emands.

But at last the feeding was done, the hens in attendance on the nest of
eggs visited, where all seemed satisfactory, and then the horses were
saddled, and Jack and Duke summoned.

The latter dashed up instantly; but Jack made no reply.

"Yes, he is spoiled," said Emson. "It has always seemed to be so much
less trouble to saddle our own horses than to see that he did it
properly; but we ought to have made him do it, little un."

"Of course we ought," said Dyke. "It isn't too late to begin now?"

"I'm afraid it is," said Emson.--"Here! Hi! Jack," he shouted; and the
dog supplemented the cry by running toward the house, barking loudly,
with the result that the Kaffir woman came out, saw at a glance what was
wanted, and turned back.

The next minute there was a scuffling noise heard behind the place,
accompanied by angry protesting voices, speaking loudly in the Kaffir
tongue.

Then all at once Jack appeared, carrying three assegais, and holding
himself up with a great deal of savage dignity; but as he approached he
was struck on the back of the head by a bone. He turned back angrily,
but ducked down to avoid a dry cake of fuel, and ended by running to
avoid further missiles, with his dignity all gone, for Tanta Sal's
grinning face peeped round the corner, and she shouted: "Jack bad sick,
baas. All eat--seep."

"Yes; that's what's the matter, Jack," said Emson, shaking his head at
him. "Now take hold of the horse's mane, and I'll give you a good
digestive run."

There was no help for it. Jack seized the mane and trotted off beside
the horse, while a derisive shout came from behind the house, and
Tanta's grinning face re-appeared.

This was too much for Jack, who turned to shake his assegais at her: the
movement was unpropitious, for he stumbled and fell, but gathered
himself up, caught up to the horse, and trotted on again, keeping on in
the most untiring way, till a flight of carrion birds was sighted,
hovering about the granite boulders, and perching here and there, as if
ready for the banquet to come.

Duke charged forward at this, and the birds scattered, but did not go
far; while the dog's approach started half-a-dozen jackals from among
the bushes to which they had retired, and they now began scurrying over
the plain. "I wonder how they find out that there's anything dead,
Joe," said Dyke; "we did not see a single jackal or bird this morning."

"Eyesight," said Emson quietly. "The vul