the days of my life-第17部分

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hem　since　in　this　connection；　and　how　we　came　to　have　them　I　do　not　quite　know。　I　can　see　them　now　in　their　gay　dress　and　velvet　caps　touching　up　the　grey　steeds　with　their　short　whips。　We　made　quite　a　sensation　on　our　thirteen…mile　journey　to　and　through　Norwich；　but　oh！　were　we　not　glad　when　it　was　all　over。
In　a　letter　recently　found　at　Bradenham；　headed　Ditchingham　House；　Bungay；　December　21；　1879；　and　addressed　to　my　brother　William；　who　was　then　attached　to　the　British　Embassy　at　Teheran；　I　find　the　following　estimate　of　my　future　wife’s　character；　and　expression　of　my　feelings　towards　her。
Next；　my　dear　Will　—　je　vais　me　marier　—　to　such　a　brick　of　a　girl；　Louie　Margitson。　They　are　certain　to　have　told　you　all　about　her　in　their　letters　from　home；　so　I　will　only　say　that　I　love　her　sincerely；　as　I　think　she　does　me；　and　that；　unless　something　untoward　occurs　to　dash　the　cup　from　my　lips；　I　think　we　have　as　good　a　prospect　of　happiness　as　most　people。　She　is　good　and　sensible　and　true…hearted；　and　every　day　I　see　her　I　love　and　respect　her　more。　She　is　a　woman　who　can　be　a　man’s　friend　as　well　as　his　lover；　and　whom　I　would　trust　as　I　would　very　few。　She　is　willing　to　e　to　Africa；　so　we　propose　returning　there　shortly；　i。e。　as　soon　as　we　can　get　satisfactorily　married。　There　is　property　concerned；　and　trustees；　who；　as　I　dare　say　you　know；　are　gentry　difficult　to　deal　with。　They　want　us　to　postpone　the　marriage　till　she　es　of　age　next　October；　but　we　don’t　see　the　force　of　it　in　any　way。　I　want　to　get　married　next　April　—　whether　I　shall　manage　or　not　is　another　matter　。　。　。　。
Good…bye；　old　fellow。　God　bless　you。
Your　loving　brother；
H。　Rider　Haggard。
In　fact；　as　I　have　said；　we　did　not　succeed　in　marrying　until　August　11；　1880。
The　circumstance　of　my　marriage　gave　me　pause　as　to　my　plan　of　leading　a　farmer’s　life　in　South　Africa；　and　as　my　father　and　family　were　very　anxious　that　I　should　re…enter　the　Colonial　Service；　I　made　some　attempt　to　do　so。　It　is；　however；　one　thing　to　give　up　a　billet　and　quite　another　to　get　it　back　again。　Had　Sir　Theophilus　Shepstone　or　even　Sir　Owen　Lanyon　still　been　in　power　in　the　Transvaal；　doubtless　there　would　have　been　little　difficulty。　But　a　new　Pharaoh　had　arisen　in　the　shape　of　Sir　Gar　Wolseley　who　knew　not　Joseph；　and　probably　wished　to　keep　any　available　patronage　in　his　own　hands。　At　any　rate；　on　the　matter　being　referred　to　him；　he　replied　“that　arrangements　are　in　contemplation　which　prevent　your　reinstatement　in　the　office　of　Master　of　the　High　Court　in　the　Transvaal。”
Those　“arrangements”　were　indeed　a　blessing　in　disguise；　since；　had　I　been　reinstated；　we　should　have　had　the　pleasure；　as　I　have　shown；　of　going　through　the　siege　of　Pretoria；　and　on　the　Retrocession　I　should　have　been　dismissed　from　my　office　without　pensation；　as　I　believe　happened　to　the　gentleman　who　succeeded　me。　It　was　one　of　the　peculiar　cruelties　of　that　act　that　Englishmen　who　had　taken　service　under　the　British　Government　in　the　Transvaal　were　treated　thus；　since；　of　course；　even　if　the　opportunity　had　been　given；　they　could　scarcely　transfer　their　allegiance　from　the　Queen　to　a　Boer　Republic。　But；　after　all；　they　suffered　no　worse　things　than　scores　of　British　subjects　whose　farms　were　looted；　and　who　in　practice　were　left　to　send　in　their　bill　to　their　new　Dutch　masters　—　with　results　that　may　be　imagined。
