l with a sounding thwack
across the man's bare shoulders, making him spring to his feet and
snatch a knife out from his waistcloth. My hand went to my revolver,
and I ran to Joeboy's aid; but there was no need. In an instant the
glistening blade of my companion's assagai was pointed at the
foreloper's throat, making him recoil; and then, in response to a
threatening thrust or two, the man picked up his long, thin bamboo and
replaced his knife, while Joeboy, pointing fiercely to me, rated the man
in his own tongue.

"What is it, Joeboy?" I asked as the man went back to the head of the
bullock-team.

"Um? Say want to 'top and rest bullocks and make fire for breakfast,
Boss. I say he go on till we get to laager. Say he won't, and Joeboy
make um. Boss Val put little 'volver pistol away and unsling gun;
pretend to shoot um."

I did as Joeboy suggested, and the man went down upon his knees and laid
his forehead upon the earth. I needed no telling what to say next.

"Get up! Trek!" I shouted as fiercely as I could. The man leaped to
his feet and urged the bullocks on, while the driver on the box made his
great two-handed whip crack loudly in the quiet of the morning. The
actions of these two being taken up by the men with the wagons behind,
the bullocks for a time went on at the rate of quite another half-mile
an hour extra.

"Um!" ejaculated Joeboy, with a look of satisfaction in his eyes; "rifle
gun reach long way. Boss Val see boy not driving well, pretend to send
bullet in um head, and make um jump along. Ha!"

Noticing that the black was using his hands like a binocular glass, and
looking back, I asked anxiously, "What is it?"

"Um? See Doppie coming now?"

I looked, but could make out nothing; yet I was satisfied it was so. I
now gazed eagerly in the direction of our goal, for Joeboy had first
turned his eyes there.

"Can you see help coming, Joeboy?" I asked anxiously.

"Um? No," he replied.

"Then it's all over," I said in despair.

"Um? Yes, here um come."

"Ah!" I cried, remembering now the signal agreed upon. "Is it the
Lieutenant--Mr Denham?"

"Joeboy can't see so far as that," replied the black. "Only see horses
coming fas'. Coming to fetch wagons and plenty mealies and flour. Boys
all say `Hurrah!' and make all horses laugh."

"But do you think they will get here first?"

"Um? Yes. Doppie got longer way to come."

"Ha!" I ejaculated, with a sigh of relief.

A fe