till West
stepped down to them, when the Kaffir sprang up without awakening
Ingleborough.

"Olebo look for Boers now," he said.

West hesitated, and the Kaffir grasped the meaning of his silence.

"Olebo come and tell baas when big old baas go to fetch Boers," he said.

"So you did," cried the young Englishman warmly, "and I'll trust you
now. Mind the ponies don't stray away."

The black showed his beautiful, white teeth in a happy satisfied laugh.

"Too much grass, too much nice water," he said. "Basuto pony don't go
away from baas only to find grass."

"You're right!" said West. "Wait till the sun is there!" he continued,
pointing to where it would be about two hours after mid-day, "and then
wake the other baas."

The Kaffir nodded, and West lay down to rest, as he put it to himself,
for he was convinced that he would be unable to sleep; but he had not
lain back five minutes, gazing at the sunlit rivulet and the ponies
grazing, before his lids closed and all was nothingness till he was
roused by a touch from Ingleborough.

The sun was just dipping like a huge orange ball in the vermilion and
golden west.

"Had a good nap, old fellow?"

"Oh, it's wonderful!" said the young man, springing up. "I don't seem
to have been asleep five minutes."

"I suppose not. Well, all's right, and Blackjack is waiting to say
good-bye. He wants to start off home."

The Kaffir came up from where he had been patting and caressing the
ponies, and stood looking at them as motionless in the ruddy evening
light as a great bronze image.

"Olebo go now," he said, turning his shield to show that the remains of
his share of the provisions were secured to the handle by a rough net of
freshly-plaited grassy rush. "Olebo see baas, both baas, some day." He
accompanied the words with a wistful look at each, and before they could
think of what to say in reply he turned himself sharply and ran off at a
rapid rate, getting out of sight as quickly as he could by keeping close
to the bushes, before striking out into the veldt.

"Humph! I suppose they are treacherous savages, some of them," said
Ingleborough thoughtfully; "but there doesn't seem to be much harm in
that fellow if he were used well."

"I believe he'd make a very faithful servant," said West sadly. "I'm
beginning to be sorry we let him go."

"So am I. We shall feel quite lonely without him. But the despatch."

"Ah, yes, the despatch!" said West, pulling himself