Dead Man's Land Part 21

"No, sir," said Dean, "I believe that the oxen would take fright at him."

"Use is second nature, Dean," said Mark.

"What do you think little Dan said about him just now?" said Dean.

"Can't say, of course," said his uncle. "What did he say?"

"That he was all shadow and flam."

"Yes," cried Mark; "and Buck Denham compared him to a human skeleton on stilts. I don't like him; but I suppose we shall get used to him in time."

"Tut, tut, tut!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Sir James. "Don't trifle, boys; this is a serious matter. Here, Mark, go and tell Buck Denham that I want to speak to him."

The man came up, looking very serious, and shaking his head.

"Very sorry, sir," he said, before Sir James could speak, "but I have just been having it over with that other little black, and he tells me that his mate came to him after the scare about the lion, and said he would not go any further, and went off at once."

"Oh," said Sir James. "Well, this is your business, doctor. I said I wouldn't interfere. You are captain. You had better tell Denham what we have been talking about."

"Yes. Look here, my man; we have come to the conclusion that this fellow would be very useful with the ponies."

"Yes, sir?"

"And I want to ask you whether you think he could take the foreloper's place as well?"

"Well, sir," said the man, with a grim smile, "he doesn't look much like one, certainly, and I don't believe he knows anything about it."

"But couldn't you train him?"

"Oh, yes, I could train him, sir. I don't think the beasts would take to him all at once, but it seems to me the queshtun is would he do it?"

"I shall make that the condition as to his staying," said the doctor firmly.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

IN MID-VELDT.

"I know what I shall do," said Dean, as they prepared for their morning start, during which he had been thoughtfully watching the helpful way in which their new attendant loaded the ponies, over which he seemed to have the most perfect command.

"Well, what shall you do?" said his cousin.

"Learn that whistle, and manage the ponies myself."

"Humph!" grunted Mark. "That will be no good as long as that dreary fellow is near them."

"I say," said Dean, as he and his cousin were tramping along in the rear, gazing eagerly about to the right and left of the track, thoroughly enjoying the beauty of the scenery, and looking out the while for something that might be a pleasant addition to their next meal.

"Well, what do you say? That you don't see any game?"

"No," said Dean. "I want you to look at black Mak."

"Well, what of him? I think he's as dingy black a n.i.g.g.e.r as ever I saw.

Not a bit like those flat-nosed woolly-headed fellows that we used to see at home."

"I don't mean that."

"What do you mean, then?" said Mark impatiently.

"That he seems so sour and surly, as different as can be from what he was yesterday. We didn't do anything to give him offence. Let's see; what did we do yesterday and the day before to hurt his feelings?"

"I don't know," said Mark. "I did nothing. What did you do?"

"Nothing," replied Dean. "He was as jolly and smiling as could be till last night; and see how he helped about the scare. Now, I tell you what I think."

"Oh, I wish you wouldn't think so much," cried Mark. "It makes you seem so slow and sleepy! Well, what do you think?"

"I think he is jealous of the new man."

"Right. He doesn't like the look of him--thinks he's a bad colour, neither black nor white. You are right, Dean. I saw him scowling at him, now you mention it. Well, we shall have to look out and tell Buck Denham that there must be no quarrelling. If they don't agree he must take them both by the scruff and knock their heads together."

"Oh, but that will all blow over," said Dean, "I daresay. There's nothing for them to disagree over, because this Brown will have his own work to do."

"And black Mak has nothing to do but look on," put in Mark, laughing.

"You forget one thing," said Dean; "he has to carry his spear."

"Yes, spear," said Mark eagerly; "and that sets one thinking. That spear is precious sharp."

"How do you know?"

"He showed it to me, and seemed as proud of it as could be."

"Well, what then?"

"Why, it would be very nasty if they quarrelled and came to a fight.

What chance would Mr Staches have, only armed with a small pair of scissors?"

The days wore on, one strongly resembling another, and though the black guide stalked about like a superintendent and was rather given to scowl at the forelopers, he every now and then unbent from his savage dignity, and was always the best of friends with the boys. In fact, upon occasions when he was marching along with them beside the bullocks, or by them when they were mounted on a couple of ponies, he would even unbend so far as to allow one of them to carry his spear, evidently as a great favour and a mark of honour.

"Treats it," said Mark merrily, "as if it were his sceptre."

But there was no suggestion of quarrelling, and the man was seen at his best and full of smiles when, as the bullocks plodded sluggishly along, hunting excursions were made off to the right or left of the trail--a trail which the party formed for themselves, for the old ones soon died out--the new one being formed as to direction by their guide himself.

He selected the most open country, and pointed out with his spear some distant object for which Buck Denham was to make, and when it was reached in the evening it was invariably found to be a spot where there was a good supply of water and food for the cattle.

So far from there being any quarrelling on the side of Brown--Dunn Brown, as to their great amus.e.m.e.nt he told the boys was his full name, Dunn from his mother, and Brown from his father--the long, thin, peculiar looking fellow settled down as calmly as if he had been in Sir James's service half his life.

He was a kind and careful tender of the ponies, and after a few displays of awkwardness which Buck Denham corrected in the most friendly way, he was soon quite at home with the bullocks.