" repeated Charlie, quoting the Dutch "Yes" of the other; "are you a
Dutchman?"

"I am; at least I am a Cape colonist descended from Dutchmen. Why are
you surprised?"

"Because," replied his companion, while he prepared another steak over
the embers, "you speak English so well that I could not have known it.
How came you to learn the language so perfectly?"

"My father, being wiser than some of his friends and neighbours," said
Hans, "sent me to Capetown to be educated. I suppose that is the
reason. We dwelt in the western part of the colony then, and I was the
eldest of the family. When a number of us Dutchmen left that part of
the country--being disgusted with the Government,--and came up here, my
brothers and sister had to be taken from school. This was a pity, for
education taught me to know that education is an inestimable blessing--
the want of it a heavy misfortune."

"True," remarked Considine. But being still too busy with the steaks to
pursue the subject he merely added--"Does your father live near this?"

"About seven hours' ride, which, as I daresay you know, is forty-two
miles. You shall go home with me to-morrow."

"How many are there of you?" asked Considine, looking at the young
Dutchman over a bone. "Excuse my being so impolite," he added, "but
d'you know, one feels horribly like a tiger after a two days' fast."

"Don't stand on ceremony," said the other, with a laugh. "When you are
satisfied we can converse. There are fifteen of us: father, mother,
sister, and eleven boys besides myself. I'll tell you about them all
after supper; meanwhile I'll go fetch the horses, for there are lions
about, as I daresay you know, and some of them are nearly as ravenous as
yourself."

Hans rose, put his pipe in the band of his broad-brimmed hat, and
sauntered heavily out of the thicket.

In a few minutes he returned, leading the horses, and then busied
himself in surrounding the camp with an almost impenetrable wall of
mimosa-thorn branches, the spikes of which were so tremendous that it
seemed as if nothing smaller than an elephant could force its way
through. This done, he sat down and quietly refilled his pipe, while
Considine, having at last finished his meal, drew the embers of the fire
together, disposed his limbs comfortably on the ground, lay back on his
saddle, and prepared to enjoy a contemplative gaze at the cheering blaze
and an interrogative conversation with his new friend.

"Do yo