Lawless reached Kraaifontein to find that there was neither word from
nor sign of Tottie. No person answering Tottie's description had been
seen in the neighbourhood recently.
He engaged a room at the hotel and prepared to wait. Plainly, Tottie
had not found Van Bleit come to heel as readily as she had supposed. He
found the waiting extraordinarily dull. There was nothing for it but to
tramp over the veld between meals. That, the eating of the meals, and
sleeping, were the sole means of enjoyment provided by the
neighbourhood, so far as he could judge. The sleeping, in Lawless'
opinion, was the most amusing of these recreations. During meals he was
bored almost beyond endurance by the schoolmaster for the district, who
had his lodging there; and the tramping, with no object beyond the
exercise, proved a poor pastime.
"It is good to meet a man of education in a place like this," the
schoolmaster observed on the first day. "Are you making any length of
stay, may I inquire?"
"God forbid!" Lawless ejaculated.
The other smiled a trifle deprecatingly.
"We have not much to offer--no," he admitted thoughtfully. "But if you
are here for a few days I can show you some good walks, and introduce
you to one or two nice families--quite nice, where you will be well
received."
"Your quite nice families may not be so glad of my acquaintance as you
imagine," Lawless answered.
"With my recommendation that will be all right," the other said.
"What the devil do you know about me," Lawless demanded, "that you offer
me a passport to the houses of your friends? My good sir, you should be
more discreet in the matter of your introductions."
The schoolmaster, who had taken a liking to the new-comer, looked hurt.
"I don't know anything about you," he replied. "But during a fairly
long and varied life I have learnt to trust my judgment of men."
Lawless suddenly smiled.
"And you judge a man as you find him," he said, "without looking beneath
the surface? You countenance him, even to introducing him to your
friends... _quam diu se bene gesserit_."
"What more is necessary?" inquired the schoolmaster promptly.
"True!" acquiesced Lawless. "If a man have seven devils what need their
possession matter to anyone save himself so long as he keep them out of
sight?"
On the second day after his arrival the letter of instructions reached
him. It bore the Wellington postmark. Tottie was gradually working her
way down the line. It was a scrawling, lengthy epistle, containing many
interlineations and corrections and succinct marginal notes. Lawless
carried it to the garden, and sat on a bench under a huge eucalyptus
tree while he deciphered the contents. Properly adjusted, and omitting
the evil spelling, it read:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear old Grit,--I know you'll be chafing horribly at the delay; but
there have been difficulties, and it was no use ringing up the curtain
on this act before we had got things thoroughly in order, and every man
knowing the part he has to play. Poor old Karl is under the delusion he
is to play hero to my heroine. I have him properly in tow. He tumbled
to his part beautifully at our first accidental encounter. He pursued,
and I eluded. I got him as far as Ceres Road in this manner. Then one
evening in the dusk I met and had a talk with him... Such a talk! ...
He kissed me... He kept on kissing me--keep your hair on. Grit. I
told him I was afraid of you,--that I'd bolted from you, and were scared
to death you'd find me out. I said you were mad to get me back, but I
wasn't taking any. He offered to take me under his protection. I
declined, but with less firmness than virtue should have displayed. He
fancied I only needed pressing. I told him my idea was to get back to
Cape Town and take the first boat up the coast, only I was scared of
happening across you. And then he said some fine brave manly things
that made one feel your life wasn't worth an hour's purchase. Bombastic
fool! Always crowing and flapping his wings when he gets among the
hens...
I let him talk. The next day I left Ceres Road and came on here. Of
course he turned up almost immediately. We met again in the dusk and
had another talk. Karl's a hot one... The difficulty I have to keep
him at arm's length! ... I gave in to his pleading after a decent show
of reluctance... He fancies I was only holding out for personal gain.
We are going to a little place across the river about ten miles from
Kraaifontein. It's known as Jager's Rest. By the time you get this we
shall be on our road thither in a Cape cart. I've arranged with the
nigger what route he drives, so if you follow my instructions all will
be well; if you fail me now, devil knows what will happen.
I enclose a map I've drawn of the route. Just half-way between here and
Kraaifontein--see my mark on the map--you'll take your stand, and wait
for us to pass somewhere about noon. There's cover there, and one can
play highwayman without risk. If I can get hold of Karl's revolver I'll
spoil it for him, if I can't I'll hamper him in more feminine mode. In
any case, I am not afraid you won't be equal to him. If you murder him,
I'll stop and help you bury him. Tottie.
