e of outdoor
exercise strengthened and improved him, and he no longer wished to be
always sitting with a book in his hand--still, he had a natural love of
study, which his father encouraged, deeming it possible that as he grew
up he might be unwilling to embrace the life of a colonist, in which
case he determined to send him home to finish his education in England,
and afterwards to start him in any profession he might select.

Finding that the cost of carriage up the country was very high, and as
he would yearly require many waggon-loads of young trees and fencing Mr
Humphreys determined to do his own teaming; he therefore bought two of
the large country-waggons and set a Kaffir to work to break in some
young steers to the yoke.

Six months after their arrival in the colony they had for the first time
visitors to stay at the farm--Mr Jackson, his wife, his son Tom, and
two daughters coming out to settle near them. This was a great delight
to the boys, and fortunately Mr Jackson was able to buy a farm of 500
acres adjoining that of his friend; the house, however, was but a cabin,
and while a fresh one was being erected the family remained guests of
the Humphreys. Mr Jackson had, at his friend's advice, brought with
him from England a labourer with his wife and family, who at once took
up their residence in the hut on the farm.

To Dick the coming of the Jacksons was a source of special pleasure.
Tom was just his own age, and the two boys had become inseparable
friends at home after their adventure in the snow, upon which occasion
Tom, as he freely owned, had owed his life to Dick's energy and
promptness of suggestion. Dick was fond of his brother, but three years
make a great difference at this period of life, and, as their tastes
were wholly dissimilar, John had never been a companion for him. Since
their arrival in South Africa they had got on very well together; still,
they had not the same ideas or subjects of thought, and it was an
immense delight to Dick to have his old friend and companion with him.

It must not be supposed that Dick's time was occupied solely in
amusement; from early morning until dinner-time he worked steadily.
Sometimes he assisted to erect the hurdles and strain the wires of the
fencing; at others he aided in the planting of the fruit-trees; then he
would be with the Kaffirs who were breaking in the oxen for the waggons.
At all times he took off his coat and worked with the rest, for,