property, the "Rustenburg House Farm,"consisting of some 300 morgens [about 600 acres] of carefully cultivatedland and vineyards, with a substantial dwelling-house and farmbuildings; the whole being screened from the highroad by plantations ofwell-grown trees. The Major also held 60 morgens of coarsegrazing-land, with a cottage and stables, two miles away on the "veldt"to the north-east of Rondebosch.
So you see the Major's commission-money had been well invested; the moreso, because--thanks to good management and untiring industry--the farmhad greatly increased in value since he took possession of it.
One warm evening, some few weeks after the _Surat Castle_ anchored inTable Bay, Major and Mrs Flinders, with Tom, his two sisters, and theirguests the Westons, were seated on the "stoep" of Rustenburg House; theladies busily engaged in mending a pair of canvas saddle-bags, whilstthe Major, Mr Weston, and the two boys occupied themselves cleaning andoiling a couple of sporting rifles and a double-barrelled "Joe Manton"--which latter weapon Tom had brought out from England.
When Major Flinders heard of the misfortunes that had befallen MrWeston he offered to assist him in any way that lay in his power--eitherby using his influence with the Governor to obtain for him some suitableappointment in Cape Colony, or by rendering him pecuniary aid. At thesame time the Major pressed his friend to join him in farming atRondebosch, rather than seek government employment, or continue hisseafaring life.
Mrs Flinders warmly seconded her husband's proposition, pointing outthat Rustenburg House was quite big enough to accommodate the twofamilies, and declaring--with most unmistakable sincerity--how much itwould please her to have Gracie Weston as a companion for her own girls,Ella and Maud.
"They can be educated together, Mr Weston," said the good lady, "andthat, you know, will be a mutual advantage."
After a little consideration Weston thankfully accepted this offer, anddecided to settle down at the Cape, and join his fortunes to those ofhis quondam school-fellow. The _Sea-mew_ was insured for 1500 pounds(about one-third her value) and Mr Weston had 500 pounds in his Londonbanker's hands; and the Major introduced him to a lawyer, who consentedto advance him 250 pounds on his policy, and promised to take thenecessary steps to secure the whole sum for which the ill-fated barquehad been insured. So Mr Weston did not come into the "firm" quiteempty-handed.
"By the way, my dear Mat," said Mr Weston as he proceeded to take thelock of one of the rifles to pieces, "we have been so engaged withlawyer Rutherhorn that we have forgotten all about that trip up countryyou were talking of the week before last. Suppose you tell us aboutit."
"Oh, I had not forgotten it," rejoined the Major; "indeed Kate and Iwere going over the `pros and cons' this morning, and we came to theconclusion that--"
"What?" cried Tom eagerly, laying down the barrel he was cleaning.
"That Rugby hadn't cured our son and heir of his impatience andimpetuosity," laughed Mrs Flinders, rising from her seat. "Come along,girls, we will leave the gentlemen to talk over this important projectby themselves. There are your saddle-bags, Tom; but if your fathertakes you with him, you must have a new pair; these have seen their bestdays."
"Now, Maurice," said Major Flinders as soon as the ladies haddisappeared into the house, "I will give you an idea of my plans, andsee what you think of them. To begin with, I must tell you that an oldbrother officer of mine, Donald Jamieson, has gone in for breedinghorses at his farm up country, 180 miles north-east of Mossel Bay. Hehas been exceptionally lucky, for it so happens that the district inwhich he has settled is wonderfully free from the fatal`horse-sickness;' and that pest of the country the `tsetse' is almostunknown there."
"What is the `tsetse,' Major Flinders?" inquired George Weston, who wasa lad with a thirst for knowledge of any description.
"A most intolerable nuisance, George," replied the Major; "in the shapeof a small, brownish-yellow fly, which attacks horses and cattle, toooften causing their death; for the bite of this insect producesblood-poisoning, and that generally proves fatal. Oddly enough humanbeings rarely suffer any ill effects from the bite."
"Jot that down, Geordie," laughed Tom.
"I think I will," quietly observed his friend, suiting the action to theword.
