rmed units of a large machine, so exactly were their steps taken
together, till they reached and once more entered the open door of the
store.

Then, as if strung up, ready to meet anything, they bounded into the
place, when, as if worked by a spring, the horrible figure in the tub
started upright like a monstrous jack-in-the-box.

The black fellows literally tumbled over one another in their hurry to
escape from the terrible-looking object which, in their eyes--imbued as
they were with superstitious notions--was a fearful demon of the most
unsparing nature, and a minute later, they were back in the clump of
trees and bushes, spreading news which made the whole mob of blacks take
flight.

"Baal come teal flour. Mine make black fellow frightenum," said the
jack-in-the-box, leaping lightly out, and then rolling the empty cask
aside, he replaced it by the flour-tub.

Then, going round to the back, application was made to a bucket of
water, from which a cooliman or native bark bowl was filled, and in a
few moments Shanter's good-humoured, clean, black countenance was drying
in the sun. For his scheme to defeat the flour-thieves had been very
successful, and that evening he related it proudly to the boys.

"You did that?" said Norman.

"Yohi. All yan. Baal black fellow now."

"What?" cried the captain, when Norman called him aside, and told him.
"I don't like that, my boy."

"But they must be a poor, cowardly lot, father," said Norman, "or they
would not be so easily frightened by a bogey."

"A lesson to us," said the captain, thoughtfully. "There must be a camp
of the black fellows somewhere near, and while they are about, we had
better keep about the place."

"But they will not come again after such a fright, will they?" said
Norman.

"I don't know, my boy. It is impossible to say. Perhaps, as soon as
the scare is over, they may be taking each other to task for being such
cowards. We are all alone here, and far from help, so it is as well to
be upon our guard. Don't let them know indoors."

The order came too late, for, as soon as they entered the house, Mrs
Bedford began anxiously: "Edward, is it a fact that there have been
myall blacks trying to rob the place?"

"Pooh! What have you heard?"

"Rifle has been telling us of the black's trick to frighten them."

"Oh yes, a few wandering rascals tried to steal the flour."

"And I'm very, very glad to find that I misjudged that poor fellow,
Shant