When　I　went　home　in　1879　Mr。　（or；　as　he　afterwards　became；　Sir　Melmoth）　Obsorn　entrusted　me　with　the　guardianship　of　his　son　Jack；　a　boy　of　about　sixteen；　whom　he　asked　me　to　send　to　whatever　school　I　might　select　in　England。　So　it　es　about　that　he　wrote　me　a　good　many　letters；　a　few　of　which　survive　and　contain　items　of　interest　as　to　public　affairs　in　Africa　at　this　period。
Poor　Jack　Osborn　after　a　course　of　education　in　England　returned　to　South　Africa　and　was　appointed　to　some　office　in　Zululand。　There；　a　few　years　later；　he　died　of　abscess　of　the　liver。
In　a　letter　dated　Pretoria；　October　10；　1879；　Osborn　says：
I　have　your　letter　23rd　August　in　which　you　give　account　of　your　stewardship　regarding　Jack。　Accept　my　sincere　thanks　for　all　you　have　done　and　the　care　you　took　of　the　boy；　who　I　fear　must　have　been　a　great　bother　to　you。　Your　father’s　kind　note　to　me　I　need　not　tell　you　how　greatly　I　appreciate；　and　I　will　write　to　him　by　this　mail。　Jack　wrote　me　several　letters　since　his　arrival　in　England。　He　is　loud　about　all　the　kindness　shown　him　by　you　and　your　people；　your　father　especially；　whom　he　seems　to　swear　by。　。　。　。　Sir　Gar　Wolseley　is　here。　He　would　not　take　up　his　abode　in　Government　House；　but　had　a　house　hired　for　his　occupation；　and　is　now　in　Koch’s　new　residence　near　Melville’s；　together　with　his　staff。　I　have　a　very　hard　time　of　it　just　now；　having　to　serve　two　masters　who；　between　us；　do　not　seem　to　pull　together　very　well。　Sir　Gar　seems　to　disapprove　entirely　of　Sir　Bartle　Frere’s　policy　with　Kaffirs　and　Boers　。　。　。　。
With　regard　to　your　returning　to　the　Colonial　Service　your　father　is　quite　right；　and　I　think　you　should　return。　The　business　between　you　and　Cochrane　could　be　easily　arranged；　although　I　dare　say　to　you　there　seems　a　difficulty　about　it。　If　you　start　again　fairly　in　any　other　colony　but　this　you　are　sure　to　succeed；　and　I　strongly　advise　you　to　do　so　—　it　would　simply　be　following　a　pursuit　for　which　you　are　eminently　suited　and　abandoning　one　for　which　you　are　not。　I　think　I　told　you　that　I　did　the　same　thing　some　years　ago：　resigned　my　appointment　in　the　Service　and　invested　in　a　sugar　estate；　but　soon　found　that　trying　to　do　that　which　I　did　not　understand　involved　nothing　but　loss；　and　by　advice　of　a　friend　I　re…entered　the　Service；　tho’　in　a　low　grade。　Well；　by　steady　perseverance　and　without　one…half　the　advantages　you　have；　here　I　am　today。　Perhaps　you　will　say　it　is　not　much　after　all；　but　if　you　had　to　encounter　all　the　uphill　work　that　fell　to　my　lot　of　which　you　have　no　conception；　and　when　you　are　a　little　older；　you　will　be　able　to　appreciate　matters　as　I　do。
I　have　but　little　news　to　send　you　this　time。　Two　regiments　are　expected　here　in　a　few　days　I　believe；　so　that　we　will　have　a　lot　of　troops　at　hand　to　cope　with　the　Amabull　＇a　slang　name　for　the　Boers。　—　H。　R。　H。＇　or　any　other　obstreperous　bulls　who　might　trouble　us。　Last　evening　I　heard　from　Middelburg　that　the　Boers　there　are　very　violent　and　the　Landdrost　Scoble　was　anticipating　serious　results。　All　these　things　happening　so　continually　worry　me　a　good　deal；　and　I　am　heartily　sick　of　it　all　。　。　。　。
