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Orpin referred to two of the settlers whose careers in South Africa were destined to be cut short on the threshold. The two men had been earnestly religious, but, like all the rest of Adam's fallen race, were troubled with the effects of original sin. They had disputed hotly, and had ultimately quarrelled, on religious subjects on the voyage out.
He was not very communicative, however, and when the two parted he declined to make any more satisfactory promise than that he would continue to "tink." Stephen Orpin spent the night alone in a tree, up which he had climbed to be more secure from wild beasts. Sitting there, he meditated much, and came to the conclusion that he ought in future to devote himself entirely to missionary labours.
"That depends," returned Orpin, "on how you treat me! Perhaps I may manage to find my work nearer home than I did in days gone by. At all events I'll not go into Kafirland just now, for it's likely to remain in an unsettled state for many a day. It has been a sad and useless war, and has cost us a heavy price.
I think we might do worse than go lend the niggers a helping hand till we've made inquiries about the lad." Lucas Van Dyk echoed this sentiment, and so did Stephen Orpin, but there were others who thought it best to let the niggers fight their own battles.
The chief looked surprised, but, on hearing the whole of Orpin's story, a cunning look twinkled in his eyes, and he professed great friendship for the missionaries, stating at the same time that he was going to one of the Wesleyan stations, and would be glad to escort Orpin thither.
With a loud roar, very unlike his usual gentle tones, Orpin sprang forward, seized a thick piece of wood like a four-foot rolling-pin, and therewith felled the savage, who tumbled headlong into the enclosure. "Oh, father!" exclaimed a terrified voice at that moment, while a light touch was laid on Conrad's shoulder. "What brings you here, Bertha?" said Conrad, with an impatient gesture.
The opening of trade with the Kafirs had added materially to the prosperity of the traders, and those assembled at Fort Wilshire represented all the different classes. Among the crowds who encamped under the fort guns, Stephen Orpin, the Wesleyan, represented those who stood on the first round of the mercantile ladder.
Yes, there is. `Sin shall not have dominion over you, are the words of Him who also said, `Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "Stephen Orpin," cried a sturdy sinner, in whose ears these words were preached, "do you know all that to be true? Can you speak from experience of this deliverance, this rest?"
He shrank back into the shelter of the jungle while the trader awaited the coming up of the waggon. "Aha, here you are, Orpin not kept you waiting long, I hope?" said John Skyd as he followed his waggon into the glade. "Not long," answered the trader; "but we must make the most of our time now, for the day is far spent." "It is, but I could not manage to get away sooner.
"Come with me," said Orpin to a newly made Dutch friend; "I'm told you understand Kafir, and I want you to interpret for me. Will you?" The Dutchman said "Ja," and went, for Orpin had a persuasive tongue and pleasant manner which induced all sorts of men to aid him.
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