om which
he had suffered since his return. For everything looked so bright and
cheery and home-like, and the world around him so beautiful, that he
felt ready for any new struggle in the great fight for life.

"She's always squatting over a fire," said Dyke to himself, as he went
round to the back, for there was Tanta Sal down in a wonderfully
frog-like attitude, turning herself into a very vigorous natural
bellows, to make the fire glow under the kettle.

She looked up and smiled, drawing back her thick lips as the lad
approached.

"Baas Joe die?" she said.

"Look here!" roared Dyke fiercely: "don't you say that to me again.
No--_No_--No--No!"

Tanta Sal stared at him and shook her head.

"Breakfast!" cried Dyke laconically.

That she understood, and Dyke hurried away to take a sharp glance round
before going back to his brother's side.

It was needed. The cows were not milked, and not likely to be; the
horses had not been fed, and the ostriches were clamouring for food.

Just then he saw Jack peeping at him from round the corner of one of the
sheds; but as soon as he caught sight of his young master, he drew back.

Instead of going on, Dyke darted round to the other side of the
building, knowing full well that if he ran after him, Jack would dash
off more quickly than he could. So stopping and creeping on over the
sand, he peeped round and saw the man before him just about to perform
the same act. Consequently Dyke was able to pounce upon the Kaffir,
whom he seized by the waist-cloth.

"Here, I want you," he cried sternly, and in a gruff voice which he
hardly knew for his own.

"Baas want?"

"Yes: go and begin milking the cows. I'll send Tant to you directly."

The man showed his teeth, and stood shaking his head.

To his utter astonishment Dyke shifted his grasp, and caught him by the
throat with one hand, and shook his fist in his face.

"Look here," he said; "you can understand English when you like, and
you've got to understand it now. Baas Joe's sick."

"Baas Joe go die," said the man.

"Baas Joe go live," cried Dyke fiercely, "and he'll flog you well if you
don't behave yourself. You go and milk those two cows, and then feed
the ostriches and horses, or I'll fetch Duke to watch you, so look out."

Jack's jaw dropped at the mention of the dog, and he hurried away; while
Dyke, after a glance at the wagon, which stood just where it had been
dragged with its load, was about to re-enter