quite lazy. In
fact, I sent him out to hunt this morning, told him if he didn't bring
back a bush-buck ram I shouldn't speak to him until he did. He's much
too young to be hanging about the house all day."

With this sentiment Greenoak agreed, but--was that the speaker's only
object? Well, it would come out in time.

"For all that he's a thorough sportsman, and as nice a young fellow as
ever lived," he said.

But Hazel did not take this opening. She plunged into other topics as
they resumed their way; in none of which did the absent and venatorial
Dick by any chance come in.

They passed the vee-kraal, where a wheezy and decrepit cur came forth
and huskily vociferated at them--Hesketh would not allow any of his
"hands" to keep an able-bodied canine on the place--and the two wives of
the absent herd, profusely anointed with red clay, came out to greet
them and requisition tobacco. Greenoak gave them some, as they knew he
would.

"I suppose you can manage Kafirs thoroughly?" said Hazel as they walked
on.

"Well, I've had to do it all my life."

"Of course. What an idiotic question! Fancy my asking it _you_. But I
don't know whether I like them or not. I don't see much of them."

"No, I suppose there aren't many round your father's place. Mostly
Hottentots?"

"Yes. But I don't like them at all. By the way, Mr Greenoak, do you
think we are going to have a Kafir war? The newspapers all seem to say
we are. What is your opinion?"

"Newspapers must say something. I can't form any opinion--as _yet_. I
may be going up to the Transkei soon, and then I'll be in a better
position to do so."

"Soon? Then you won't be here much longer?"

Greenoak's quick ear caught a shade of disappointment in the tone,
almost of consternation. Then Dick's departure would cause a blank; for
of course she knew that the two were moving about together.

"You must remember we've been here a good while already," he answered,
"and there's such a thing as wearing out one's welcome. Besides, I want
to show the young one some further sides of the life of the country."

"No fear of your wearing out anything of the kind here," rejoined Hazel,
quickly. "As for the other consideration, well, that counts for
something, I suppose. Here we are."

Their uphill progress was at an end. They had reached a high, stony
neck, or saddle, between two great crags. In front the slope fell
abruptly away for over a thousand feet to a sp