Koos bent forward until his dry lips almost touched Nathan’s ear, and whispered—
“What has happened? Tell me quickly.”
Nathan drew back slightly and let the ghost of a mocking smile flit over his features.
“Oh, I got home all right, thanks. But what brings you here?”
The Boer leant forward across the table and grasped the Jew’s wizened shoulder in his enormous hand. Nathan shuddered convulsively under the pressure; he thought his bones were being crushed. The eyes of Koos seemed to shoot forth dusky flames.
“Tell me quickly,” he said.
“All right,” said Nathan, trying hard to wrench himself free, and feeling, at the same time, that it might be dangerous to take liberties with the man before him, “I’ll tell you, unless you break my blooming back first of all. You kicked a little too hard, Koos; the old nigger is dead.”
The visage of Koos became frightful. He gasped for breath and a low gurgle came from his throat. He sat silent for a few moments with his eyes fixed upon Nathan’s in a burning stare. Then he said in a strained, hoarse voice—
“Tell me more. Tell me all about it.”
“That’s all I know about it myself.”