Part 12 (1/2)

But at last the feeding was done, the hens in attendance on the nest of eggs visited, where all seemed satisfactory, and then the horses were saddled, and Jack and Duke summoned.

The latter dashed up instantly; but Jack made no reply.

”Yes, he is spoiled,” said Emson. ”It has always seemed to be so much less trouble to saddle our own horses than to see that he did it properly; but we ought to have made him do it, little un.”

”Of course we ought,” said d.y.k.e. ”It isn't too late to begin now?”

”I'm afraid it is,” said Emson.--”Here! Hi! Jack,” he shouted; and the dog supplemented the cry by running toward the house, barking loudly, with the result that the Kaffir woman came out, saw at a glance what was wanted, and turned back.

The next minute there was a scuffling noise heard behind the place, accompanied by angry protesting voices, speaking loudly in the Kaffir tongue.

Then all at once Jack appeared, carrying three a.s.segais, and holding himself up with a great deal of savage dignity; but as he approached he was struck on the back of the head by a bone. He turned back angrily, but ducked down to avoid a dry cake of fuel, and ended by running to avoid further missiles, with his dignity all gone, for Tanta Sal's grinning face peeped round the corner, and she shouted: ”Jack bad sick, baas. All eat--seep.”

”Yes; that's what's the matter, Jack,” said Emson, shaking his head at him. ”Now take hold of the horse's mane, and I'll give you a good digestive run.”

There was no help for it. Jack seized the mane and trotted off beside the horse, while a derisive shout came from behind the house, and Tanta's grinning face re-appeared.

This was too much for Jack, who turned to shake his a.s.segais at her: the movement was unpropitious, for he stumbled and fell, but gathered himself up, caught up to the horse, and trotted on again, keeping on in the most untiring way, till a flight of carrion birds was sighted, hovering about the granite boulders, and perching here and there, as if ready for the banquet to come.

Duke charged forward at this, and the birds scattered, but did not go far; while the dog's approach started half-a-dozen jackals from among the bushes to which they had retired, and they now began scurrying over the plain. ”I wonder how they find out that there's anything dead, Joe,” said d.y.k.e; ”we did not see a single jackal or bird this morning.”

”Eyesight,” said Emson quietly. ”The vultures are sailing about on high, and one sees the dead animal; then other vultures see him making for it, and follow.”

”And the jackals see the vultures, and follow too?”

”That seems to be the way, old fellow. Anyhow, they always manage to find out where there's anything to eat.”

”I say, don't he look big?” said d.y.k.e, as the carca.s.s of the dead lion lay now well in sight.

”Yes; he's one of the finest I have seen. You ought to get the teeth out of his head, little un; they'd do to save up for your museum.”

”I will,” said d.y.k.e.

The next minute they had dismounted, and were removing the horses'

bridles to let them pick off the green shoots of the bushes. The rifles had been laid down, and Duke had gone snuffing about among the rocks, while Jack was proceeding to sharpen the edge of one of his a.s.segais, when the dog suddenly gave tongue. There was a furious roar, the horses pressed up together, and from close at hand a lion, evidently the companion of that lying dead, sprang out and bounded away, soon placing itself out of shot.

”Ought to have been with us this morning,” said d.y.k.e, as he called back the dog.

”Couldn't have done better if we had had him,” said Emson, quietly rolling up his sleeves, an example followed by the boy.

”Think that one will come back again?” was the next remark.

”Not while we are here,” was Emson's reply; and then, as the evening was drawing on, he set to work helping Jack, who was cleverly running the point and edge of his a.s.segai through the skin from the lion's chin to tail, and then inside each leg right down to the toes.

A busy time ensued, resulting in the heavy skin being removed uninjured, and rolled up and packed across Emson's horse.

”You'll have to leave the teeth till another day,” said Emson, as the stars began to peep out faintly, and they trotted homeward; but before they had left the carca.s.s a couple of hundred yards, a snapping, snarling, and howling made Duke stop short and look inquiringly up at his masters, as much as to say:

”Are you going to let them do that?” But at a word he followed on obediently, and the noise increased.