I knew
to be a great tilted wagon.

Joeboy bore to the left, and we walked silently on together till we had
passed the rears of six of the great vehicles drawn up at a fair
distance apart, but pretty regularly side by side. I now realised that,
though the wagons, as seen through the glass, had appeared to be in
touch with the Boer troops, they really formed a line some distance in
front.

From that moment everything seemed to be like a curious waking dream, in
which I was the chief actor; for, passing the last tail and going
forward, I walked with Joeboy to the front, all being silent about the
wagons. From beyond these came the peculiarly soft, chewing sound of
working jaws; and I made out, partly by hearing and partly by the
peculiar but not unpleasant odour, that there were the teams in their
places, all the great oxen crouching down, from the pair on either side
of the dissel-boom or pole to the foremost couple right in front, pair
after pair, along the trek-tow--that is, the great rope which, for the
team, serves as a continuation of the pole.

"Um?" whispered Joeboy as I stood listening to the dull cud-chewing of
the resting beasts. "Now make um come out."

I hesitated for a moment or two; then I made the great effort to play my
part as I felt it ought to be acted, and stood alongside the black and
close up to the wagon, between the wheels. Then taking a long breath,
and wondering at myself the while, I stooped down so that my voice might
go well beneath; but paused as I was about to speak, for I could hear in
duplicate a deep guttural snore. At that moment Joeboy pinched my arm;
and, drawing a deep breath, I growled out in the best imitation I could
of the Boer Dutch:

"Now then; rouse up, you lazy black beggars! Rouse up and trek!"

My heart sank as the last word passed my lips.

"Suppose they are not Kaffirs?" I thought.

There was not a sound, and Joeboy again pinched my arm.

I knew what he wanted; so, raising my voice, I said hoarsely, and in an
angry tone:

"Rouse up! Trek!"

There was a loud rattling noise at the same moment, for Joeboy had
reached under the wagon to strike here and there with the shaft of his
assagai.

In an instant, following a dull thud or two, there came low remonstrant
growls, there was a scuffle and a rush, and two big figures rose near
us; one Kaffir ran towards the front box of the wagon, and the feet of
the other went _pat, pat_ till he stopped by the fore