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ck, beaming. "And that he felt ashamed of having been so idle, doing nothing but look on." "Idle be sat upon, sir!" cried the bluff fellow. "Why, he's the boss. What's a boss got to do but give his orders? Oh, he hasn't been idle, and as for the doctor, why, he's never at rest. Look here, Mr Mark, sir; I have journeyed about the world a good deal, same as Dan Mann has. You know I was a sailor and made several voyages before I settled down at Natal and took to driving a twenty-four-in-hand. But in all my wanderings about I never did run up against such a one as the doctor. He seems to know everything. Why, he's the best shot I ever see. Peter Dance and Bob Bacon are pretty tidy with their guns. I have matched myself agin them more than once when I have been out with them to get something for the pot, and I used to think I could shoot, but they beat me. But that doctor, sir, could if he liked do more with his left hand than I could with my right. You said he used to teach you young gents at home?" "Yes, Buck; anything and everything." "I suppose so, sir. Greek and Latin and mathics, and all that sort of stuff." "Yes, Buck," said Mark, laughing. "All that sort of stuff." "Ah, he would, sir. He's a splendid chap at lingo. I know a bit about that. I can get on fine with black Mak when I am in the humour, but that arn't always, for sometimes my head's as thick as it's long." "Oh, we all feel like that sometimes, Buck," said Mark. "I know I do. There were some days over my books that I could learn as easily as can be, and sometimes the doctor would say I was quite dense." "Dense, sir? What's that?" "Thick-headed." "Not you, sir," said Buck, laughing. "But as I was saying, I can get on a bit with black Mak, and I am beginning to pick up a bit better with the little Pig, as you young gents call him; and then there's old Hot-o'-my-Tot and t'other black. Yes, there's something alike, as you may say, about the way these black chaps speak; Mak and Pig, for instance. They know each of 'em what t'other says, more than a little. But the doctor, he's got so much book laming in him; he beats me with them. But I am real glad, sir, that the boss is satisfied, and I should like to tell the other chaps, if I may. I won't, sir, if you say I oughtn't to, for I don't want you to think because you young gentlemen treat me friendly like that I am all chatter and brag." "Tell them, by all means. Chatt
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