ery useful to us though not very ornamental,"
said the doctor.

"No, sir," said Dean, "I believe that the oxen would take fright at
him."

"Use is second nature, Dean," said Mark.

"What do you think little Dan said about him just now?" said Dean.

"Can't say, of course," said his uncle. "What did he say?"

"That he was all shadow and flam."

"Yes," cried Mark; "and Buck Denham compared him to a human skeleton on
stilts. I don't like him; but I suppose we shall get used to him in
time."

"Tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated Sir James. "Don't trifle, boys; this is a
serious matter. Here, Mark, go and tell Buck Denham that I want to
speak to him."

The man came up, looking very serious, and shaking his head.

"Very sorry, sir," he said, before Sir James could speak, "but I have
just been having it over with that other little black, and he tells me
that his mate came to him after the scare about the lion, and said he
would not go any further, and went off at once."

"Oh," said Sir James. "Well, this is your business, doctor. I said I
wouldn't interfere. You are captain. You had better tell Denham what
we have been talking about."

"Yes. Look here, my man; we have come to the conclusion that this
fellow would be very useful with the ponies."

"Yes, sir?"

"And I want to ask you whether you think he could take the foreloper's
place as well?"

"Well, sir," said the man, with a grim smile, "he doesn't look much like
one, certainly, and I don't believe he knows anything about it."

"But couldn't you train him?"

"Oh, yes, I could train him, sir. I don't think the beasts would take
to him all at once, but it seems to me the queshtun is would he do it?"

"I shall make that the condition as to his staying," said the doctor
firmly.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

IN MID-VELDT.

"I know what I shall do," said Dean, as they prepared for their morning
start, during which he had been thoughtfully watching the helpful way in
which their new attendant loaded the ponies, over which he seemed to
have the most perfect command.

"Well, what shall you do?" said his cousin.

"Learn that whistle, and manage the ponies myself."

"Humph!" grunted Mark. "That will be no good as long as that dreary
fellow is near them."

"I say," said Dean, as he and his cousin were tramping along in the
rear, gazing eagerly about to the right and left of the track,
thoroughly enjoying the beauty of the scenery, and looking out the while
f