Ever　your　affectionate　friend；
M。　Osborn。
The　next　letter　is　headed　Zululand；　April　14；　1880。
My　post　runner　brought　me　your　very　wele　letter　of　3　February　yesterday。　I　was　very　glad　to　get　it　and　to　hear　that　all　was　well　with　you。　Before　proceeding　to　business　matters　I　must　offer　you　my　sincere　and　hearty　congratulations　on　the　prospect　of　happiness　before　you。　Depend　upon　it　you　are　doing　the　right　thing。　A　man　is　nothing　in　this　life　who　has　no　wife　to　love　or　be　loved　by；　and　I　feel　certain　that　you　have　not　erred　in　your　selection　and　that　the　young　lady　will　prove　not　only　worthy　of　your　affection　but　a　great　stay　and　support　through　life。
I　write　this　from　the　heart　of　Zululand；　where　I　hold　the　office　of　British　Resident。　My　duties　are　chiefly　to　supervise　the　action　of　the　thirteen　chiefs　to　whom　the　country　has　been　given；　their　government　and　the　way　they　fulfil　the　treaty　obligations。　I　am　entirely　on　my　own　responsibility　and　have　to　do　just　as　appears　right　to　me。　And　a　proper　responsibility　I　find　it。　Indeed　it　is　no　joke。　I　am　not　hard　worked；　but　my　brain　is　continually　on　the　stretch　to　prevent　the　wily　Zulu　getting　the　better　of　me。　Any　mistake　might　cause　endless　plications。　My　pay　is　1300　pounds；　and　a　suitable　Residency　is　to　be　built　at　once　for　me　by　the　Government。　I　correspond　only　with　the　High　missioner　direct。　I　had　not　forgotten　you　when　the　appointment　was　made；　but　there　was　nothing　at　all　beyond　an　ordinary　clerkship　which　I　could　offer　you；　and　this　was　certainly　not　in　your　line。　There　is　however　a　good　prospect　of　something　worth　having　turning　up　in　six　months　from　this；　and　then　you　will　hear　from　me　again。　Between　us　I　have　to　report　in　extenso　on　the　whole　question　connected　with　Zululand　and　the　additional　officers　required　to　assist　me　in　managing；　for　the　Secretary　of　State’s　consideration；　but　this　I　will　do　only　after　I　have　been　three　months　in　the　country；　and　tomorrow　the　first　month　will　expire。　I　think　however　you　will　not　like　it　here　—　too　lonely；　and　you　should　not　e　if　you　could　get　anything　else。　You　can　form　no　idea　of　my　grandness　here　—　in　the　eyes　of　the　chiefs　and　people　I　am　a　great　king。　They　are　submissive　and　civil　to　a　degree。　Almost　every　day　a　fine　fat　ox　is　presented　to　me　for　my　dinner　that　day　by　some　Zulu　swell　that　es　to　pay　his　respects；　and　hundreds　e　up　to　my　camp　daily　with　“Bayete”　salutes　thundered　forth　so　as　to　make　the　hills　ring　again。　Most　of　the　chiefs　and　headmen　knew　me　personally　when　I　was　a　border　magistrate；　and　others　by　repute；　so　that　I　am　not　quite　a　stranger　to　them。
I　did　not　at　first　feel　inclined　to　take　the　office　when　Sir　Gar　offered　it　to　me；　but　after　four　weeks’　consideration　of　the　pros　and　cons　I　concluded　to　take　it。　。　。　。　Please　convey　to　your　father　my　hearty　thanks　for　his　kindness　to　Jack。　I　appreciate　it　most　sincerely。
With　love；
Ever　your　affectionate　friend；
M。　Osborn。
The　last　letter　is　headed　British　Residency；　Zululand；　May　15；　1880。　After　speaking　of　an　opening　in　the　Colonial　Service；　which　he　thinks　I　might　secure；　Osborn　says：
