, stock, and barrel. Well, now we'll go round
and attend to biz, and see to our loads, for we'll have to start
to-morrow night. I'd have trekked to-night, but that two of my oxen are
not quite the thing, and I had to send out to one of the locations for
two more."

And having paid the score, Dawes led the way out, nodding here and there
to an acquaintance at the crowded tables as he went, while Gerard,
walking on air, could hardly believe in his good luck. He had entered
that room despondent and almost a beggar; he left it with a friend, and
in possession of the most congenial and delightful form of occupation he
could have desired in his wildest dreams.

CHAPTER NINE.

UP.

The time intervening having been spent in getting together the loads,
and otherwise seeing that everything was in order for the road--wheels
greased, waggons overhauled, all necessary supplies for the trip got
safely on board--by the following evening they were ready to start.

The said loads consisted of every conceivable kind of object of barter
then in favour among the up-country natives--blankets and Salampore
cloth, knives and hatchets, tobacco and snuff, beads and umbrellas of
wondrous colours, brass wire for bangles, brass buttons and striped
handkerchiefs, looking-glasses and musical instruments, and a score of
other "notions." For their own use and that of their native servants
they carried sacks of mealie-flour, coffee and sugar, a tin of biscuits
or so, and two or three sides of bacon sewn up in canvas, with a few
tins of preserved fruit, and ditto vegetables.

Each waggon was drawn by a full span of sixteen oxen, which were
engineered by a leader and driver to the span, both natives. The
waggons and their fittings were similar to that which brought Gerard up
from the coast, one of them, indeed, being the same vehicle. The load
took up nearly the whole available space, just leaving room for a small
tilt, which contained a mattress for sleeping on, also lockers, and
canvas pockets hung round the sides. Altogether it is wonderful what a
lot can be stowed away on board these ships of the _veldt_.

One of the waggons had been loaded up in the morning and sent on to the
outspan; the other was ready by sundown. As they went lumbering down
the street, the oxen fresh and rested, stepping out briskly to the shout
of the driver and the occasional crack of his long whip, Gerard, seated
beside Dawes on the box, felt quite elated a