"Quite right, my boy," said Major Flinders, with an approving nod; "pickup information whenever you can; you never can tell when it may notprove useful. But to proceed! Just now horses are very dear in theseparts, and high prices are being offered in Cape Town even for unbrokencolts and fillies. I heard some time ago from Jamieson that he hadseveral young horses to dispose of, so I thought we might combinebusiness and pleasure."
"Good!" assented his friend.
"Jamieson mentioned in his letter," continued the Major, "that he wantedtwo good Cape-carts and four sets of double-harness from Muter in BergeStreet, besides a host of other things which are not to be had for loveor money in his parts; and I propose, therefore, to purchase all herequires in Cape Town, go round by sea to Mossel Bay, and from thence`trek' up country to Ralfontein, where he lives. If Jamieson has anysuitable horses we can take them off his hands and bring them down toCape Town; when the price we shall get for them will cover all ourexpenses, and leave a good profit into the bargain. As for sport, weshall have our fill of it; altogether the trip, at this season of theyear, should prove most enjoyable. Now, what say you?"
"Capital! excellent, my dear Mat!" exclaimed Mr Weston. "When do youpropose to start, and who are to form the party?"
"Well," the Major answered, "I saw Muter yesterday, and he has threecarts all but finished. By putting on extra hands--which he is quitewilling to do--two can be got ready for shipment in a week from this,and the sets of harness will be ready at the same time. Now, old VanRyn's schooner, the _Knysna_, makes two trips to Mossel Bay every month,and I see that she is advertised to sail on Saturday week; so we mighttake our passage in her, and that will give us ample time to prepare forthe journey."
"Very good," assented Mr Weston. "And who are to go?"
"Why, there will be you and I, the two boys, and Patrick Keown, andBlack William; six all told--a number sufficient to bring down a scoreof horses, and to hold our own should any roving bands of Caffres orBosjesmans venture to attack us, which is not very probable."
"How do you propose to travel back, father?" asked Tom, who was highlyexcited at the prospect of the trip.
"Ride, my boy; ride the whole distance from Ralfontein, and let theled-horses carry our baggage. I shall take a dozen pack-saddles withus, for Jamieson is certain to have at least twenty horses to disposeof."
And after some further discussion, in which Mrs Flinders was invited totake part, the Major's proposals were carried "nem con."
CHAPTER SEVEN.
THE START FROM MOSSEL BAY--ON "TREK"--OUTSPANNED--ROUND THE CAMP FIRE.
"The carts are all corrict, sorr, and ready for the line of march,"reported Mr Patrick Keown, whilom a troop sergeant-major in the "CapeMounted Riflemen," but now his former captain's major-domo,master-of-the-horse, and general factotum. "And, sorr," he went on,bringing his dexter hand down from the salute, and assuming a lesspoker-like attitude and a more confidential manner, "the mules we'vehired from the postmaster here, seem loikely to suit us--that's to say,fairly well. They're good animals, sorr, barrin' the off-leader of thesecond team, and he's a terrible kicker, and did his best to break BlackWilliam's leg just now. And thin, sorr, there is another that's a bitcontrary in harness--but shure now, that's no matther; we'll soon breakthe baste in! I'll lay me quarter's pinsion that they'll have larnedbetther manners before we outspan this evening."
"No doubt of it, Patrick," rejoined Major Flinders, who was standing onthe stoep of the hotel, with his long bamboo whip in hand, listening tothe ex-sergeant's report. "No doubt of it," said he as soon as he couldedge in a word; "we shall manage them all right! But it's quite time wewere on the road, for we ought to cover forty miles before sundown. Nowthen, Maurice! Come along, my boys; hurry up!"
The Major and his par
ty had landed the previous morning at Mossel Bay,with all their goods and chattels; and now in front of a longone-storied building, dignified by the name of "Moorhead's Royal Starand Garter Hotel," two well-built white canvas tilted Cape-carts, freshfrom the hands of Mr Muter of Berge Street, were drawn up, each being_horsed_ by a team of six mules hired from the postmaster of thedistrict.
One cart was packed with a variety of useful articles--from a saddle toa screw-driver--ordered by Captain Jamieson from the Cape Townstorekeepers; whilst in the other cart the Major and his