Have I not often told you that you should chew your bit twenty times before you swallow, which I would do myself if I had any back teeth left?
Here, drink this milk; it is only a little sour and will settle your stomach," and she produced a black bottle and subjected it to the attentions of the vatdoek, growing quite angry when I declined it and sent for water.
Next she insisted upon my getting into her own bed in the wagon to sleep, forbidding me to smoke, which she said made the hand shake.
Thither, then, I went, after a brief conversation with Hans, whom I directed to clean my rifle thoroughly.

For I wished to be alone and knew that I had little chance of solitude outside of that somewhat fusty couch.
To tell the truth, although I shut my eyes to deceive the vrouw, who looked in occasionally to see how I was getting on, no sleep came to me that afternoon--at least, not for a long while.

How could I sleep in that hot place when my heart was torn with doubt and terror?
Think of it, reader, think of it! An hour or two, and on my skill would hang the lives of eight white people--men, women, and children, and the safety or the utter shame of the woman whom I loved and who loved me.

No, she should be spared the worst.

I would give her my pistol, and if there were need she would know what to do.
The fearful responsibility was more than I could bear.