After dinner, uncle, Charlotte and I set off to clear up the mystery of
the strange animal we had seen under the bushes. It was daylight now and
the way easily traced and soon I distinguished the identical bush beneath
which it was sheltering itself. And yes, there it was still, sure enough,
and only a poor dog, after all—a huge creature, now stretched out dead and
stark, a gunshot wound in its side declaring the cause of its death. It
was a splendid, great animal, and in good condition; who, therefore, could
have killed it, and why? So we questioned of each other. Uncle and
Charlotte preferred continuing their walk over the flats, but as I wished
to return to aunt on the balcony, they saw me in safety to the little
bridge, and then left me.
Not liking to encounter Blurdon, I ran rapidly through the garden, meeting
our landlord just coming in at the gate. Instantly I gave him an account
of the dead dog, begging to know how he thought it had happened.
"Oh, it was that rascally Blurdon's doing," he answered, "The idle fellow
has been amusing himself of late shooting every stray dog that was unlucky
enough to come sufficiently near to the house to be within his reach. He
knew perfectly well I didn't wish them destroyed. But he possessed a gun
of his own and went out at night, by which means he could do what he
chose: so you see one of the results. However, I have made an end of his
impudence here sooner than he either wished or expected, for this
afternoon I bundled him off, bag and baggage, and I hope never to set eyes
on his face again."
"Then he is really gone, you think?" I said, joyfully.
"Am quite sure of it," said Mr. Rathfelder. "This is no place for him, for
besides having nothing to do here, the people hereabouts are too quiet and
respectable to suit him and his bad ways. Oh no; he's gone, and no
mistake."
"Well, I must say I am glad," rejoined I, "for, to confess the truth, I am
quite afraid of him."
Mr. Rathfelder laughed, saying: "His looks are certainly against him, but,
though a worthless sort of fellow, he might not be as really bad, after
all, as his face proclaims him to be."
"God, who reads the heart, alone knows," I murmured to myself while
pursuing my way to the hotel, feeling, nevertheless, exceedingly comforted
by our landlord's assurance of his departure.
So time passed on—tranquil, pleasant days—days whose brightness increased
to us all as each one told to advantage on the health of dear Aunt
Rossiter. Charlotte, too, was quite contented, for not only was the period
fast approaching for our return home, but so satisfactorily had I supplied
Susan's place (she was still prevented coming to us) that Lotty declared
of the two she was inclined to think my attendance preferable, for she
could have her own way just as she liked with me, which was not often
possible and never easy with that self-willed, unaccommodating Susan.
My lady's-maid duties, however, generally obliged me to curtail my morning
walk a good deal in order to be back in time to secure my dear, lazy
Lotty's presence at the prayers (which uncle always read while the tea was
drawing); but so long as that desirable end was effected, I did not regret
my shortened walk. I am quite sure our heavenly Father far oftener than
mortals in their blind ingratitude, even among the best of us, take
account, directs that such trifling acts of self-sacrifice shall work good
to the humble Christian. Little did I anticipate when each morning,
checking my eager desire to go farther and seek for other and more
beautiful flowers, I turned and hurried back, that this very proceeding
would at last prove a merciful means of salvation from I know not what of
evil, yet so it was.
One morning—it was the last, according to present arrangement, to be spent
at Rathfelder's, previous to the day of our return home—pursuing my way as
usual at an early hour across the flowery country, I stopped to look at my
watch—a habit I practiced now almost every quarter of an hour at least,
fearing to outstay my time. As I did so I partly turned round to see how
far I had come, and at that instant caught sight of a dark form slinking
behind some bushes in the distance. Imperfect as the view was, it
nevertheless showed me the figure of a man. What was he doing there? and
what was his motive in thus concealing himself, if concealing himself at
all? "But oh no," thought I; "it can only be a poor negro searching on his
knees for land-tortoises or negro-figs," as a certain little prickly,
disagreeable kind of wild fruit is there called; "it can't be anything
more dangerous than that." Whereupon, having ascertained I had a good bit
of time yet to spare, on I went, and, absorbed in enjoyment of all around
me, soon forgot the mysterious figure.
I had wandered on considerably farther, and was once more halting to
consult my watch, when again—yes, there it was!—the same dark form, still
skulking behind the bushes, and by this time so much nearer that no great
distance lay between us. What did it mean? Was it possible he meditated
harming me? And robbery or violence of any kind was a thing almost unheard
of around Cape Town. I could not believe he was intending evil against me.
"He must be wanting to beg," I said to myself; "nothing more, oh, surely
nothing more!" But my heart throbbed tumultuously, nevertheless, and I
trembled exceedingly while, pretending to arrange the bouquet I held in my
hand, I keenly watched him. An open space separated the thicket behind
which he was unquestionably trying to hide himself and another in advance;
and across this he must pass should he continue the course he was
apparently pursuing—a course which would shortly bring him directly in
front of me and upon the path I was following, for it made a turn at that
point right before his way. I had not long to wait. Believing himself
again secure from notice, the man advanced stealthily a little forward,
projected his head and gazed at me. Words cannot describe the feeling of
terror which possessed my whole being when at that instant I recognised
the repellant face of Joe Blurdon! I did not move; I affected to be
completely engaged with my nosegay and to see nothing else. But, alas!
where was I to go? Forward or backward, I was now equally in his power,
and that his intentions were undoubtedly bad was clear, or why these
underhand proceedings? Why, too, was he here at all? Did he meditate
robbery? What was I to do? And I thought of my watch, that I had taken out
while he was looking, but I dreaded much more even the touch of his hand.
