In his presence I had to keep up a forced cheerfulness, and I believe the pretence did me good.

We took a path up the Berg among groves of stinkwood and essenwood, where a failing stream made an easy route.

It may have been fancy, but it seemed to me that the wood was emptier and that we were followed less closely.

I remember it was a lovely evening, and in the clear fragrant gloaming every foreland of the Berg stood out like a great ship above the dark green sea of the bush.

When we reached the edge of the plateau we saw the sun sinking between two far blue peaks in Makapan's country, and away to the south the great roll of the high veld.