Yes, yes, they beat off the impi with the loss of only one man, butRalph took no part in that fight. Indeed, when we joined them four dayslater, for after burying Sihamba Jan and I trekked round through thewaggon pass, by the mercy of Heaven escaping the Zulus, they still layprostrate on a cartel, clasping each other's hands and smiling, butspeaking little. The Boers, being warned and awake, beat off the Zuluswith great loss to Dingaan, for they had the waggons in front, thekoppie behind, and the river to one side.
But there were many on that dreadful night whom no _schimmel_ gallopedto warn. Ah! God, six hundred of them, men and women, maids andchildren, and little babies at the breast, went down beneath the Zuluassegai in that red dawn. Six hundred of them slaughtered!
Is not the name of the land Weenen--"The Land of Weeping"--to this day?
We avenged them at the battle of the Blood River indeed; but couldvengeance give us back their lives which it had pleased the Lord to takethus fearfully?
So, so, that is the end of my story of the forgotten bygone years. As I,old Suzanne Botmar, tell it the shadow of that white-topped koppie fallsupon this house and beneath my feet is the very spot where the brave_schimmel_ died. Ralph and Jan would not leave it--no, not even when theBritish hoisted their flag in Natal, making us English again after allthat we had undergone to escape their usurping rule. We suffered much atthat event, Jan and I, but though he said nothing, for indeed he didnot dare to in my presence, I believe that Ralph did not suffer at all.Well, he was of English blood and it was natural that he should likehis own flag best, though to this day I am very angry with my daughterSuzanne, who, for some reason or other, would never say a hard word ofthe accursed British Government--or listen to one if she could help it.
Yet, to be just, that same Government has ruled us well and fairly,though I never could agree with their manner of dealing with thenatives, and our family has grown rich under its shadow. Yes, we wererich from the beginning, for Ralph and some Boers fetched back thecattle of Suzanne and Sihamba which Swart Piet's thieves had stolen, andthey were a very great herd.
For many long and happy years after all these events that I have toldof did Ralph and Suzanne live together, till at last God took my childSuzanne as she began to grow old. From that day life had no joys forRalph, or indeed for any of us, and he fought with the English againstCetywayo at Isandlhwana, and fell there bravely, he and his sontogether, for his son's wife, an English-woman of good blood was deadalso in childbirth.
Then all the world grew dark for Jan and me, but now in my extreme ageonce more it lightens like the dawn.
O God, who am I that I should complain? Nay, nay, to Thee, Almighty God,be praise and thanks and glory. Quite soon I must fall asleep, and howrich and plentiful is that store which awaits me beyond my sleep; thatstore of friends and kindred who have passed me in the race and won theimmortal crown of peace, which even now their dear hands prepare for me.Therefore to Thee, Maker of the world, be praise and thanks and glory.Yes, let all things praise Thee as do my aged lips.