CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
JACK BEHAVES HIMSELF.
The necessity for providing fresh provisions took the brothers out againnext day, but there were no more herds visible, as far as their glasswould show, anywhere out upon the plain; but at last they caught sightof half-a-dozen of the graceful little springboks, and after a longgallop got close enough to try a couple of shots, which provedsuccessful; and a little buck was borne home in triumph, a portioncooked, and Dyke sat watching his brother eat that evening, till Emsonlooked up.
"Why, hullo!" he cried; "not well?"
"Oh yes, I'm quite right," replied Dyke hastily.
"Then why don't you eat?"
"Because I wanted you to make up for the past," said the boy, laughing."I'm a meal ahead of you. I had such a splendid dinner yesterday offthe eland."
Next morning, upon their visit to the ostrich-pens, Emson's facebrightened, for there was excitement among the birds, the great henhaving hatched every egg of those they had brought home in the net; andfor the next few days everything possible was done in the way offeeding, so as to help the young brood on into a state of strength.
"Oh, it's all right, Joe," said Dyke; "all we've got to do is to keep onscouring the plain and finding nests. We shall succeed after all."
"Yes, but you must scout off after some meal and coffee; we can't get onwithout those."
"And sugar."
"And sugar. What do you say to starting to-morrow?"
"I'm ready," said Dyke; and after warning Jack, and making the necessarypreparations over night, they sought their couches, and rose beforedaybreak to go and rouse up the Kaffir and his wife.
The latter soon had her fire glowing; Jack grumpily fetched water, andthen proceeded to yoke the bullocks to the wagon, after which he settleddown to his breakfast; and after feeding his stock, Emson mounted hishorse to ride a few miles with his brother, both keeping a sharp lookoutfor game; while Duke, who was of the party, kept on hunting through thehushes, and now and then starting a bird.
It was getting toward mid-day before anything was shot, and then anotherlittle springbok fell to Emson's piece, just as they reached the waterwhere they were to make their first halt.
The buck was divided, part to go back to Kopfontein and some to formpart of Dyke's provision, while another portion was cooked at once andeaten.
"There," said Emson at last, "I don't think I need say any more to you,old fellow. Jack knows the way well enough. Set him to drive thebullocks, and you ride beside and drive him. Keep a tight rein, and ifhe shows his teeth and isn't obedient, tell him you'll shoot him, andtake aim at once, or he won't believe you."
"Rather sharp practice, Joe, isn't it?"
"Not with a man like that. He'll be ready to play upon you in everyway, and you must let him see that you do not mean to be imposed upon.Sounds harsh, but I know Master Jack by heart."
"You do think he'll take me straight to all the water?"
"I haven't a doubt about it, old fellow," said Emson, smiling. "Jackisn't an ostrich, and must drink at least once a day, so you need not benervous about that.--There," he continued, mounting; "I must be off.Good-bye."
"Not yet; I'm going to ride a little way back with you," cried Dyke.
"No, you are not, lad. Rest yourself and your horse.--Here! Hi!Jack!"
The Kaffir came from under the wagon, grinning.
"Drive your bullocks carefully, and bring them back in good condition."
The man smiled and showed his teeth.
"That's right. Go along and have your sleep."
The Kaffir went back and crept under the wagon, and Emson clasped hisbrother's hand.
"Take your time, but don't lose any, old fellow," he said; "for I shallbe glad to see you back. Take care of yourself. I wish I were goingwith you, but I can't. There, you are man enough to manage everything,so good-bye."
He urged his horse forward and went back swiftly along the trail, hisnag cantering steadily along one of the broad ruts made by the wagonwheels in the sand, while Dyke went and seated himself just under thewagon-tilt, and watched him till he was out of view.
"Six days and nights at the least," said Dyke to himself with a sigh,"and perhaps a fortnight, before I get back. Never mind; every day willbe one less, and I don't suppose I shall mind its being lonely, afterall. Duke's good company, and so is Breezy, without counting Jack, andit isn't so very bad after all to go riding through the country withone's own tent on wheels. Why, some fellows at home would be mad withjoy to get such a chance. Ah, look at that. Why, if I'd been ready, Imight have got a couple of Guinea-fowl for the larder."
For a flock of the curious speckled birds came and settled amongst thebushes on the other side of the water pool, but catching sight ofvisitors, went off with a tremendous outcry.
