ed to proceed into the interior
with a trader and work or shoot my way, in order to save my money. No
trader being about to start at that time, I was obliged to accept the
offer of a frontier farmer, who, for a small sum, agreed to allow me to
accompany his waggons, on condition that I should make myself generally
useful. I grudged the cash, but closed with the offer, and next day
started on our journey of six hundred miles--such being the distance we
had to go, according to my employer or comrade, Jan Smit."

"Who?" exclaimed Hans, with sudden energy.

"Jan Smit," repeated Considine. "Do you know him?"

"Ja--but go on," said Hans, with a nod and a smile.

"Well, I soon found that my Dutch comrade--"

"He's only half Dutch," interrupted Hans. "His mother was Dutch, but
his father is English."

"Well, Dutch or English, he is the most unmitigated scoundrel I ever
met."

"Ja," muttered Hans, "he is."

"And I soon found that my trip of pleasure became a trip of torment. It
is true we shot plenty of game--lions among the rest--but in camp the
man was so unbearable that disgust counterbalanced all the pleasure of
the trip. I tried hard to get the better of him by good-humour and
jollity, but he became so insolent at last that I could not stand it.
Three days ago when I asked him how far we were from his farm, he
growled that it wasn't far off now; whereupon I could not refrain from
saying that I was glad to hear it, as we should soon have the pleasure
of parting company. This put him in a rage. He kicked over the pot
containing part of our breakfast, and told me I might part company then
and there if I pleased. My temper does not easily go, but it went at
last. I jumped up, saddled my horse, mounted, and rode away. Of course
I lost myself immediately, and for two days have been trying to find
myself, without success, mourning over my fate and folly, and fasting
from necessity. But for my opportune meeting with you, Mr Marais, it
might have gone hard with me and my poor horse, for the want of water
had well-nigh floored us both."

"You'll never make your fortune by doctoring on the frontier," said
Hans, after a few minutes' silence. "Nobody gets ill in this splendid
climate--besides, we couldn't afford to waste time in that way. People
here usually live to a great age, and then go off without the assistance
of a doctor. What else can you turn your hand to?"

"Anything," replied Considine, with the ov