Between Snow and Fire — page 214: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

—_. ta .. ; CHAPTER XXXIII. “‘l WALK IN SHADOW.” EANSWYTH was back again in her old home—living her old life, as in the times that were past—but alone. When she had announced her intention of returning to Anta’s Kloof, her friends had received the proposition with incredulity—when they saw that she was determined, with dismay. It was stark lunacy, they declared. She to go to live on an out-of-the-way farm, alone! There was not even a neighbour for pretty near a score of miles, all the surround- ing stock-farmers having trekked into /aager. The Gaikas were reported more restless than ever, nor were symptoms wanting that they were on the eve of an outbreak. The Gcealéka campaign had fired their warlike spirits, but had failed to convey its accompanying warning, and those “in the know’”’ asserted that the savages might rise any minute and make common cause with their countrymen across the Kei. And in the face of all this, here was Eanswyth pro- posing to establish herself on a lonely farm bordering on the very location of the plotting and disaffected tribesmen. Why, it was lunacy—rank suicide! The worst of it was that nobody on earth had the power to prevent her from doing as she chose. Her own family were Western Province people and lived far up in the Karroo. Had they been ever so willing, it would take them nearly three weeks to arrive—by which time it might be too late. But Eanswyth did not choose to send for any one. She wanted to be alone. “You need not be in the least alarmed on my account,” she had said to the Hostes in answer to their reiterated ex- postulations. “Even if the Gaikas should rise, I don’t believe they would do me the slightest harm. The people on Nteya’s location know me well, and the old chief and I used to be great friends. I feel as if I must go to my 206 Gomichboo S) (E(o) |