ow we had such an audience as this."

For every tree seemed to have a little face peering round it watching
what was going on, and some of the grave, serious-looking eyes were
undoubtedly those of the little women, none of whom now shrank away as
the doctor moved back towards the amphitheatre.

"There, Mak," cried Mark, "tell this little chief that we are much
obliged for the two springboks."

The black stared at him.

"How stupid!" said Dean. "Much obliged!"

"Well, you try," said Mark angrily. "I wasn't going to pretend to chew
and lick my lips as if the steaks were very good."

"Why not?" said Dean mockingly. "You know they were."

"Well, aren't you going to tell him better?" said Mark scoffingly.

"No, I'm not. Come on."

They made their way back, to find an early supper of venison awaiting
them, and that night the boys lay talking in the waggon about the
doctor's patient and the next day's visit, till Dean dropped off to
sleep, but only to be woke up directly by Mark.

"Don't begin snoozing yet," he said.

"Bother! What did you wake me up for?"

"I want you to practise pigmy, and teach me how to say, `Thank you; much
obliged for the venison.'"

"You go to sleep; and if you wake me like that again I'll kick you out
of bed."

"Can't; we haven't got one."

"Old Clever!"

"But I say, seriously; isn't it a pity the doctor doesn't know Illakee,
or whatever they call it? I fancy he will soon be able to make Mak
understand."

"Yes," said Dean drowsily. "Who would ever have thought he could play
at surgeon like that? I believe he could do anything if he liked."

"Yes. I will tell him you said so when we are on our way to Wonder Wood
to-morrow morning."

But Mark did not, for they did not go to Wonder Wood, as the boy called
it, for the simple reason that a strange surprise awaited them just as
Dan had announced that breakfast was ready.

"What is for breakfast this morning?" said Mark.

"Flapjack, sir, buck bones stooed, and tea."

"Tea, and no milk!" said Mark grumpily. "Why, if we had thought of
it--"

"Yes, sir," said Dan, catching him up sharply, "I did think of it, only
last night, when I was wondering what I should get ready for breakfast."

"Why, what did you think of?" said Mark sharply.

"That it would have been as easy as easy, sir, to have had half a dozen
bullocks less in the teams, and--"

"Why, what difference would that make?" said Mark. "What good would
that do?"