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She leaned her chin on one hand； and looked； with her great dove's eyes
the other hand was cut open； so she wrapped it in her pinafore。 She
looked across the plain at the sand and the low karoo…bushes； with the
moonlight on them。
Presently； there came slowly； from far away； a wild springbuck。 It
came close to the house； and stood looking at it in wonder； while the
moonlight glinted on its horns； and in its great eyes。 It stood wondering
at the red brick walls； and the girl watched it。 Then； suddenly； as if it
scorned it all； it curved its beautiful back and turned； and away it fled over
the bushes and sand； like a sheeny streak of white lightning。 She stood
up to watch it。 So free； so free！ Away； away！ She watched； till she
could see it no more on the wide plain。
Her heart swelled； larger； larger； larger： she uttered a low cry； and
without waiting； pausing； thinking； she followed on its track。 Away；
away； away！ 〃II also！〃 she said； 〃II also！〃
When at last her legs began to tremble under her； and she stopped to
breathe； the house was a speck behind her。 She dropped on the earth； and
held her panting sides。
She began to think now。
If she stayed on the plain they would trace her footsteps in the morning
and catch her； but if she waded in the water in the bed of the river they
would not be able to find her footmarks； and she would hide； there where
the rocks and the kopjes were。
So she stood up and walked towards the river。 The water in the river
was low； just a line of silver in the broad bed of sand； here and there
broadening into a pool。 She stepped into it； and bathed her feet in the
delicious cold water。 Up and up the stream she walked； where it rattled
over the pebbles； and past where the farmhouse lay； and where the rocks
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were large she leaped from one to the other。 The night wind in her face
made her strongshe laughed。 She had never felt such night wind before。
So the night smells to the wild bucks； because they are free！ A free thing
feels as a chained thing never can。
At last she came to a place where the willows grew on each side of the
river； and trailed their long branches on the sandy bed。 She could not tell
why； she could not tell the reason； but a feeling of fear came over her。
On the left bank rose a chain of kopjes and a precipice of rocks。
Between the precipice and the river bank there was a narrow path covered
by the fragments of fallen rock。 And upon the summit of the precipice a
kippersol tree grew； whose palm…like leaves were clearly cut out against
the night sky。 The rocks cast a deep shadow； and the willow trees； on
either side of the river。 She paused； looked up and about her； and then
ran on； fearful。
〃What was I afraid of？ How foolish I have been！〃 she said； when she
came to a place where the trees were not so close together。 And she
stood still and looked back and shivered。
At last her steps grew wearier and wearier。 She was very sleepy now；
she could scarcely lift her feet。 She stepped out of the river…bed。 She
only saw that the rocks about her were wild； as though many little kopjes
had been broken up and strewn upon the ground； lay down at the foot of
an aloe； and fell asleep。
。。。
But； in the morning； she saw what a glorious place it was。 The rocks
were piled on one another； and tossed this way and that。 Prickly pears
grew among them； and there were no less than six kippersol trees scattered
here and there among the broken kopjes。 In the rocks there were
hundreds of homes for the conies； and from the crevices wild asparagus
hung down。 She ran to the river； bathed in the clear cold water； and
tossed it over her head。 She sang aloud。 All the songs she knew were
sad； so she could not sing them now； she was glad； she was so free； but she
sang the notes without the words； as the cock…o…veets do。 Singing and
jumping all the way； she went back； and took a sharp stone； and cut at the
root of a kippersol； and got out a large piece； as long as her arm； and sat to
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chew it。 Two conies came out on the rock above her head and peeped at
her。 She held them out a piece； but they did not want it； and ran away。
It was very delicious to her。 Kippersol is like raw quince； when it is
very green； but she liked it。 When good food is thrown at you by other
people； strange to say； it is very bitter； but whatever you find yourself is
sweet！
When she had finished she dug out another piece； and went to look for
a pantry to put it in。 At the top of a heap of rocks up which she
clambered she found that some large stones stood apart but met at the top；
making a room。
〃Oh； this is my little home！〃 she said。
At the top and all round it was closed； only in the front it was open。
There was a beautiful shelf in the wall for the kippersol； and she
scrambled down again。 She brought a great bunch of prickly pear； and
stuck it in a crevice before the door； and hung wild asparagus over it； till it
looked as though it grew there。 No one could see that there was a room
there； for she left only a tiny opening； and hung a branch of feathery
asparagus over it。 Then she crept in to see how it looked。 There was a
glorious soft green light。 Then she went out and picked some of those
purple little ground flowersyou know themthose that keep their faces
close to the ground； but when you turn them up and look at them they are
deep blue eyes looking into yours！ She took them with a little earth； and
put them in the crevices between the rocks； and so the room was quite
furnished。 Afterwards she went down to the river and brought her arms
full of willow； and made a lovely bed； and； because the weather was very
hot； she lay down to rest upon it。
She went