n his rein hand, while he
rearranged the tusks in his pocket, to keep them from rattling.

"Which way are we going?" he said.

"Let's try west; we may perhaps see ostriches."

"Oh, don't talk about them," cried Dyke; "I do get so tired of the
wretches. I say, that young cock number two showed fight at me this
morning, and kicked. He just missed my leg."

"What? Oh, you must be careful, old chap. I can't afford to have your
leg broken. But, I say, I had a look at the stores this morning before
we started."

"I saw you, and wondered what you were doing."

"The mealie bag is nearly empty. One of us will have to take the wagon
across to old Morgenstein's and buy stores."

"Why not both go? It would make a change."

"I'll tell you, little un. When we got back, half the birds would be
dead, and the other half all over the veldt."

"Oh, bother those old ostriches! they're always in the way," cried Dyke.
"All right, Joe; I'll stop and mind them, only don't be longer than you
can help."

"I can't see how it can be done in less than ten days, old fellow," said
Emson thoughtfully; "and if the old Boer is away, it may take a
fortnight."

"All right; I won't mind," said Dyke with a sigh. "I'll take care of
the place, and I'm going to try some new plans. There shan't be a
single bird die. I say, oughtn't those young birds to be out by now?"

"I've been expecting them every day for a week," said Emson, rather
dolefully. "But, look here, little un: if you took Jack with you, do
you think you could manage the journey yourself?"

Dyke turned on his horse and looked quite startled.

"There's the driving."

"Jack would drive," said Emson hastily.

"And the inspanning and outspanning."

"Which he could see to."

"And camping out in the wagon alone."

"Yes: you'd want good fires every night; but I can't help it, old
fellow. Only one could go, and you'd be happier with the work and
excitement than you would be moping at the house, all alone, and
watching for me to come back."

"But that would be just as bad for you, Joe; and you'd be thinking that
the lions had got me."

"No, I shouldn't; but I should be trembling for the oxen, my boy.
There, I've made up my mind to send you, and you'll go."

"Oh, I'll go," said Dyke sturdily; "but why not go to Oom Schlagen? it's
twenty miles nearer. He has a much better lot of things and is more
civil than Morgenstern."

"Yes, I know all that, little un," said Em