Lawless folded the letter, and carefully examined the map. Then he
folded that also, put both in his pocket, and went in to breakfast. The
schoolmaster, who had all but finished his meal, looked up to nod.
"You are indefatigable," he said. "You have been exercising before
breakfast?"
"Only loafing in the garden," Lawless answered as he sat down.
"Yes." The other glanced wistfully at the undisturbed end of the table,
and then out through the window at the brilliant sunshine. "I'd been
counting on your company this morning," he said. "But of course now."
... He looked keenly disappointed. "It's going to be a hot day," he
remarked.
"Looks like it."
Lawless unfolded his napkin and began on the eggs and bacon which the
coloured boy placed before him. In his preoccupation he was scarcely
conscious of the presence of the other man, save when he spoke, and then
it was to feel a slight irritation at the inconsequent remarks that
called for attention and response.
"Perhaps to-morrow," the little insignificant shabby man proceeded
tentatively, "you might feel inclined to accompany me. It's a pleasant
walk, and--"
Lawless looked up suddenly.
"To-morrow, I am returning to the coast," he said.
"So soon!"
The speaker's increased disappointment was too marked to pass unnoticed.
Lawless looked at him in some surprise, and was rather ashamed of
himself because he found the little man such a bore.
"It may seem soon to you," he said. "You see, you lead a useful life;
but when a man has nothing to occupy his time he quickly tires of a
place like this. I never intended to stay more than a day or two."
"I shall miss your company," the other said, and rising from the table,
lingered for a few moments with his hand upon it. "I suppose the place
has not many attractions for visitors. For those who live here it is
different. I drifted here. I scarcely know how. I began at Port
Nolleth, but the west coast fever drove me inland. This little place
suits me, and I suit it. We're neither go-ahead."
He smiled at his mild joke, but without mirth. His lonely life appeared
lonelier contrasted with the break which the vigorous personality of
this chance acquaintance had made in the monotony of his days. He had
never met anyone whose going he so much regretted.
"Well, I won't interrupt you at your breakfast any longer," he said
apologetically. "I must be starting. We shall meet this evening."
"We'll have our walk to-morrow, if it's agreeable to you," Lawless
returned, and wondered at himself for being such a fool, yet was not
ill-pleased with his folly when he caught the eager look that shone in
the mild eyes behind the spectacles.
"Awful bore, old Burton," he mused, looking through the window after the
shabby figure as it disappeared in the sunshine. "But I'm damned if he
isn't rather a fine simple soul, after that!"
When he had finished his breakfast he went out to see about a horse to
ride. There was a mare in the stable which, according to the
proprietor, could go like the wind. Appearance is not everything to
judge by in the matter of a horse's paces. The animal in question
looked languid, Lawless considered; but that alone could not disprove
her reputation as a racer. He ordered the mare to be saddled, and went
indoors to examine his revolver and make certain preparations for the
encounter with Van Bleit. He had very vividly in his mind the last
encounter in which he had been so cunningly outwitted. He meant to
settle that score, which, like a debt of honour, weighed upon his mind.
When he was ready he went to the stables, and, having made full
inquiries as to the direction of Jager's Rest, rode off, a feeling of
exhilaration swaying him as he felt the wind in his teeth, and listened
to the rhythm of his horse's hoofs thudding over the veld. After his
compulsory inactivity the present adventure was particularly welcome.
From choice he would have preferred to face Van Bleit with the odds
equal; but in the circumstances, with all there was at stake, it had
ceased to be a personal matter, it was a matter calling for the utmost
discretion.
When he arrived at the place marked for him by Tottie on the map, which,
following her directions, he found without difficulty, he dismounted,
and, being ahead of time, hobbled his horse and allowed it to graze
while he enjoyed a pipe, lying full length on the veld with his eye
fixed attentively along the line of route the Cape cart would travel,
according to the information in his letter. In many respects the lie of
the land reminded him of the spot where Van Bleit had so cleverly
tricked him. The open, undulating stretch of veld, save that it was
more thickly overgrown with scrub, was much the same, it presented the
same wide desolate appearance; and in place of the dense bush was a belt
of wattles,--the cover Tottie had mentioned, where a horseman could
conceal himself without fear of detection. Lawless approved the choice
of ground. Tottie had evidently been over the route and arranged it all
beforehand. So far everything had been contrived with the greatest
forethought and discretion.
