"Have you anything to eat?" she asked. "I--I--am starving. I didn't feel
it before, but now----"
"Starving, you starving, while I--look, here is some cold meat which
I could not get down last night, and put by for the Kaffirs. Great
Heavens! that I should feed you with Kaffirs' leavings! But it is
good--eat it."
Benita took the stuff in her fingers and swallowed it greedily; she
who for days had lived on nothing but a little biscuit and biltong. It
tasted delicious to her--never had she eaten anything so good. And all
the while he watched her with glowing eyes.
"How can you look at me?" she said at length. "I must be horrible; I
have been living in the dark and crawling through mud. I trod upon a
crocodile!" and she shuddered.
"Whatever you are I never want to see you different," he answered
slowly. "To me you are most beautiful."
Even then, wreck as she was, the poor girl flushed, and there was a mist
in her eyes as she looked up and said:
"Thank you. I don't care now what happens to me, and what has happened
doesn't matter at all. But can we get away?"
"I don't know," he answered; "but I doubt it. Go and sit on the
waggon-box for a few minutes while I dress, and we will see."
Benita went. The mist was thinning now, and through it she saw a sight
at which her heart sank, for between her and the mount Bambatse Matabele
were pouring towards their camp on the river's edge.
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