ork an' digs
out at anoder place, a long way off in de mealies, an' pops off over de
sky line dat way. But he's mighty careful to keep out of Ole King
Lion's way since den, for he got sich a scare dat time dat he hain't
never manage to grow a long tail agen, like he used to have afore.

"An' if you want's to know yust what a hairy ole scare he got,"
continued Old Hendrik, "you notice him nex' time you sees him. You'll
see a white patch on his tail--dat's gone white wid de fright he got
when de great big claws was a-grabbin' de rest o' de tail off. But
here's de cows, an' I's got to get to de milkin'," broke off the old
story-teller, swinging his pail and starting for the kraal.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

THE BARGAIN FOR THE LITTLE SILVER FISHES.

The youngest of the three children had brought in a tortoise from the
spruit behind the house, and was half-indignant and half-amused at the
stolid refusal of Mr Tortoise to put out his head in response to any
stroking of his shell, or to any shaking or bumping on the ground.
"He's just that cunning, Ou' Ta', I never did see anything like him,"
cried the little boy to Old Hendrik.

"Well, he is tink hisse'f mighty cunnin' sometimes," answered the old
Hottentot genially. "But dere was once now, when Klein Hahsie want him
to ketch him de little silver fis'es."

"Oh, but that Klein Hahsie--that Little Hare--he is just such a
skellum!" broke in Annie.

"Well," hesitated Old Hendrik, "Little Hahsie he is a bit smart, but den
he don't get nob'dy's bones broke anyhow. An' besides, Ou' Sculpat
dere--de Tortoise--he was yust too lazy for ornament, let alone use.

"It was a' dis way. Little Hahsie he was a-hoppin' an' a-floppin' along
down de spruit one day, an' he come to where de water was a-runnin'
clear an' fine, an' what should he see in de big water-hole but all de
little silver fis'es yust a-glintin' an' a-twinklin'. Allah Crachty! he
fair squot right down an' watch 'em, dey look dat good an' fine.

"But Little Hahsie ain't yust like a otter in de water, dough dere ain't
no otter of 'em all could beat him at wantin' dem fis'es. So he squot,
an' he study, an' he tink till at last he see Ou' Sculpat a-danderin'
down, an' makin' no mo' to do but fair flop right in to de water, an'
sort o' hang in dere wid his nose yust out, like a bird might be
a-hangin' in de air wid his beak catchin' on to a cloud.

"Little Hahsie fair cock his one year at dat to see Ou' Sculpat do it