Oh, what trouble has the blind madness of Henri Marais brought upon us all! Well, I warned him that it would be so.

Good-bye, my dear boy, good-bye: my prayers will follow you, and for the rest--Well, I am old, and what does it matter if my grey hairs come with sorrow to the grave ?" I kissed him back, and with an aching heart sprang to the saddle.

In five more minutes the station was out of sight.
Thirteen and a half hours later I pulled rein upon the quay of Port Elizabeth just, only just, in time to catch Captain Richardson as he was entering his boat to row out to the Seven Stars, on which the canvas was already being hoisted.

As well as I could in my exhausted state, I explained matters and persuaded him to wait till the next tide.

Then, thanking God for the mare's speed--the roan had been left foundered thirty miles away, and Hans was following on the chestnut, but not yet up--I dragged the poor beast to an inn at hand.