sibly with the kindly intention of
reducing the number, or severity, of the poor creature's beatings.

I do not believe Jan ever beat his wife, though I think she was as lazy
a woman as could be found. Perhaps he got most of his rations provided
from the house, and was not dependent on her for his comfort.

However, he seemed to me to have a Mark Tapley temper; the more
unendurable the weather got, the cheerier he grew with his guttural and
yet limpid cries to the oxen, and his brisk steps by their side.

There was one thing, however, he could not see in patience--an amateur
who had borrowed his whip with the proud intention of "helping to drive"
letting the end of four yards of lash draggle over the dewy karoo,
thereby making it limp and reducing its power to clack in the approved
fashion.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: An Early Start]

"We had better sleep in the wagon, then we shall not be disturbed so
early," cried one of the children; but we older people preferred the
idea of half a night's rest indoors to lying awake on the cartels in the
wagon listening to the tossings and complaints of others.

We had been staying by the sea, and were now to journey homewards. Long
before daylight, the noise of the oxen and clank of trek-chain told that
inspanning was begun, and those of us who were to form the wagon party
sprang out of bed and made a hurried toilet, while the Kafir women
carried off the feather-beds and blankets, to stow in their allotted
places in the wagon.

Mr. Gilbert and his wife, with the younger children, were to follow in a
four-horse Cape-cart.

"Isn't it too dark to be trekking?" he called from his window.

"The roads is good down here," said Jan. "I can see enough"; and he
hurried his leader, and got us under way without more ado.

* * * * *

We had the front curtain of the tent rolled up, and sat about on the
boxes in silence for some time, listening to the plash of the sea upon
the beach, every minute somebody giving a yawn.

"I cannot think why Lang-Jan is hurrying on so," said Constance at
last, "unless he thinks it will be a very hot day again. The oxen gave
out as we were coming down, and we had to outspan about five miles off."

"I _was_ cross," said a younger sister.

"You need not tell us that. We have not forgotten," laughed another.

"Well, I thought I could hear the sea, and I had been meaning to run
down and have a