and who
albeit a bit rough was rather a good fellow. His weakness was an
intense susceptibility as to the "warmth" of his summit, and he had been
known to thrash more than one of his Kafirs to an unmerciful degree
simply by reason of overhearing the use among them of his native name,
"Ibomvu" (red). "Why, what'd we do in a country like this if we didn't
turn out and help each other? Eh, Holt?"

"That's so," I answered; and now we adjourned to the house where Stoffel
Pexter's _vrouw_ had laid out cups of scalding hot coffee and _koekjes_.
The worthy Boer was exceedingly cordial towards us, for the expedition
we were on appealed more than anything to his sympathies, and to those
of his class. The same thing might happen to himself at any time. The
Kafirs were thieving, murdering dogs in his estimation, not a shade
better than wild beasts--in short, our natural enemies. So he wished us
every success; and further, pressed upon us a bag of biltong, which he
thought might come in handy before we got back. And we thought so too.

We took up the spoor at the place where the stolen animals were seen to
cross the river. It was indeed as broad as a waggon road, as Brian had
predicted, even to a tyro such as myself, for the ground was studded
with fresh hoof marks; but the marauders were evidently old hands at the
game, for avoiding steep hills which might blow the animals, they had
made use of a narrow cattle track winding along through a deep rugged
ravine, but ever ascending. We, however, had managed to travel much
faster, and very soon halted to blow the horses on the heights
overlooking the river valley, where, like a toy house in the distance,
we could see the dwelling we had recently left. Here we came up with
Dumela, who had started on ahead, and had made the distance in most
excellent time.

Now we commanded a new view of country. Before us unfolded a panorama
of wide rolling plain and bushy kloof, stretching away to further
heights--dark, forest-clad and beautiful--but, on our then errand,
forbidding. At these Dumela gazed fixedly, as he said, in his
roundabout native way--

"Only if they are strong enough to keep it do those who steal an ox
flaunt its skin in everybody's face. It is there you will find the
oxen."

"How do you know that, Dumela?" said the irrepressible Trask, in Dutch,
when this had been translated to us. The Kafir grinned with, I thought,
a touch of contempt, and which wholly amused