him.

"Oh, come," he said, "not the first time you have been on a pony;" for
Mark held up one leg, which the man took in his hand and gave him a
hoist; and the boy making a spring at the same time dropped on the
pony's glossy back, but like vaulting ambition overleaped himself and
rolled over on the other side, startling the pony into making off. But
the dealer made a snatch at the halter, just in time, and it stopped
short, snorting.

"Hurt, my boy?" cried Sir James, anxiously.

"No, father; only vexed," said the boy, dusting the sand from his
flannels. "Now then," he continued, to the dealer, "you hoisted me too
hard."

"Going to have another try?"

"Why, of course," cried the boy angrily. "Think I was frightened by a
thing like that?"

"You'll do; you'll do," said the dealer, with a little chuckle. "Now
then; it was half my fault, and half yours."

The next moment Mark was in his seat, holding his mount with a tight
hand as it began to paw up the sand, eager to start.

"Wait for me," cried Dean, for the dealer was clapping the halter on
another of the ponies, whose back Dean reached without mishap; and then
as if thoroughly accustomed to run together, the attractive looking
little pair moved off at an easy canter, closely followed by the other
two, and going soon after at a quiet hand gallop twice round the large
kraal, and stopping short close up to the dealer at the end of their
career.

The boys jumped down, and the two unmounted ponies waited patiently
while the halters were shifted and the performance repeated.

"Well, gentlemen, are you satisfied?" said the man, patting the ponies'
necks as he spoke.

"Yes, quite," said Sir James. "What do you say, doctor?"

"I should say more than satisfied, only I am afraid that they won't be
up to our weight."

"Don't you make any mistake, sir. These little fellows can do more than
you expect--that is, if you treat them well. You won't ride them till
they founder, I'll be bound. Just you take care that they have enough,
and you will find that they will do all you want. You would like me to
keep them till you start, I suppose?"

"Certainly," said the doctor; and soon after the little party returned
to their inn, the boys talking eagerly about their new acquaintance.

"But I say, father," said Mark, "why, what a party we are going to be--
five men, our four selves, four ponies, and all those oxen. Let's see;
that's all, isn't it?"

"No," said S