"Don't matter," said Dyke; "there's plenty of the buck."
The sun was sinking low in the west, as after a long, toilsome journeyfrom the last water, Dyke, with the great whip held aloft like a largefishing-rod and line, sat on the wagon-box shouting to the weary oxenfrom time to time. He was apparently quite alone, save that Breezy wastethered by a long leathern rein to the back of the wagon. There was noKaffir Jack, no Duke; and the boy, as he sat driving, looked weary, wornout, and disconsolate.
For days past he had been upon a faintly-marked track leadingsouth-west--a track in which hoof-marks and the traces of wagon wheelshaving passed that way were faintly to be seen, quite sufficient to showhim that he was on the right track for civilisation in some form, and hefelt pretty certain that sooner or later he would reach OomMorgenstern's store and farm.
But it had been a terrible task that managing of the team alone, andurging the sluggish animals to drag the wagon when they reached heavypatches of sand. Then, too, there was the outspanning--the unyoking theoften vicious animals from the dissel-boom or wagon pole and trek chain,when he halted by water, and let them drink and feed. Then theinspanning, the yoking up of the oxen again, and the start once more.
That huge whip, too, had been such a clumsy thing to handle, but highlynecessary, for without it he would never have reached the end of hisjourney. Then at night there had been the same outspanning to see to;the feeding of the bullocks; the collection of wood and lighting of asbig a fire as he could contrive, to cook his food, boil his coffee, and,finally, make up to scare off wild beasts. In addition to this, a thornprotection ought to have been made to keep off danger from Breezy, butthat was impossible; and hour after hour Dyke had sat in the darkness,where the cob's rein was made fast to the wagon tail, and, gun in hand,had watched over the trembling beast, keeping him company when thedistant roaring of lions was heard on the veldt, and the bullocks grewuneasy.
Little sleep fell to Dyke's lot by night; but in the daytime, when thebullocks were going steadily along the track, which they followedwillingly enough for the most part, the boy's head would sink down uponhis breast, and he would snatch a few minutes' rest, often enough tostart up and find the wagon at a standstill, and the bullocks croppingsome patch of grass or the tender shoots of a clump of bushes.
Then on again, with at times the great whip exchanged for the gun, andsome bird or another laid low, so as to find him in extra provisions bythe way. Once, too, he managed to hit a little buck.
A long, doleful, and weary journey, without meeting a soul, or beingpassed. On and on, over the never-ending plain, often despairing, andwith the oxen groaning, empty as the wagon was, for the sun flashed andwas reflected up with blinding force, and there were moments when Dykegrew giddy, and felt as if he must break down.
But those were only moments. He set his teeth again, and trudged on orrode, thinking of Joe waiting patiently away there in the lonely,corrugated iron building, tending the ostriches, and feeling in perfectconfidence that the journey would be achieved, and the necessary storesbrought back.
There were moments, though, when Dyke brightened up, and told himselfthat he would do it if he tried till to-morrow morning
; and at suchtimes he laughed--or rather tried to laugh--for it was rather a painfulprocess, his face being sore and the skin ready to peel away.
But at last, after escaping danger after danger by a hair's-breadth, thegreat weariness of the almost interminable journey was coming to an end,for, far away in the distance, there was a building visible through theclear air. He could see a broad stretch of green, too, lookingdelightful with waving trees, after the arid wilderness through which hehad passed; and now, in spite of his great fatigue, Dyke plucked upcourage, for the building must be Oom Morgenstern's farm, and in an houror so the traveller felt that the first part of his journey was at anend.
Once or twice a feeling of doubt troubled him, but that soon passed off,for reason told him that he could not be wrong--this must be the pointfor which he had been aiming.
The bullocks began to move more briskly now, for they could see greenpasture in the far distance, and there was a moister feeling in the air,suggestive of water not far away.
So Dyke's task grew lighter, and an hour or so later he could see a big,heavy, grey man standing outside an untidy-looking building, litteredabout with cask and case, and who saluted him as he halted his team:
"Ach! das is goot. How you vas, mein bube?"
"Here, I say," cried Dyke, as the big German shook hands with him, "whoare you calling a booby, Uncle Morgenstern?"
"Hey? You vas bube. Not gall yourself mans, long time ago to gom.Bube ist poy, goot poy. Zo you gom vrom Kopfontein all py youzelf topuy mealies and dea, and goffee and sugars?"
