“Rather a strange one, Baas, for a man who is about to go into battle.  I dreamed that I was in a large place that was full of quiet.  It was light there, but I could not see any sun or moon, and the air was very soft and tasted like food and drink, so much so, Baas, that if anyone had offered me a cup quite full of the best ‘Cape smoke’ I should have told him to take it away.  Then, Baas, suddenly I saw your reverend father, the Predikant, standing beside me and looking just as he used to look, only younger and stronger and very happy, and so of course knew at once that I was dead and in hell.  Only I wondered where the fire that does not go out might be, for I could not see it.  Presently your reverend father said to me:  ’Good day, Hans.  So you have come here at last.  Now tell me, how has it gone with my son, the Baas Allan?  Have you looked after him as I told you to do?’

“I answered:  ’I have looked after him as well as I could, O reverend sir.  Little enough have I done; still, not once or twice or three times only have I offered up my life for him as was my duty, and yet we both have lived.’  And that I might be sure he heard the best of me, as was but natural, I told him the times, Baas, making a big story out of small things, although all the while I could see that he knew exactly just where I began to lie and just where I stopped from lying.  Still he did not scold me, Baas; indeed, when I had finished, he said: 

“‘Well done, O good and faithful servant,’ words that I think I have heard him use before when he was alive, Baas, and used to preach to us for such a long time on Sunday afternoons.  Then he asked:  ’And how goes it with Baas Allan, my son, now, Hans?’ to which I replied: 

“’The Baas Allan is going to fight a very great battle in which he may well fall, and if I could feel sorry here, which I can’t, I should weep, O reverend sir, because I have died before that battle began and therefore cannot stand at his side in the battle and be killed for him as a servant should for his master!’

“‘You will stand at his side in the battle,’ said your [missing line in printed version—­JB] do as it is fitting that you should.  And afterwards, Hans, you will make report to me of how the battle went and of what honour my son has won therein.  Moreover, know this, Hans, that though while you live in the world you seem to see many other things, they are but dreams, since in all the world there is but one real thing, and its name is Love, which if it be but strong enough, the stars themselves must obey, for it is the king of every one of them, and all who dwell in them worship it day and night under many names for ever and for ever, Amen.’

“What he meant by that I am sure I don’t know, Baas, seeing that I have never thought much of women, at least not for many years since my last old vrouw went and drank herself to death after lying in her sleep on the baby which I loved much better than I did her, Baas.