The Author hopes that the reader may find some historical interest in
the tale set out in these pages of the massacre of the Boer general,
Retief, and his companions at the hands of the Zulu king, Dingaan. Save
for some added circumstances, he believes it to be accurate in its
details.

The same may be said of the account given of the hideous sufferings of
the trek-Boers who wandered into the fever veld, there to perish in the
neighbourhood of Delagoa Bay. Of these sufferings, especially those
that were endured by Triechard and his companions, a few brief
contemporary records still exist, buried in scarce works of reference.
It may be mentioned, also, that it was a common belief among the Boers
of that generation that the cruel death of Retief and his companions,
and other misfortunes which befell them, were due to the treacherous
plottings of an Englishman, or of Englishmen, with the despot, Dingaan.



EDITOR'S NOTE





The following extract explains how the manuscript of "Marie," and with
it some others, one of which is named "Child of Storm," came into the
hands of the Editor.

It is from a letter, dated January 17th, 1909, and written by Mr. George