Part 17 (1/2)
”_Ja, Baas_”
”But it isn't all right, you _schepsel_!” Then lowering his voice to a whisper, ”Where is the gun?”
”_Yau_! What gun, _Baas_?”
Sonnenberg nearly choked with fury, and h to strike the Kaffir The latter, however, h there were no infuriated white man within a mile of him
”Look here!” stuttered the Jew, ”if you don't drop this infernal fooling I'll--I'll--kill you Didn't you tell ht?
Didn't you?”
”Childlike and bland” hardly expresses the mild open reproachfulness which sat upon Tom's broad and sable countenance He shook his head with a pleasant sun You asked ot what I wanted, and I replied that I did”
The Jew fairly danced; to the vast but veiled amusement of his retainer, ould have a delicious incident to relate fros forday; for Kaffirs are keenin his wrath would throds into roaring, rolling, riotous laughter, whenever he should feel like bringing it forth
”You damnable black scoundrel!” hissed the Jew ”Give o to hell”
”Nay what, _Baas_ You gave un, and now you ask it back Besides, I have not got it My brother Ndi care of it”
”I'll have you both in the _tronk_ for theft You'll get five years at least, the pair of you infernal thieves”
”Theft? Thieves?” repeated the Kaffir, in , _Baas_ Did you not give un with, and tell et it? My brother Ndiain Nay, _Baas_, I can't return it, for Ndiet a gun I thought I had better pay it”
Sonnenberg turned perfectly livid, and fairly gasped for breath He sa cohtest intention of returning the lorious chance of being even with the latter for ood faith he had intended to make the purchase, and then depart for the seat of war But Roden's unco refusal, and the words he had used in reference to Sonnenberg, had thrown a new light on thetheir walk home, and had concluded to keep thewould never dare tothere, mad with helpless wrath, the shrewd brain of the Jew had already realised thatpresent when the rave, too, would testify that the boy had ht, which would be so far circumstantially corroborative On his side he had only Lah Lambert had been present at the transaction he understood hardly any Dutch, in which tongue the affair had been negotiated Besides, Laood bit of an ass, and under cross-exaive both of thee of theft he would have to sho and when he had missed theit Tom was known, too, as a particularly honest and well-conducted boy, while he, Sonnenberg, laboured under the disadvantage of being a very shady sort of custorave ell known--and his vows of vengeance against the latter had been made often and publicly No, it would never do The combination of coincidences would have far too fishy a look Besides, the very suspicion of having endeavoured to supply a native with firearms, no matter hat object, would be more than likely to dran upon him most unpleasantly practical demonstrations of popular wrath, and that there were lad of a pretext to foment, and take part in such he ell aware There was no harht as well have spared himself the trouble At all his threats and pro, shaking his fist in the boy's face, ordered him to clear out, to leave his service there and then, which request was es up to date
”I'll see you in hell before I'll pay you a cent, you damned black thief,” screah already Get out of this, now, at once, or I'll kick you out”
”_Au_!”
”Do you hear?” screa a step But the other did not es
”You'll get nothing froo, before I kick you out What--you will have it? All right Take that”
But ”that” fell upon ely look had coood-hued the blow ai weakness in this abstinence, rushed at hi a person out of anywhere may constitute a tolerably resonant threat; but to render it in any way an efficacious one, it follows that the kicker must be of a vastly more powerful habit of body than the kickee, of which salutary consideration Sonnenberg had coe, he returned to the charge Now, Toht nothing of carrying a muidsack of mealies or other stuff on his back as often as required, in the process of loading or off-loading waggons in front of the store, whereas his eh, and took a precious dealexercise; consequently, when these two closed, the tussle could have but one result That result was Sonnenberg on his back in the dust of the yard, and the Kaffir sitting upon hi to refrain froth, help not arriving, had no alternative but to do, whereupon his servitor was as good as his word, and in a trice Sonnenberg was standing upright again, the back of his coat and trousers bearing a strong family likeness to Lot's wife subsequent to her ”conversion,” shaking his fist wildly, and rolling out curses thick and es Then he fished so them at Tom, ordered hi of it and more to pay the fine that would be put upon him for this assault
The Kaffir, whose face had resuood-humour, picked up thesatisfied hies, coolly pocketed it, and took his departure
Scarcely were the public offices open than Sonnenberg caainst To which that astute child of natureout a cross-summons, and in the result both were dis on the very strange circuh a , and yet not going to render assistance And Sonnenberg had the pleasure of paying a guinea to the law-agent, Tasker, having--unwisely-- e Toainer by the full aes, over and above the suenerously presented hi more, however, was said about this, and a few days later he disappeared froe and swear, as he reflected how he had been done, and, thinking to recognise his hand in the hout, eance upon Roden Musgrave
CHAPTER FIFTEEN