I　returned　to　my　headquarters　here　only　last　night；　having　been　on　a　strip　to　meet　the　Empress　at　Landmanns　Drift；　Buffalo　River。　She　was　very　good　and　kind　to　me　and　I　saw　a　great　deal　of　her；　indeed　I　was　the　only　one　not　belonging　to　her　suite　who　was　spoken　to　at　all　by　her。　She　sent　for　me　twice　daily　and　conversed　freely　on　different　topics。　Brigadier…General　Wood；　who　has　charge　of　her；　received　me　with　open　arms；　which　slightly　surprised　me　after　the　paper　war　I　carried　on　with　him　in　Pretoria。　He　seems　to　be　a　very　good　fellow。
The　Empress　is　still　in　Zululand　visiting　the　various　battlefields。　She　intends　to　visit　the　spot　where　the　Prince　fell　on　1st　June　the　day　of　his　death；　and　will　remain　about　five　days　there　to　mourn　and　weep。　I　feel　very　sorry　for　her。　She　will　be　in　Durban　in　time　to　sail　for　England　on　26th　June。　Sir　Gar　has　left　us　quite　suddenly。　He　is　certainly　a　very　great　soldier。
I　am　still　getting　on　well　with　my　Zulus；　who　will　persist　in　according　royal　honours　to　me。　About　a　fortnight　ago　one　single　deputation　waited　on　me　numbering　over　four　thousand　men！　Their　shout　of　“Bayete”　（the　royal　salute）　made　the　hills　ring　again。　Every　day　hundreds　e　up　to　salute　and　to　state　their　grievances　tribe　against　tribe。　Everywhere　quiet　and　good　order　prevails；　which　is　satisfactory。　With　kind　regards；
Your　affectionate　friend；
M。　Osborn。
After　a　stormy　time　in　Zululand；　Osborn　retired　from　the　public　service　on　a　pension。　At　first　his　idea　was　to　settle　in　England；　but　ultimately　our　climate　proved　too　much　for　him；　and　he　drifted　back　to　South　Africa；　where　not　long　afterwards　he　died。　I　do　not　think　that　his　departure　from　the　world　grieved　him　very　much；　for　in　addition　to　the　loss　of　his　son　Jack；　my　ward；　he　was　called　upon　to　endure　other　heavy　sorroed　his　religious　views；　but　I　remember　that　one　night；　when　I　was　talking　to　him　on　such　matters；　he　stretched　out　his　arm　and　clasped　a　handful　from　the　swarm　of　white　ants　that　were　flying　past　us。　“What　is　the　difference　between　us　and　these？”　he　asked　with　a　little　laugh；　and　let　them　go　again。　By　the　way；　I　may　mention　he　was　the　origin　of　my　character　Alston　in　“The　Witch’s　Head。”　Dear　old　“Mali…mat”　—　that　was　his　Kaffir　name；　which　means；　I　believe；　“so　much　money”　—　shrewd；　kindly；　honourable；　the　truest　of　friends；　the　bravest　of　men；　surely　you；　if　any　do；　belong　to　that　class　which　Pope　defined　as　the　noblest　work　of　God。
Osborn　was　a　great　believer　in　the　virtue　of　the　raw　Kaffir。　Thus；　when　he　was　magistrate　of　Newcastle；　he　did　not　hesitate　to　send　down　from　Newcastle　to　Maritzburg；　two　hundred　miles　away；　the　total　sum　of　the　hut　tax　collected　in　his　district　—　which；　if　I　remember　rightly；　amounted　to　one　or　two　thousand　pounds　—　tied　in　gold…filled　belts　about　the　middle　of　some　of　his　native　policemen。　The　fact　about　the　Kaffirs；　and　especially　the　Zulu　Kaffirs；　is；　or　was；　that　those　whom　they　love　and　respect　may　trust　them　to　the　death；　whereas　those　whom　they　despise　or　hate　cannot　lend　them　sixpence　with　safety　or　believe　their　word　about　the　smallest　matter。　Their　absolute　fidelity　to　duty　is　well　exemplified　in　the　following　story　which　Sir　Theophilus　Shepstone　told　me　when　we　were　travelling　together　over　the　Biggarsberg。