"Well, not quite all alone; I've got our Kaffir with me."
"Ach! ten: why you not make him drive die pullock? Lazy tog!"
"He's in the wagon, bad. I've had to drive the bullocks, and inspan andoutspan all by myself."
"Ach! wonterful! All py youself. Goot poy. Ant you are hot, und sehrdursty."
"Oh yes, horribly thirsty."
"Goot! Die Frau shall make you zom of mein beaudiful goffees. Das isgood vor dursdy.--Hi!" he shouted; and a couple of Kaffir boys came frombehind a rough shed, to whom he gave instructions to outspan the oxenand drive them to the abundant pasture by the river side.
"Goot! Now led me see der pad mensch. Zo you haf put you Kaffir in youwagon, and give him a pig ride."
"Yes; I thought he was going to die."
"Zo? Ah! zom beebles would haf left him oonter a dree, und zay do him:`Mein vrient, you had petter make youself guite well as zoon as you gan.I muss nicht shtop. Goot-bye.' But you did bring him in dem wagon,hey?"
"Oh yes: I could not leave him."
"You are a goot poy, my young vrient. And how is der big bruder?"
"Quite well," said Dyke, looking uneasy as the big, frank-faced, fat,German Boer questioned him.
"Why did he not gom too? I like den big bruder."
"Too busy minding the young ostriches."
"Ach zo! Of goorse. Ant you make blenty of money--you gut off dervedders, and zend dem to der Gape?"
"Oh no. We're doing very badly: the young birds die so fast."
"Zo? Das ist sehr, very bad. You had petter zell mealie und gorn, unddea und sugars. It ist mooch petters as neffer vas, and you not haf togom five, zigs, zeven days to me. Now let us zee den Kaffirs."
The old man had approached the back of the wagon as he spoke, and nowdrew the canvas aside, to be greeted by a low growl which made him startback.
"Tunder!" he cried. "Der Kaffir tog is gone mad!"
"No, no; that is our dog Duke."
"Ah! Und is he pad too?"
"Yes: a leopard came and seized him one night and carried him off fromunder the wagon; but I ran out and fired, and I suppose I hit the beast,for there was a lot of snarling and Duke got away; but I thought hewould have died."
"Ach! boor togs den. What you do to him?"
"Bathed the places with water."
"Goot!"
"And he licked the wounds himself."
"Besser."
"And curled himself up, and went to sleep."
"Das vas der best of all, mein young vrient. Aha! Goot tog, den. Youlet me zee how you vas pad. I am your master's vrient; das ist zo."
He advanced his hand to where Duke lay just inside the canvas, and thedog gave the skin on which he lay two thumps with his tail.
"Das ist goot," said the old German trader. "Ach! yaas; you haf beenpite on dem pack, und scratch, scratch along bofe your zides; boot youare a prave tog, and zoon be guite well again."
Duke's tail performed quite a fantasia now, and he uttered a low whineand licked at the great, fat, friendly hand which patted his head.
"Und now vere is der poy?"
"Get into the wagon," said Dyke; and the German climbed in, followed byDyke, and stooped down over the figure of Kaffir Jack, who lay on ablanket, with his head toward the front part of the wagon, through whichopening the evening light still streamed.
The Kaffir's head was tied-up with a bandage formed of the sleeve of ashirt cut off at the shoulder, split up lengthwise at the seams, tiedtogether so as to make it long enough, and this was stained with blood,evidently days old.
The Boer gazed down at the Kaffir, and Jack gazed up at him, screwing uphis face in the most piteous fashion.
This scrutiny on both sides went on for some time in a silence which wasat last broken by the Kaffir uttering a dismal groan which went right toDyke's heart.
"Ah," said the trader softly, "boor vellow! How you vas?"
Jack uttered a more dismal groan than before.
"Ah, vas it den? Boor mans! you zeem as bad as neffer can be. Youdoomble off dem vagon, und dread on your vace like dot?"
"Oh!" groaned Jack. "Baas killum."
"Did he den. Der baas kill der boor vellow dead?" Then suddenlychanging his tone from one full of soft sympathy to a burst of fierceanger, he roared out: "Dunder und lightning! You get oot of dis, youoogly black, idle tog. You got sore head, und lazy as big bullock. Outyou vas!"
