Part 22 (2/2)

”Why, of course he is Any fool could see that Why, they're always together, and then the way he looks, and the way he talks to her I mean not what he says, but the way he says it Of course they are spoons But he's a fine chap--hey, Kenrick?”

The young rascal, it will be observed, had reat yarn you've got hold of there, George,” I answered, ”but I should advise you not to be too fond of spinning it around, because I'm pretty certain Beryl wouldn't like it”

”Oh, of course I wouldn't say it to any one but you, Kenrick,” he answered, rather hurt I had taken the youngster so of late, and he was keen to accompany me on my rounds It had been decided that he o about alone; in fact, his father had been advised to send hiether, and was even then negotiating for a school for him in Port Elizabeth or Cape Town It could not be too far, it was represented

The boy's inconsequent chatter had given another turn to the knife He was a sharp youngster, and prone to get in everybody's way Probably he had seen or heard more between the two than we had, but as to this, of course, I should curtly have shut him up had he volunteered any such narrative to o home,” I said

”_Ja_, let's It's beastly cold, and I've had enough of it,” he answered, as if that decided thedrizzle was falling, and the hilltops over beyond the valley were hidden inthe slope in front, which looked indescribably dreary in the drawing-in afternoon, a spread of white specks and patches represented a thousand or so of sheep

”Why, there are several Kafirs there with Jabavu,” said George ”Look, Kenrick There are at least three of the hireat show of rounding up his flock

The other two stood still, awaiting our arrival They gave

”What do you do here, you two? Who are you?” I said in Kafir, which I could talk fairly well by that tinised the big savage, Sibuko, and in the other the felloho had announced his a my throat up there in the cattle-stealers' cave ”You What is your na at this latter

”Maqala”

The felloas staring at me with an expression of i, and it was all I could do to restrainmy whip about his shoulders; but I reh trouble of late, and it would be as well to avoid a fresh quarrel So I said--

”Go, Maqala Go, Sibuko You have no business here Go”

Theyas they slouched their blankets around thelances rested on the boy, the expression of their countenances was such that I thought it would be well if those school negotiations could be brought to a head as soon as possible Anyhow, that they were here to-day for no good was as certain as that they were here at all

”I wonder if they've been 'slaag-ing,'” said George

Evidently he was under no apprehension on the other head, which was as well

”I don't think so,” I answered, ”but we can count and see” So we called Jabavu, and having halted our horses a little way apart, made him drive the whole flock slowly between us The count was correct

The herd, as one of Kuliso's people, declared that these two had merely sat down for a while to have a chat What haras

This was undeniable, but I had a very unco on the subject of the encounter; and a conviction that these two scoundrels had joined hands through notheir opportunity for mischief, forced itself in upondusk, I al out what forainst it

A presenti and subject to no laws of reasoning whatever Such a presentier hung over souard Well, the only way to defeat it was never to be off our guard

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

DUMELA'S DEFECTION

”What do you think of this, Kenrick?” said Brian, as I went into the cattle kraal at s after ”Here's old Du he wants to leave”

The old cattle-herd was squatted on his heels on the ground Brian and his father were seated on a log listening to what he had to say This was not elizwe's ”Great Place,” away beyond the Tsoo and help the with hi on the farht he would not work any more