Once　he　had　occasion　in　winter…time　to　send　two　Zulu　messengers　over　these　mountains　with　despatches　for　Maritzburg。　They　were　caught　in　a　snowstorm　without　coats；　whereon　the　man　who　carried　the　despatch…bag；　feeling　the　approach　of　death；　handed　it　to　his　rade　and　bade　him　proceed。　He　himself　crept　into　an　ant…bear　hole　to　die。　As　it　happened；　however；　the　warmth　of　his　body　in　the　hole　kept　him　alive；　and　when　he　woke　up　in　the　morning　the　sun　was　shining。　He　emerged　and；　following　on　the　road；　presently　found　his　panion　dead　and　stiff。　Taking　the　despatch…bag　from　the　body　he　proceeded　on　his　journey；　and　in　due　course　delivered　it　in　Maritzburg。
Among　my　letters　of　this　period　are　two　from　Judge　Kotze。　In　one　of　these；　which　is　dated　June　17；　1880；　the　Judge　plains　bitterly　of　the　placing　of　De　Wet；　the　Recorder　of　Kimberley；　over　his　head　as　Chief　Justice；　a　very　harsh　step；　the　reason　of　which　I　never　quite　understood；　as　Kotze　was　undoubtedly　an　excellent　lawyer　and　an　upright　Judge。　After　some　political　remarks　he　says：
By　the　by；　you　speak　of　seeking　employment　in　the　Civil　Service　out　here。　Abandon　the　idea　and　take　the　following　suggestion　into　careful　consideration。　Why　not　read　for　the　Bar？　You　have　a　splendid　opening　in　the　Cape　Colony　or　at　the　Diamond　Fields。　It　will　take　you　not　more　than　three　years；　and　by　working　honestly　from　six　to　eight　hours　per　day　you　will　have　no　difficulty　in　turning　out　a　first…rate　man　in　three　years。　Give　it　your　serious　attention。　You　have　a　certain　prospect　of　a　judgeship；　and　will　without　much　difficulty　get　into　the　Cape　Parliament。　Mrs。　Haggard　will　be　pleased　with　Grahamstown　（which　I　would　remend　in　preference　to　Cape　Town）；　and　you　will　have　a　fine　and　thoroughly　independent　career　before　you。　。　。　。　Pretoria　is　no　longer　what　it　was。　The　place　is　unbearable。　Everybody　at　loggerheads　with　Government　and　his　neighbours；　and　the　contractors　in　the　meantime　making　fortunes。
Kotze’s　advice　was　sound；　and　today　I　wish　that　I　had　taken　it；　or　rather　sometimes　I　think　I　do。　What　chiefly　stood　in　my　way；　however；　was　my　agreement　with　Cochrane；　whom　I　did　not　like　to　desert；　although　he　generously　offered　to　release　me。　Also　I　wished　to　be　up　and　doing；　and　did　not　like　the　idea　of　those　three　years　of　parative　inaction　which　would　have　prevented　me　from　earning　anything　more　till　I　was　twenty…seven。　Still　I　was　destined　to　be　called　to　the　English　Bar　after　all；　as　I　hope　to　tell　in　due　course。
Here　I　will　end　my　story　during　the　year　and　a　half　or　so　that　I　was　absent　from　South　Africa；　and　pass　on　to　the　sad　tale　of　the　Retrocession　of　the　Transvaal。
Chapter　8　OUR　LIFE　AT　NEWCASTLE
H。　R。　H。　and　wife　sail　for　Natal　—　Farm　near　Transvaal　—　Maritzburg　—　Dinner　at　Government　House　—　Started　for　Newcastle　—　Adventures　on　journey　—　Hilldrop　—　Boer　revolt　—　Natal　invaded　—　Majuba　and　Colley’s　death　—　Work　on　farm　—　Royal　mission　—　Sir　Hercules　Robinson　President　—　Hilldrop　let　to　Sir　Hercules　and　staff　—　Birth　of　H。　R。　H。‘s　son　—　President　Brand　and　Sir　H。　de　Villiers　—　Retrocession　of　Transvaal　—　Popular　indignation　—　Farming　—　Return　home　—　Mazooku。
