d bullock. Plenty mealie, coffee,
sugar."

"Yes, Joeboy," I said; "and we want one of those wagons and teams."

"Um? Yes, Boss," he said thoughtfully, without taking his eyes from the
glass. "Joeboy know how."

"You do?" said Denham quickly. "Tell us, then."

"Boss Colonel send Boss Val and hundred sojer fetch um."

"It wouldn't do, Joeboy," I said sadly. "There would be another big
fight, and we should lose a lot of men and horses without getting the
wagon."

"Um? Yes. Too many Doppie."

"That's right, Shiny," said Denham.

"Yes," I said; "we must wait till we see a team making for the kopje,
and then the Colonel can send out a party and cut them off."

"Then the Boer General will send out a bigger party and cut us off,"
said Denham bitterly. "I don't want another set-to like yesterday's for
a week or so. So we must take to horse and water for the present, I
suppose."

"Joeboy know," said the black, with his eyes still fixed on the glass.

"You know?" I cried, staring at the black's calm, imperturbable
countenance.

"Um? Yes."

"Why, what could be done?" I said, excited by the black's cool and
confident way, knowing as I did from old experience how full of
ingenuity the brave fellow was.

"Um?" he said thoughtfully, as he still watched the Boer lines. "No
good to fight; Doppie too many."

"Yes," said Denham impatiently. "You said so before."

"Um?" said Joeboy, taking his eyes from the glass a moment or two to
glance at the speaker, but turning away and raising the glass again;
"Joeboy know."

"Let's have it, then," said Denham, "for hang me if I can see how it
could be done."

"Big fool black fellow drive wagon," said Joeboy, still gazing through
the glass, as if he could see those of whom he spoke. "'Nother big fool
black fellow vorloper. Both fast sleep under wagon. Boss Val talk like
Boer: double-Dutch."

"Is that right?" said Denham.

"Oh yes," I said. "I can speak like a Boer if it is necessary."

"Um? Yes," said Joeboy quietly. "Think Doppie talky, Boss Val take
Joeboy and go in a dark night up to wagon. Stoop down and kick big
black fool driver and big black fool vorloper. `Get up!' he say. `Want
sleep alway? Get up, big fool! Trek!'"

"What?" I cried excitedly.

"Um? Talk like Doppie, Boss Val talk. Big fool get up an' inspan.
Boss Val get up on box an' keep call driver big black fool, like Doppie.
Joeboy walk 'long o' vorloper. Tell 'im Joeboy 'tick