He accompanied the fierce words with a sharp kick, and Jack bounded upand sprang clear over the wagon-box, to stand out on the trampledground, staring wildly.
"Ah, you vait till I gom und get das 'noceros whip, und make you tance,you lazy tog. You go take den pferd to water, or you haf no zopperto-night. Roon!"
Dyke stood staring at the change that had come over the Kaffir, who ranto where the horse was tied, unfastened the rein, and led him offwithout a word.
The old trader chuckled.
"I know whad is der madder mit dose poy. He is guide well as neffervas, und lie und shleep and say he gannod vork a leedle pid. How gamehe do domble und gut den kopf?"
Dyke coloured.
"He did not tumble," said the boy. "I hit him."
"Zo? Mit dem shdick?"
"No," faltered Dyke; "with the barrel of my gun."
"Ach! das ist not goot. You mide break den gun. Der whip handle is derbess. Why you vas hit him on dem het?"
"He would not see to the bullocks. Almost directly after we hadstarted--I mean the next day--he got at the meat and ate all there was."
"Ach! yas. He look as if he had den gros shdomach. And zo he eat himall?"
"Yes; everything."
"Und what den?"
"Then he went to sleep and wasted a whole day, and I had to doeverything, and cut wood for the fire, and watch to keep off the wildbeasts."
"Ach! boor vellow! he vas shleepy, after eat himself so vull."
"Yes."
"Und der next day?"
"The next day he said it was too soon to start, and that I must go andshoot something for him to eat, while he kept up a good fire."
"Zo? He is a glever vellow," said the Boer, nodding his head, and withhis eyes twinkling. "Und did you go and shoot zom more meat vor denboor poy?"
"No. I told him he must get up, and help to get the wagon along."
"Und he said he vould not move?"
"Yes," said Dyke; "and at last I got angry, and kicked him to
make himget up and work."
"Ah zo; und what den?"
"He jumped up, and threatened to spear me with his assegai."
"Zo; und what den?"
"I hit him over the head with the gun barrel, and he fell down, and hasnot been up since. I was afraid I had killed him, for he lay with hiseyes shut."
"Und you goot oop your shirt to die oop his het, und you veed him, unddrink him, und waid upon him effer since as neffer vas."
"Yes; I've had to do everything," said Dyke sadly; "but I ought not tohave hit him so hard."
"Vot? My goot younger vrient, you should, und hit him more hart as dot.A lazy, pad tog. He is a cheating rascal. A man is neffer bad when helook guide well as dot. I know dot sort o' poy, und he shall pe ferrysorry when he go pack, or I keep him here. Now you gom und wash, andmeine alt voman shall give you blendy do eat und drink, und den youshall haf a creat big shlafen, und wake oop do-morrow morning as guidewell as neffer vas. Gom along. Und zo die ozdridge birds go todt?"
"Go how?" said Dyke wonderingly.
"Todt, dead--vall ashleep, and neffer wake oop no more. Ah, vell, I amzorry for den pig bruder. He ist a ver goot mans. He bay for all hepuy at mein shdore, und dot is vot die oder beobles do not alvays do.--Frau," he continued, as they entered the homely and rather untidy butscrupulously clean house, "dis ist mein younger vrient: you dake him undwash him, und make him a pig evening's eating, vor he has gom a long waydo zee us, und he will shday as long as he like."
Frau Morgenstern, a big, fat woman, greeted him warmly, and confined herwashing to giving him a tin bucket, a lump of coarse yellow soap, and apiece of canvas perfectly clean, but coarse enough to make a sack.
That bucket of water was delicious, and so was the hearty meal whichfollowed, and after being assured by the hearty old German that thecattle were properly tended, and seeing to Breezy himself--an act whichbrought the old trader's fat hand down upon his back with "Goot poy:alvays dake gare of your goot horse youzelf,"--the house was re-entered,the door shut, and the host stood up, closed his eyes, and said a prayerin his native tongue, ending by blessing Dyke in true patriarchalfashion.
That night Dyke slept as he had not slept for weeks, and woke up thenext morning wondering that he could feel so fresh and well, andexpecting to see Kaffir Jack at the other end of the wagon, curled up ina blanket; but though the dog was in his old quarters, Jack was absent,and Dyke supposed that he was asleep beneath.