ed in, followed by
Dyke, and stooped down over the figure of Kaffir Jack, who lay on a
blanket, with his head toward the front part of the wagon, through which
opening the evening light still streamed.

The Kaffir's head was tied-up with a bandage formed of the sleeve of a
shirt cut off at the shoulder, split up lengthwise at the seams, tied
together so as to make it long enough, and this was stained with blood,
evidently days old.

The Boer gazed down at the Kaffir, and Jack gazed up at him, screwing up
his face in the most piteous fashion.

This scrutiny on both sides went on for some time in a silence which was
at last broken by the Kaffir uttering a dismal groan which went right to
Dyke's heart.

"Ah," said the trader softly, "boor vellow! How you vas?"

Jack uttered a more dismal groan than before.

"Ah, vas it den? Boor mans! you zeem as bad as neffer can be. You
doomble off dem vagon, und dread on your vace like dot?"

"Oh!" groaned Jack. "Baas killum."

"Did he den. Der baas kill der boor vellow dead?" Then suddenly
changing his tone from one full of soft sympathy to a burst of fierce
anger, he roared out: "Dunder und lightning! You get oot of dis, you
oogly black, idle tog. You got sore head, und lazy as big bullock. Out
you vas!"

He accompanied the fierce words with a sharp kick, and Jack bounded up
and sprang clear over the wagon-box, to stand out on the trampled
ground, staring wildly.

"Ah, you vait till I gom und get das 'noceros whip, und make you tance,
you lazy tog. You go take den pferd to water, or you haf no zopper
to-night. Roon!"

Dyke stood staring at the change that had come over the Kaffir, who ran
to where the horse was tied, unfastened the rein, and led him off
without a word.

The old trader chuckled.

"I know whad is der madder mit dose poy. He is guide well as neffer
vas, und lie und shleep and say he gannod vork a leedle pid. How game
he do domble und gut den kopf?"

Dyke coloured.

"He did not tumble," said the boy. "I hit him."

"Zo? Mit dem shdick?"

"No," faltered Dyke; "with the barrel of my gun."

"Ach! das ist not goot. You mide break den gun. Der whip handle is der
bess. Why you vas hit him on dem het?"

"He would not see to the bullocks. Almost directly after we had
started--I mean the next day--he got at the meat and ate all there was."

"Ach! yas. He look as if he had den gros shdomach. And zo he eat him
all?"

"Yes; everything