"Oh! if only I could have more faith, all these troubles come upon me from
a lack of faith, and through that I am continually tempted. I think I will
run after her and go, too. No, there is Janey calling me, I cannot leave
her alone. The Lord will protect her, but I need not mention to Janey that
she has gone, unless she asks me outright. She will be quite safe, the
storm will not break to-night."



CHAPTER II

THE BOY


The river towards which Rachel headed, one of the mouths of the Umtavuna,
was much further off than it looked; it was, indeed, not less than a mile
and a half away. She had said that she feared nothing, and it was true,
for extraordinary courage was one of this child's characteristics. She
could scarcely ever remember having felt afraid--for herself, except
sometimes of her father when he grew angry--or was it mad that he
grew?--and raged at her, threatening her with punishment in another world
in reward for her childish sins. Even then the sensation did not last
long, because she could not believe in that punishment which he so vividly
imagined. So it came about that now she had no fear when there was so much
cause.

For this place was lonely; not a living creature could be seen. Moreover,
a dreadful hush brooded on the face of earth, and in the sky above; only
far away over the mountains the lightning flickered incessantly, as though
a monster in the skies were licking their precipices and pinnacles with a