Immediately the river caught him by the heels and pulled him under the

surface. It let him go again, just long enough to snatch air then it

stirred him in a whirlpool and sucked him under once more. He came up

beating at the water with his arms, then it tumbled him over a cascade

and he knew by the pain in his chest that he was drowning. He swooped

down a chute of swift water between rocks and it didn't matter anymore.

He was too tired. Something scraped against his chest and he put out

his hand to protect himself; his fingers closed round a branch and his

head lifted out of the water. He drank air and then he was clinging to

the branch, still alive and wanting to live. He started kicking, edging

across the current, riding the river with his arms around the log.

One of the eddies beneath the south bank swung the log in, under the

branches of a tree. He reached up, caught them and dragged himself out.

He knelt in the mud and water came gushing up out of him, half through

his mouth and half through his nose. He had lost his veldschoen. He

belched painfully looked at the river. How fast was it moving, how long

had he been in the water?

he must be fifteen miles below the wagons. He wiped his face with his

hand. It was still raining. He stood shakily and faced upstream.

It took him three hours to reach the spot opposite his wagons. Mbejane

and the others waved in wild relief when they saw him, but their shouts

could not carry across the river. Sean was cold now and his feet were

sore.

The tracks of the Leroux wagons were dissolving in the rain. He

followed them and at last the pain in his feet healed as he saw the

flash of canvas in the rain mist ahead of him. Name of a name Shouted

Jan Pall us. How did you cross the river? I flew, how else? said

Sean. Where's Katrina? Paulus started to laugh, leaning back in the

saddle. So that's it then, you haven't come all this way to say goodbye

to me. Sean flushed. All right, laughing boy.

That's enough merriment for today . . . Where is she? Oupa came

galloping back towards them. He asked his first question when he was

fifty yards away and his fifth as he arrived. From experience Sean knew

there was no point in trying to answer them. He looked beyond the two

Leroux and saw her coming. She was running back from the lead wagon,

her bonnet hanging from its ribbon around her throat and her hair

bouncing loosely with each step. She held her skirts out of the mud,

her cheeks flushed darker than the brown of her face and her eyes were

Very green. Sean ducked under the neck of Oupa's horse and went wet,

muddy and eager to meet her.

Then the shyness stopped them and they stood paces apart. Katrina, will

you marry me? She went pale. She stared at him then turned away, she

was crying and Sean felt the bottom drop out of his stomach.

No, shouted Oupa furiously. She won't marry you.

Leave her alone, you big baboon. You've made her cry.

Get out of here. She's only a baby. Get out of here. He forced his

horse between them. You hold your mouth, you old busybody. Ouma came

panting back to join the discussion. %, What do you know about it

anyway? just because she's crying doesn't mean she doesn't want him. I

thought he was going'to let me go, sobbed Katrina, I thought he didn't

care Sean whooped and tried to dodge around Oupa's horse. You leave her

alone, shouted Oupa desperately, manoeuvring his horse to cut Sean off.

You made her cry. I tell you she's crying. Katrina was-undoubtedly

crying. She was also trying to get around Oupa's horse.

Vat haar, shouted Jan Paulus. Get her, man, go and get her!

Ouma caught the horse by the reins and dragged it away: she was a

powerful woman. Sean and Katrina collided and held tight. Hey, that's

it, man, Jan Paulus jumped off his horse and pounded Sean's back from

behind. Unable to protect himself Sean was driven forward a pace with

each blow.

Much later Oupa muttered sulkily. She can have two wagons for her

dowry. Three! said Katrina.

Four! said Ouma. Very well, four. Take your hands off him, girl.

Haven't you any shame? Hastily Katrina dropped her arm from Sean's

waist. Sean had borrowed a suit of clothing from Paulus and they were

all standing round the fire. It had stopped raining but the low clouds

were prematurely bringing on the night.

And four of the horses, Ouma prompted her husband. Do you want to

beggar me, woman? Four horses, repeated Ourna. All right, all right .

. . four horses. Oupa looked at Katrina, his eyes were stricken.

She's only a baby, man she's only fifteen years. Sixteen, said Ouma.

Nearly seventeen, said Katrina, and anyway you've promised, Pa, you

can't go back on your word now.

Oupa sighed, then he looked at Sean and his face hardened. Paulus, get

the Bible out of my wagon. This big baboon is going to swear an oath.

Jan Paulus put the Bible on the tailboard of the wagon.