Dead Man's Land Part 10

As soon as he realised that they were coming in his direction he took his pipe from his mouth, tapped the ashes out upon a post, took off his hat and stuck the short pipe in the band.

"Come to have a look at the ponies, gentlemen?" he said.

"Yes," said Sir James; "I want my son and nephew to have a look at them and try them."

"I see," said the man, scanning the boys attentively. "My man isn't here. Like them saddled and bridled?"

Sir James looked at the two boys, as the man continued, "Can the young gentlemen ride?"

He glanced at the doctor as he spoke.

"Yes," said the latter quietly; "after our fashion in England. Well broken horses. But they can't ride wild beasts."

"Well, no, captain; n.o.body expects that; but I shall have to keep you waiting a bit while I have my man found, and send him to borrow a saddle and bridle. I have only got two, and one of the officers from up at the barracks and his friend have got them for the day. I have plenty of halters, and I can clap a rug on one of the ponies. What do you say to that, young gentlemen?"

"I'd rather have one without the rug," said Mark, "if they are quiet."

"Quiet as lambs, sir, as long as you don't play any larks with them."

"Oh, we shan't play any tricks," said Mark.

"That's right, sir. Out here we like to treat a pony well. They are scarce, and worth their money. I am afraid, sir," continued the man, turning to the doctor, "that I did not charge enough for them."

"But you don't want to draw back from your bargain?" said the doctor sternly. "I paid you the price you asked."

"Yes, sir. The captain up yonder brought you to me as English friends, and him and his officers are good customers to me. No, I am not going to ask more. Only I will go as far as this: if you bring them back to me sound and in a fair condition I will take them again at the price.

Here, one of you," he shouted to a group of idlers who had sauntered up to the fence of the enclosure, "go to the house and ask the missis to give you a couple of halters and a horse rug. My chap, Browne, has gone to meet the officers."

One of the men sauntered off quietly, leaving the party of strangers to walk across the kraal, the boys keenly examining the little browsing animals.

"Well, doctor," said Sir James, "I must say I admire your choice. They are beautiful little creatures, and I hope that they have no vice."

"Vice! Not they, sir," said their late owner, as the ponies upon being approached lifted their heads to stare at the visitors for a few moments and then go on browsing at the low-growing bushes that formed their feed. "This don't look like vice, does it, sir?" said the man, thrusting his hand into his pocket and drawing it out full of maize.

One of the ponies raised its head, stretched out its neck in the direction of the extended hand, and trotted up.

"These mealies are rather a hard bite for them, sir, but this lot are very fond of a taste, and I let them have one now and then; but of course you will always have a few sacks handy.--Now, young gentlemen, try this one," and he poured some of the golden grain into Mark's hand.

"You too, sir," he continued, and he brought out some more to trickle into Dean's.

There was no doubt so far in the tameness of the two ponies, which fed quietly enough from the boys' hands and submitted to being handled, patted and held by their thick forelocks or manes.

By this time the dealer's messenger had returned with a couple of halters.

"Missis can't find a horse rug," said the man surlily.

"Never mind; we can do without, I daresay. But just be on the lookout, and if you see my Browne send him to me. Now then, gentlemen, like to try barebacked?"

"Yes," said Mark; and as soon as a halter had been thrown over one of the ponies' heads the dealer handed the end to him.

"Oh, come," he said, "not the first time you have been on a pony;" for Mark held up one leg, which the man took in his hand and gave him a hoist; and the boy making a spring at the same time dropped on the pony's glossy back, but like vaulting ambition overleaped himself and rolled over on the other side, startling the pony into making off. But the dealer made a s.n.a.t.c.h at the halter, just in time, and it stopped short, snorting.

"Hurt, my boy?" cried Sir James, anxiously.

"No, father; only vexed," said the boy, dusting the sand from his flannels. "Now then," he continued, to the dealer, "you hoisted me too hard."

"Going to have another try?"

"Why, of course," cried the boy angrily. "Think I was frightened by a thing like that?"

"You'll do; you'll do," said the dealer, with a little chuckle. "Now then; it was half my fault, and half yours."

The next moment Mark was in his seat, holding his mount with a tight hand as it began to paw up the sand, eager to start.

"Wait for me," cried Dean, for the dealer was clapping the halter on another of the ponies, whose back Dean reached without mishap; and then as if thoroughly accustomed to run together, the attractive looking little pair moved off at an easy canter, closely followed by the other two, and going soon after at a quiet hand gallop twice round the large kraal, and stopping short close up to the dealer at the end of their career.

The boys jumped down, and the two unmounted ponies waited patiently while the halters were shifted and the performance repeated.

"Well, gentlemen, are you satisfied?" said the man, patting the ponies'

necks as he spoke.

"Yes, quite," said Sir James. "What do you say, doctor?"

"I should say more than satisfied, only I am afraid that they won't be up to our weight."

"Don't you make any mistake, sir. These little fellows can do more than you expect--that is, if you treat them well. You won't ride them till they founder, I'll be bound. Just you take care that they have enough, and you will find that they will do all you want. You would like me to keep them till you start, I suppose?"

"Certainly," said the doctor; and soon after the little party returned to their inn, the boys talking eagerly about their new acquaintance.

"But I say, father," said Mark, "why, what a party we are going to be-- five men, our four selves, four ponies, and all those oxen. Let's see; that's all, isn't it?"

"No," said Sir. James; "you forget the guide."

"Black, isn't he, uncle?"

"Yes; I suppose he's a regular Kaffir, a sort of Zulu. What did the captain say he was, doctor?"

"An Illaka, he called him, I believe, something of the same sort of black, as the Matabeles. But you have forgotten two more."

"Two more, sir?" said Dean. "No, we have counted them all."

"What about the two black forelopers?"

"Why, what are they?" cried Mark.

"The two blacks who go in front of the foremost bullocks."

"Oh," said Mark. "I say, we are beginning to grow."