The Shadow of the Past Part 31

It was so in Matheson's case. When he had, as he fancied, closed this chapter which related to the past for ever, the chance breeze of an accidental encounter ruffled the pages and turned them bade.

On the day before he had arranged to go to Johannesburg he came face to face with Herman Nel in the fine oak avenue outside the Botanical Gardens. He was on his way to fulfil an appointment with Brenda; but when he saw Nel--Nel looking handsome and business-like in the serviceable uniform of the Union Defence Force--he forgot everything for the moment in sheer amaze at this unexpected meeting.

It was never clear to him who saw the other first; the recognition seemed to be simultaneous: the grip of their hands was spontaneous and eager.

"I never expected to see you here," he said, and wrung Nel's hand warmly. "What's the farm doing in your absence?"

"Looking after itself," Nel answered with a shrug. "I've come away to defend it. Leentje imagines she is seeing after things while Cornelius is engaged in espousing the German cause." His face was grave. "Come into the Gardens here, and sit down and let us talk."

Matheson accompanied him in silence and sat down with him on a seat near the entrance. Nel looked hard at him, looked from his face to his clothes; and Matheson felt that the shrewd eyes were mutely inquiring why he also was not in uniform.

"I've been in Cape Town only a few days," Nel volunteered. "I'm following Botha wherever he leads. His lead is straight always, and for the good of the country. Cornelius can't see that--yet."

"So he has joined the rebellion?" Matheson said.

"Yes. He's with his commando--and Andreas Krige. They have joined Maritz. It's a bad business. One cannot help feeling sorry for men who deliberately cut their own throats. There is a sort of predestination in it."

"And what," Matheson asked quickly, "are they doing at Benfontein?"

Nel shook his head.

"I've not been received at Benfontein since the beginning of August," he said. "My engagement is terminated--temporarily." He smiled in his old whimsical way. "The outlook is dark at the moment; but always I look forward to the dawn of a to-morrow. And now tell me about yourself.

You are remaining outside all this?"

His voice was puzzled; there was a ring, Matheson fancied, of disapproval behind its surprise. He took up his own defence eagerly.

"No, indeed!" he answered. "Who could remain outside? ... Certainly no one with any interest beyond his own immediate affairs. I intend to volunteer for service in Europe."

"Why in Europe?" Nel asked. "There is quite important work to be done in this country."

"I know it."

Matheson was silent for a while. Presently he said:

"I've a feeling--I can't explain it--against fighting out here. If it was simply fighting the Germans I wouldn't hesitate, but--the Boers...

No; I can't do it. Simply I can't do it."

Nel scrutinised him closely, a kindly, rather wistful, expression lighting his grave features.

"That's the very reason," he said at length, "why you ought to remain out here. It's men who feel as you do about it that we want... Do you suppose that it is easier for me, who have to take the field against the brother I love? ... Do you think it is easy for Botha to fight against men who once fought shoulder to shoulder with him in a just though unequal cause? Botha took the field before for his people; he takes it to-day for the good of South Africa, which before everything else he has at heart. He is fine--a simple and honourable man. I would follow him to the death."

Nel stretched out a hand and laid it on the other's knee.

"It is in no vindictive spirit that we go to war," he added. "Always it will be in our minds to spare life where that is possible. It is for this reason, and because you have no animosity in your heart against the Dutch, that I say to you with the greatest earnestness, you can do more good here in helping to quell this ill-advised rebellion than ever you can do in Europe. Stay and see it out."

For a while they were silent, looking at one another. Then Matheson said:

"I never looked at it like that before."

"Good!" Nel smiled suddenly. "You begin to recognise that your work lies here?"

"Yes. I think you have shown me that."

"Then don't delay. Join up at once."

Matheson thought for a moment. He was no longer in any doubt as to his ultimate decision; but there was one thing that remained to be done before he joined up. He spoke of it to Nel--told of his intention to trade down Holman, and of his projected journey on the morrow.

"You won't find Holman in Johannesburg," Nel a.s.sured him. "On and off for the past three months he has been at Benfontein. He was there, I believe, when I left. But that it seemed to me I had more responsible work to accomplish, I would have shot him like a jackal. I don't know what he is after at Benfontein, but I don't trust him. He has been Krige's evil genius from the beginning. And the women... they simply wors.h.i.+p him. His is the hand of the friend stretched forth to deliver them from the oppressor. As though a friendly hand was ever advanced by a stranger nation from entirely disinterested motives! They can't see that this so strong hand of Germany would make a tool of them."

For a while he remained without speaking, staring abstractedly ahead of him; then with a sudden movement he looked round sharply, and added:

"They are quite sincere in desiring their country's good. That--the good of one's country, is right in principle, only they look at it crookedly. Botha sees straight: always he works unselfishly for his country's welfare. That is a principle it would be well for all nations to adopt. Good cannot come to any country through war."

He looked thoughtfully away across the sunlit glory of the gardens, in which the vivid beauty of subtropical flowers and shrubs flourished prodigally, and his face was sad.

"I have watched this country grow and expand," he said. "I have seen it shrivel beneath the devastation of war, and have watched its struggle until it blossomed forth anew. Now I see it bent and scorched before the fires of rebellion. That is the worst event that has yet befallen.

But the land survives these things; only man, with his paltry ambitions and his insignificant span, goes under, paying for the folly of others with all that he has to give. It's senseless, this business of fighting--a puerile defiance of the laws of life."

"And yet," Matheson said, "you and I are drawn into it."

Nel smiled swiftly.

"Yes; you and I are drawn in. And if we have to pay the full price we shall consider the end worth the sacrifice. I recognise sincerity, Mr Matheson, when I meet it. From that first morning when you visited my rondavel I knew that we should be friends. I don't know how deeply you are interested in South Africa, but if you live here long enough the land will grip you."

"It grips me already," Matheson said. "I am ready to help purchase the peace of this country without counting the cost."

Nel's eyes brightened with a sudden fire; his voice, quiet and controlled though it was, vibrated with a ring of triumph.

"Boer and Briton!" he said, and laughed quietly... "Boer and Briton! I would merge such distinctions in the comprehensive t.i.tle of South African. To us--to you and to me--this land belongs by virtue of the reason that we live by it, and are willing to defend it with our lives.

The land is our inheritance. Imperial claims concern me very little. A man who has a life's lease of his homestead doesn't take much account of the landlord. You haven't come yet to feel that way?"

"No. I don't suppose an Englishman ever does." Matheson glanced at his watch. "I'll have to be going," he said, and laughed a little consciously. "I've an engagement for three, and am overdue now."

He stood up. Nel rose with him. For a second or so they remained still in the path steadily regarding one another.

"I'm going to be married," Matheson said abruptly--"in three weeks'

time."

"Yes!" Nel's gaze was searching. "I'm glad to hear it, Mr Matheson,"

he said. "You are more fortunate than I. Is she English?"

"Yes... born out here. I hope some day you'll meet her. But to-morrow I leave, as you know."

"You are going to Benfontein?"

Nel's tone was discouraging. Matheson answered in the affirmative.

"Well, don't forget," the Dutchman added cautiously, "that your life is of infinitely greater value to the country than Holman's death could be.

It will be a desperate man you face, remember. Take care of yourself."