or something that might be a pleasant addition to their next meal.

"Well, what do you say? That you don't see any game?"

"No," said Dean. "I want you to look at black Mak."

"Well, what of him? I think he's as dingy black a nigger as ever I saw.
Not a bit like those flat-nosed woolly-headed fellows that we used to
see at home."

"I don't mean that."

"What do you mean, then?" said Mark impatiently.

"That he seems so sour and surly, as different as can be from what he
was yesterday. We didn't do anything to give him offence. Let's see;
what did we do yesterday and the day before to hurt his feelings?"

"I don't know," said Mark. "I did nothing. What did you do?"

"Nothing," replied Dean. "He was as jolly and smiling as could be till
last night; and see how he helped about the scare. Now, I tell you what
I think."

"Oh, I wish you wouldn't think so much," cried Mark. "It makes you seem
so slow and sleepy! Well, what do you think?"

"I think he is jealous of the new man."

"Right. He doesn't like the look of him--thinks he's a bad colour,
neither black nor white. You are right, Dean. I saw him scowling at
him, now you mention it. Well, we shall have to look out and tell Buck
Denham that there must be no quarrelling. If they don't agree he must
take them both by the scruff and knock their heads together."

"Oh, but that will all blow over," said Dean, "I daresay. There's
nothing for them to disagree over, because this Brown will have his own
work to do."

"And black Mak has nothing to do but look on," put in Mark, laughing.

"You forget one thing," said Dean; "he has to carry his spear."

"Yes, spear," said Mark eagerly; "and that sets one thinking. That
spear is precious sharp."

"How do you know?"

"He showed it to me, and seemed as proud of it as could be."

"Well, what then?"

"Why, it would be very nasty if they quarrelled and came to a fight.
What chance would Mr Staches have, only armed with a small pair of
scissors?"

The days wore on, one strongly resembling another, and though the black
guide stalked about like a superintendent and was rather given to scowl
at the forelopers, he every now and then unbent from his savage dignity,
and was always the best of friends with the boys. In fact, upon
occasions when he was marching along with them beside the bullocks, or
by them when they were mounted on a couple of ponies, he would even
unbend so far as to allow one of them to