im."

"That I'm sure you wouldn't, Greenoak," laughed Sir Anson. "You're
nothing if not decisive."

"I'm afraid a man gets rather blunt after leading a life like mine,"
said the other.

"I'm only too fortunate in getting hold of a man of your experience to
look after the boy," rejoined the baronet, heartily. "Why, there he
is."

The subject of their conversation burst upon them in his breezy way. He
was a tall, fine young fellow of twenty-six, blue eyed, light haired,
healthy, wholesome, athletic, and looking what he was--an English
gentleman.

"Hallo, dad. What are you and Greenoak plotting there? Why, you've
been in earnest confab for at least an hour. What's the subject?"

"Yourself, Dick," answered his father. "You know I only took the run
over here for the sake of the voyage, but now you're over you'd better
see something of the country, and do a few months' knocking about with
Greenoak. He has very kindly consented to look after you, only he
little knows what a handful he's undertaking."

The young fellow's face lit up.

"Why, that'll be ripping." Then remembering--"But what about yourself,
dad? I can't leave you to go back all alone."

"Oh, I'll be all right. Dawson'll look after me; as he has done almost
ever since I've had the honour of your acquaintance. This is an
opportunity though, which you can't afford to lose, so we can consider
it settled. Eh, Greenoak?"

"That's right, Sir Anson," was the reply, as the speaker fished out a
handful of black Transvaal tobacco, which he kept loose in his side
pocket, and proceeded to cram his pipe.

"By George, what times we'll have!" sang out Dick, delightedly. "We'll
yarn about it presently. Now I'm in the middle of a game of quoits with
those Johnson women, and as they're about the touchiest crowd on board I
shall get in a row if I keep them waiting any longer."

He strode away, whistling, leaving his seniors to their conversation.
These two--the English baronet and the South African up-country man, had
made acquaintance during the outward voyage, and had grown very friendly
indeed. And the result of this newly formed friendship was that Sir
Anson had begged Greenoak to take charge of the young fellow--in short
to take him round a bit--in quite an informal sort of way.

Greenoak, although he had put by something during his varied and roving
life, was by no means opulent, and had fully intended, on his return
trip from England, to start