I was conscious of a strange feeling stealing over me as I stood there
amidst the beautiful works of the Creator—the bright sunshine, the balmy
air, the clear sky above and flower-carpeted earth beneath—spellbound by
that dark face and evil eye fixed upon me in the distance.
But now Blurdon stole rapidly across the bare space, and for a brief while
was again hid from my view. With his disappearance subsided the lethargy
of terror which was paralyzing me, and I strove to raise my heart in
prayer to heaven. The very effort brought new life into my soul—brought
the remembrance that I was not alone, that a merciful, loving Friend was
near whose arm was as powerful to protect in this wilderness as in the
greatest crowd. "Oh save me, my God! Direct me what to do!" were my only
words. And he did direct me.
To run for my life seemed the only chance left me. "But not yet," I
murmured as, making believe to gather flowers and at the same time to be
continuing my walk, my eyes watched the on-going figure, and noted the
vigilant guard he also kept upon my movements. Before him, and close
beside the grassy pathway I was coming along, skirted a thicket of some
length and breadth and of considerable denseness of foliage, and to this
point he was evidently hastening. Arrived there, I perceived him stop and
look earnestly in my direction. How wildly my heart beat! but with seeming
boldness I advanced a step or two in a careless manner, examining the
flowers the while. The next minute he was making his way round to the side
of the bushes near the path, and was finally quite concealed from my
sight, as I was also from his.
To catch me unawares was clearly his plan; he feared that any cry of alarm
on my part might bring assistance he knew not; and it was but acting in
accordance with his wild-animal instincts to adopt this crafty method of
effecting his purpose rather than a straightforward, open one. As soon as
I recovered my recollection of the omnipresence of God, which my sudden
fright had momentarily scared away from my mind, I half unconsciously so
gave myself up to his care that I waited to be impelled, as it were, by
some inward feelings of guidance what to do, and this trust it was which
saved me. Had I made the least attempt to escape too soon, had I betrayed
any consciousness of the dangerous vicinity of this man, I should have
been lost, but now was the moment, if ever; and yielding to an
irresistible impulse, I turned and fled back the way I had come.
Never before in my life had I run so fast; on, on, without once looking
behind me, and scarce feeling the soft turf beneath my feet—on, till
reaching the gate, I threw myself over; and then, as Charlotte and I had
before done, I stood grasping a bar, panting heavily and straining my eyes
over the Flats. I was not pursued; nothing met my sight but the wild
country; and I poured out a flood of thanksgiving to the great and good
God who had so wonderfully sustained, guided and saved me in this my hour
of great trial and danger.
Again I scanned the widespreading view, and now I distinguished the
herculean form of Blurdon moving rapidly here and there. Examining more
earnestly (I was possessed of a naturally very long sight), I could see
him looking round the shrubs and bushes where I had so recently been
standing, evidently unable to comprehend my sudden disappearance, so swift
had been my flight.
Becoming fearful that he might seek me in this direction, I hastened down
the field as well as my filtering steps would take me, for I was feeling
quite weak now. When in the garden I stopped once more to rest a few
seconds on one of the benches, and then returned to the hotel. On the
balcony I met uncle, and in as few words as possible narrated to him my
adventure and escape. He listened with breathless anxiety, his face paling
as I proceeded, and, scarcely waiting to hear the end, hurried away,
uttering an ejaculation of thanksgiving to God for my safety. In a few
minutes I saw him hastening across the court toward the Flats in company
with Mr. Rathfelder.
Fearing the effect which my tale might have on aunt in her delicate state,
I decided to leave it to uncle whether or not to tell her, and for that
reason was silent on the subject to Charlotte also, lest she might
heedlessly speak of it.
We were sitting at breakfast when he returned. To my surprise he came in
looking quite cheerful and satisfied, instead of anxious and distressed,
as was his expression at parting with me. Smiling as he sat down to the
table, he said: "You will be glad to hear, my little Mechie, that Blurdon
meant no mischief. We found him leaning over the gate at the end of the
field and looking about him apparently in a quiet, peaceful, meditative
mood. In answer to our questions he said he had come to this part again to
have another talk with the good little lady who had spoken so kindly to
him the other morning, and that he thought he saw you picking flowers in
the distance, and followed to see if it was really you. He seems to have
the idea that you can help him with a little good advice before he leaves
these parts."
I saw at once that uncle thought I had been frightened without cause, and
put my alarm down to my having been alone, but I did not say more then
lest I should disturb my aunt and Charlotte, who were already looking up
and waiting to hear what had occurred; but I was none the less well
assured in my own mind that robbery was intended and devoutly thankful to
have been preserved.