with a sigh。 〃Also that
both of you went to look for it and were disappointed。〃
〃Ah！ The Englishman who was drownedMr。 Seymourhe spoke of it； did
he not？ He found us there。〃
〃Yes； and you wished to shoot himdo you remember？〃
〃God in Heaven！ Yes； because I thought he had come to rob us。 Well； I
did not shoot； and afterwards we were hunted out of the place； which
does not much matter； as those fools of natives refused to let us dig
in the fortress。〃
〃Then why do you still think about this treasure which probably does
not exist？〃
〃Why； Miss Clifford； do you think about various things that probably
do not exist？ Perhaps because you feel that here or elsewhere they
/do/ exist。 Well； that is what I feel about the treasure； and what I
have always felt。 It exists； and I shall find itnow。 I shall live to
see more gold than you can even imagine； and that is why I still
continue to breed horses on the Transvaal veld。 Ah！ you laugh； you
think it is a nightmare that I breed〃
Then suddenly he became aware of Sally； who had appeared over the fold
of the rise behind them； and asked irritably：
〃What is it now； old vrouw？〃
〃The Baas Clifford wants to speak with you； Baas Jacob。 Messengers
have come to you from far away。〃
〃What messengers？〃 he asked。
〃I know not；〃 answered Sally； fanning her fat face with a yellow
pocket…handkerchief。 〃They are strange people to me； and thin with
travelling； but they talk a kind of Zulu。 The Baas wishes you to
come。〃
〃Will you come also； Miss Clifford？ No？ Then forgive me if I leave
you；〃 and lifting his hat he went。
〃A strange man； Missee；〃 said old Sally； when he had vanished； walking
very fast。
〃Yes；〃 answered Benita； in an indifferent voice。
〃A very strange man；〃 went on the old woman。 〃Too much in his kop；〃
and she tapped her forehead。 〃I tink it will burst one day； but if it
does not burst； then he will be great。 I tell you that before； now I
tell it you again； for I tink his time come。 Now I go cook dinner。〃
Benita sat by the lake till the twilight fell； and the wild geese
began to flight over her。 Then she walked back to the house thinking
no more of Heer Meyer； thinking only that she was weary of this place
in which there was nothing to occupy her mind and distract it from its
ever present sorrow。
At dinner； or rather supper； that night she noticed that both her
father and his partner seemed to be suffering from suppressed
excitement； of which she thought she could guess the cause。
〃Did you find your messengers； Mr。 Meyer？〃 she asked； when the men had
lit their pipes； and the square…faceas Hollands was called in those
days； from the shape of the bottlewas set upon the rough table of
speckled buchenhout wood。
〃Yes； I found them；〃 he answered； 〃they are in the kitchen now。〃 And
he looked at Mr。 Clifford。
〃Benita； my dear；〃 said her father； 〃rather a curious thing has
happened。〃 Her face lit up； but he shook his head。 〃No； nothing to do
with the shipwreckthat is all finished。 Still； something that may
interest you； if you care to hear a story。〃
Benita nodded； she was in a mood to hear anything that would occupy
her thoughts。
〃You know something about this treasure business；〃 went on her father。
〃Well； this is the tale of it。 Years ago； after you and your mother
had gone to England； I went on a big game shooting expedition into the
interior。 My companion was an old fellow called Tom Jackson； a rolling
stone； and one of the best elephant hunters in Africa。 We did pretty
well； but the end of it was that we separated north of the Transvaal；
I bringing down the ivory that we had shot； and traded； and Tom
stopping to put in another season； the arrangement being that he was
to join me afterwards； and take his share of the money。 I came here
and bought this farm from a Boer who was tired of itcheap enough；
too； for I only gave him ￡100 f