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