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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 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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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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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 roc