reys was fortunate in having a small stream run through his
farm. He erected a dam across a hollow, so that in winter a pond of two
or three acres in extent, and fifteen or sixteen feet deep, was formed,
affording an ample supply for the summer; this was of great utility to
him, as he was thereby enabled to continue his planting operations,
filling up each hole with water when the trees were put in, and then, as
this subsided, filling in the earth; by this means the young trees got a
good start, and seldom required watering afterwards. He had a large
water-cart built for him; this was drawn by four oxen, and brought the
water to the point where the Kaffirs were engaged in planting.

Steers sufficient for two waggons had been broken in, and when these
were not employed in bringing up young trees and fencing from Newcastle
they worked upon the road between Newcastle and Pieter-Maritzburg, there
being a great demand for conveyance, as numbers of traders were going up
into the Transvaal and opening stores there. Mr Jackson had also two
waggons engaged in the same work. When trees and goods were wanted for
the farm, Dick went down with the waggons to see that these were
properly loaded, and that the young trees, which were often in leaf,
were taken out every night and set with the roots in water until the
morning.

One evening, early in October, Mr Jackson rode over with Tom.

"I have heard," the former said to Mr Humphreys, "that the government
have determined on moving the troops down to the Zulu frontier; the
attitude of Cetewayo is very threatening."

"He is a troublesome neighbour," Mr Humphreys said. "They say that he
has 30,000 fighting-men, and in that case he ought to be able to overrun
both Natal and the Transvaal, for there is no doubt that Zulus fight
with great bravery. As for the Dutch, I really can't blame the Zulus.
The Boers are always encroaching on their territory, and any
remonstrance is answered by a rifle-shot. Had it not been for our
annexation of the Transvaal, Cetewayo would have overrun it and
exterminated the Dutch before now. We have a strong force in the colony
just at present, and I think Sir Bartle Frere means to bring matters to
a crisis. The existence of such an army of warlike savages on the
frontier is a standing threat to the very existence of the colony, and
the constitution of the army renders it almost a necessity that it
should fight. All the men are soldiers, and as none