He rose after a while, and pocketing his pipe, whistled to the mare,
which, feeding on the veld some yards distant, lifted her head at the
sound, and moved farther away. Lawless followed her, and untying the
rein with which he had hobbled her, patted her lean sides encouragingly.
She had carried him well, thus disproving her appearance, and verifying
to some extent her reputation.
He led her into the shade of the trees, and standing with his shoulders
resting against one of the trunks waited with the rein over his arm,
peering between the interlacing branches for a sign of the cart. It was
late. Tottie had mentioned noon. He looked at his watch. It was after
the half-hour.
And then, far off, he saw it coming.
He remained quite still, not a muscle of his tense face relaxed, only
into the grey eyes there leapt a sudden flash of stern, fierce joy.
The cart came on at a fair pace. It was drawn by two horses with a
coloured man driving. In the back seat, under the hood, were the
figures of a man and woman.
While it was still some distance off Lawless mounted, and keeping well
under cover of the trees, rode his horse as near to the opening as he
considered safe, and sat motionless in the saddle, waiting. A shaft of
sunlight that pierced its way between the branches glinted brightly on
the barrel of a revolver which was gripped in his right hand.
The cart drew nearer. The sound of the wheels was audible,--nearer
still. Lawless could hear distinctly Tottie's deep, rather vulgar
laugh. She was talking incessantly in a high-pitched, unnatural voice
that suggested a nervous desire to distract her companion's attention.
When they drew parallel with the belt of trees, Lawless observed her
call Van Bleit to look at something on the other side of the cart,
something which was plainly not there, and which therefore Van Bleit,
following her pointing finger with every desire in the world to oblige
her, failed utterly to see. What he did see the next minute, bringing
his head round with a jerk at the unexpected sound of a horse's hoofs,
was the barrel of Lawless' revolver unpleasantly close to his head.
"Hands up?" cried Lawless. "Or, by Jove! you're a dead man."
Tottie shrieked, and flung her arms around Van Bleit with a grip the
strength of which considerably surprised him. He was quite convinced in
his own mind that if she had not hampered him he could have defended
himself. He swore at her. Then, his eye on the revolver, he nodded
sulkily.
"All right?" he said. "You score this round."
Lawless spoke to the driver, who, staring at the shining weapon in the
stranger's hand with distended eyes and fallen jaw, reluctantly pulled
in his horses and brought the cart to a standstill.
"You'll oblige me," he then said to his discomfited foe in a voice like
the click of steel, "by getting out of the cart. I have business with
you."
Van Bleit obeyed with an alacrity he did not often display. He
recognised the seriousness of his case, but, unaware of Tottie's
treachery, hoped rather forlornly that with her aid he might yet
contrive some device whereby to get even with his assailant. It was a
bold game for a man to play, to hold up three persons, and one of them
armed.
Tottie alighted after him. After the first shriek she had subsided into
an extraordinary calm, and all that could be seen of her face through
the thick blue veil gave no indication of alarm. She was indeed broadly
smiling. She sidled up to Van Bleit and slipped a hand into his pocket.
For the moment he imagined she was playing his game for him, the next
he was quick to suspect she was not, and his hand came down
spontaneously and grasped her wrist. At the same time he felt something
cold against his temple, and instantly perceived she held a revolver in
her other hand.
"I don't want to shoot you," Lawless said curtly; "but if you don't put
your hands up I shall be forced to."
Van Bleit's hands went up again, and he coughed and spat in disgust. He
realised fully now that he had been tricked. It was apparent to the
meanest intelligence that Lawless and the woman were acting in concert.
The woman took his weapon from him and flung it out of reach. Then an
extraordinary thing happened. It was the most humiliating and the most
astounding moment in his life. The woman put up a hand to her hat and
dragged at it so that it seemed to him she was pulling, not only her
hat, but her head with it. And then the hat with its crown of roses and
its big blue veil, and the wonderful golden hair, which Van Bleit had
believed to be dyed but had never suspected of being a wig, hit him in
the face, and so fell at his feet; and he stood with his upraised arms,
his face purple with rage, staring into a painted, grinning, vaguely
familiar countenance which, with its short fair hair, and prominent ears
that the golden curls had hidden, he guessed at rather than recognised
for Tom Hayhurst's.
"There's a lock of my hair for remembrance, dear boy," said Tottie.