our shadow.
Oh, but one word," the captain added. "Your men seem quiet,
respectable fellows, but it might be advisable for you to say a few
words to them about their treatment of your guide. You know what I
mean--about their looking upon him as a nigger. I don't think you need
speak to Buck Denham, the big bullock driver, nor to the Hottentot.
There."

Sir James and the doctor offered plenty of words of thanks, at which the
captain laughed.

"My dear sirs," he said, "not a word more. Put yourselves in my place
and suppose I came up country as you did. Wouldn't you have been as
pleased as I and our mess are to meet a brother Englishman so far away
from home? So not a word more but these: If ever I can serve you in any
way, here I am, and you know my name. There, boys, we will see you off
when you start, and fire a salute, just as if we had had a visit from
the Prince."

CHAPTER EIGHT.

MARK'S FIRST WATCH.

"Now, look here," said Sir James, "we have talked all this matter over
quite enough, and it is high time that we started in a business-like
way, so as to avoid all confusion."

"Hear, hear," said the boys together, and Sir James went on.

"First of all, I am nobody."

"Oh! Oh, I say, father!" cried Mark laughing.

"You hold your tongue, and don't interrupt. I repeat that I am nobody,
only a visitor who looks on and joins in the sport when I feel so
disposed, and one whom you and your men must take care of."

"But we must have a captain, sir, to give all orders."

"Of course," said Sir James. "I constitute you captain; you, Mark,
first lieutenant; Dean, second lieutenant."

"But, Sir James--"

"Dr Robertson, I have planned all this, and I presume that I have a
right to do as I please."

"Certainly, sir," said the doctor.

"And perhaps I may think it right to interfere when things are going on
not to satisfy me."

"Of course, sir;" and the boys looked at one another.

"Well," continued Sir James, "we have arrived at this pitch, that we are
quite independent of the inn. I have paid everybody, and for the last
two nights we have been practising camping out, and are going to sleep
again to-night in our waggons as we intend to do during our campaign.
You, Robertson, have reported to me that everything is properly packed,
the waggons loaded with our stores. You have trained our men to occupy
their places; we make this waggon our tent or fort to sleep in or sleep
under, according to the