My　wife　and　I　with　two　servants；　a　Norfolk　groom　of　the　name　of　Stephen　—　I　forget　his　surname　—　who；　a　little　touched　up；　appears　as　Job　in　my　book　“She；”　and　a　middle…aged　woman　named　Gibbs　who　had　been　my　wife’s　maid　before　marriage；　three　dogs；　two　parrots；　and　a　“spider”　carriage；　which　was　built　to　my　special　order　in　Norwich；　left　England　somewhere　towards　the　end　of　1880。　I　think　that　we　reached　Natal　before　Christmas；　and　were　greeted　with　the　news　of　the　Bronker’s　Spruit　massacre；　for　I　can　call　it　by　no　other　name。　In　short；　we　found　that　the　Transvaal　was　in　open　rebellion。
It　was　indeed　a　pleasant　situation。　Newcastle；　whither　we　desired　to　proceed；　lies　very　near　the　Transvaal　border；　and　the　question　was；　Did　I　dare　to　take　my　wife　thither？　For　some　weeks　we　remained　in　Maritzburg；　staying　part　of　the　time　with　Sir　Theophilus　and　Lady　Shepstone；　and　the　rest　in　an　hotel。　Literally　I　was　at　my　wits’　end　to　know　what　to　do。　To　advance　seemed　too　risky；　to　remain　where　we　were　was　both　wearisome　and；　with　our　servants；　ruinously　expensive。
At　length　my　wife；　who；　I　think；　take　her　altogether；　is　the　most　courageous　woman　I　ever　met；　announced　that　she　would　have　no　more　of　it：　her　house　was　at　Newcastle　two　hundred　miles　away；　and；　Boers　or　no　Boers；　thither　she　would　go。　There　were　rumours　that　Sir　George　Colley；　who　was　then　the　Governor　and　mander…inChief　of　Natal；　intended　to　attack　the　passes　of　the　Drakensberg　with　the　few　troops　at　his　disposal。　Nobody　believed　it；　since　the　thing　was　so　obviously　a　madness。　But　I　was　not　so　sure。　I　went　to　Colonel　（afterwards　Sir　Charles）　Mitchell；　the　Colonial　Secretary；　and　asked　him　in　confidence　if　he　knew　anything。　He　replied　—　Nothing；　but　that　I　might　be　quite　certain　that　so　distinguished　a　soldier　would　never　act　foolishly。
So　I　bought　two　good　horses　—　which　afterwards　died　of　the　sickness　—　harnessed　them　to　the　“spider；”　and　we　started。
I　think　it　was　on　the　night　before　Colley　left　Maritzburg　to　take　personal　mand　of　the　troops　at　Newcastle　that　my　wife　and　I　dined　at　Government　House。　If　so；　this　historical　dinner　took　place　on　January　9；　1881。　I　believe　that　there　were　thirteen　of　us　at　table；　though　on　this　point　I　am　not　absolutely　clear；　of　whom　three　were　ladies　—　Lady　Colley；　another　lady　whose　name　I　forget；　and　my　wife。　The　other　guests　were　officers　and　the　members　of　Colley’s　staff。　The　only　name　that　I　can　remember　is　that　of　young　Elwes；　who　within　a　week　or　two　was　to　die　charging　the　Boer　schanzes　and　shouting　“Floreat　Etona！”　I　sat　next　to　him　at　table。
My　wife　reminds　me　of　an　absurd　little　incident　that　happened　at　this　dinner。　Elwes；　I　think；　was　A。D。C。　to　Colley；　and　one　of　his　duties　—　it　used　to　be　mine　when　I　was　on　the　Governor’s　staff　in　the　same　house　—　was　to　write　the　menus　in　French。　One　of　the　items　of　fare　recorded　by　him　was　pates　de　mince。　In　a　silence　such　as　happens　at　dinner…parties；　Lady　Colley　was　heard　saying　from　the　end　of　the　table：
“Mr。　Elwes；　what　are　pates　de　mince？　I　never　heard　of　a　dish　called　pates　de　mince！”　whereon　everyone　turned　and　looked　at　Elwes。
“Pates　de　mince；　Lady　Colley；”　he　stammered　presently；　his　youthful　face　covered　with　blushes；　“is　the　French　for　mince…pies。”
Poor　Elwes！　He　did　not　hear　the　last　of　his　pates　de　mince　during　that　meal