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full of willow； and made a lovely bed； and； because the weather was very
hot； she lay down to rest upon it。
She went to sleep soon； and slept long； for she was very weak。 Late
in the afternoon she was awakened by a few cold drops falling on her face。
She sat up。 A great and fierce thunderstorm had been raging； and a few
of the cool drops had fallen through the crevice in the rocks。 She pushed
the asparagus branch aside； and looked out； with her little hands folded
about her knees。 She heard the thunder rolling； and saw the red torrents
rush among the stones on their way to the river。 She heard the roar of the
river as it now rolled； angry and red； bearing away stumps and trees on its
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Dream Life and Real Life A Little African Story
muddy water。 She listened and smiled； and pressed closer to the rock
that took care of her。 She pressed the palm of her hand against it。
When you have no one to love you； you love the dumb things very much。
When the sun set； it cleared up。 Then the little girl ate some kippersol；
and lay down again to sleep。 She thought there was nothing so nice as to
sleep。 When one has had no food but kippersol juice for two days； one
doesn't feel strong。
〃It is so nice here；〃 she thought as she went to sleep； 〃I will stay here
always。〃
Afterwards the moon rose。 The sky was very clear now； there was
not a cloud anywhere； and the moon shone in through the bushes in the
door； and made a lattice…work of light on her face。 She was dreaming a
beautiful dream。 The loveliest dreams of all are dreamed when you are
hungry。 She thought she was walking in a beautiful place； holding her
father's hand； and they both had crowns on their heads； crowns of wild
asparagus。 The people whom they passed smiled and kissed her； some
gave her flowers； and some gave her food； and the sunlight was
everywhere。 She dreamed the same dream over and over； and it grew
more and more beautiful； till； suddenly； it seemed as though she were
standing quite alone。 She looked up： on one side of her was the high
precipice； on the other was the river； with the willow trees； drooping their
branches into the water； and the moonlight was over all。 Up； against the
night sky the pointed leaves of the kippersol trees were clearly marked；
and the rocks and the willow trees cast dark shadows。
In her sleep she shivered； and half awoke。
〃Ah； I am not there； I am here；〃 she said； and she crept closer to the
rock； and kissed it； and went to sleep again。
It must have been about three o'clock； for the moon had begun to sink
towards the western sky； when she woke； with a violent start。 She sat up；
and pressed her hand against her heart。
〃What can it be？ A cony must surely have run across my feet and
frightened me！〃 she said； and she turned to lie down again； but soon she
sat up。 Outside； there was the distinct sound of thorns crackling in a fire。
She crept to the door and made an opening in the branches with her
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Dream Life and Real Life A Little African Story
fingers。
A large fire was blazing in the shadow； at the foot of the rocks。 A
little Bushman sat over some burning coals that had been raked from it；
cooking meat。 Stretched on the ground was an Englishman； dressed in a
blouse； and with a heavy； sullen face。 On the stone beside him was Dirk；
the Hottentot； sharpening a bowie knife。
She held her breath。 Not a cony in all the rocks was so still。
〃They can never find me here；〃 she said； and she knelt； and listened to
every word they said。 She could hear it all。
〃You may have all the money；〃 said the Bushman； 〃but I want the cask
of brandy。 I will set the roof alight in six places； for a Dutchman burnt
my mother once alive in a hut； with three children。〃
〃You are sure there is no one else on the farm？〃 said the navvy。
〃No； I have told you till I am tired；〃 said Dirk； 〃The two Kaffirs have
gone with the son to town； and the maids have gone to a dance； there is
only the old man and the two women left。〃
〃But suppose；〃 said the navvy； 〃he should have the gun at his bedside；
and loaded！〃
〃He never has；〃 said Dirk； 〃it hangs in the passage； and the cartridges
too。 He never thought when he bought it what work it was for！ I only
wish the little white girl was there still；〃 said Dirk； 〃but she is drowned。
We traced her footmarks to the great pool that has no bottom。〃
She listened to every word； and they talked on。
Afterwards； the little Bushman； who crouched over the fire； sat up
suddenly； listening。
〃Ha！ what is that？〃 he said。
A Bushman is like a dog： his ear is so fine he knows a jackal's tread
from a wild dog's。
〃I heard nothing；〃 said the navvy。
〃I heard；〃 said the Hottentot； 〃but it was only a cony on the rocks。〃
〃No cony； no cony；〃 said the Bushman； 〃see； what is that there moving
in the shade round the point？〃
〃Nothing； you idiot！〃 said the navvy。 〃Finish your meat； we must
start now。〃
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There were two roads to the homestead。 One went along the open
plain； and was by far the shortest； but you might be seen half a mile off。
The other ran along the river bank； where there were rocks； and holes； and
willow trees to hide among。 And all down the river bank ran a little
figure。
The river was swollen by the storm full to its banks； and the willow
trees dipped their half…drowned branches into its water。 Wherever there
was a gap between them； you could see it flow； red and muddy； with the
stumps upon it。 But the little figure ran on and on； never looking； never
thinking； panting； panting！ There； where the rocks were the thickest；
there； where on the open space the moonlight shone； there； where the
prickly pears were tangled； and the rocks cast shadows； on it ran； the little
hands clinched； the little heart beating； the eyes fixed always ahead。
It was not far to run