Tugela, you will be able to buy food; but if the troops
cross into Zululand, you may have to depend on what you carry."

Tom with his two waggons arrived at daybreak, and the four teams set off
together, Mrs Humphreys--who had now completely lost her cough and was
quite strong and well--laying many injunctions upon Dick against
exposing himself to any danger, and Dick promising to be as careful as
possible.

Upon their arrival at Pieter-Maritzburg the boys went at once to the
government transport-yard, and on stating their errand were shown into
the office of the officer in charge.

"We have brought down four teams of sixteen oxen each," Dick said, "from
near Newcastle, to be hired to the government."

"That is right, my lads," the officer said, "we have room for plenty
more. This is the form of contract. You engage to serve the government
by the month; you bear any damages which may take place from wear and
tear of the roads, breakdowns, and the other ordinary accidents of
travel; the government engages to make good any loss or damage which may
occur from the action of the enemy. This is not," he said, smiling,
"likely to take place, but still those are the terms. Have you any
authority from your fathers, to whom, I suppose, the teams belong, to
sign the contracts for them?"

"Yes, sir," Dick said. "Here is a paper from my father, and one from
Tom Jackson's father, saying that they agree to be bound by the terms of
the contract, and that they authorise us to sign in their names. We are
going with the waggons, sir, to look after the Kaffirs."

"Well," the officer said, "you can do as you like about that; but if you
speak Kaffir it will be useful--only, mind, you will have to provision
yourselves. From the day the teams are taken up, rations of mealies
will be served to the Kaffirs at the various halting-places, but there
is no provision for rations of white men. The cattle, too, will be fed,
but you will have to see to yourselves."

"Yes, sir; we expected to do so."

"Well, you had better fetch the teams up to the yard. I must inspect
and pass them before they are taken up. Bring them round at once; then
they will be loaded to-night, and start at daybreak to-morrow."

The teams were brought round to the yard, and immediately passed by the
officer, who indeed remarked upon the excellence of the animals. The
Kaffirs were directed to outspan or unyoke the oxen, for whom rations of
hay and grain were at