“I have no reason to disbelieve it,” said Mack, in a tone the boys did not like to hear. “They’re always roaming about, these Bushmen are. They’re something like what I think your Indians must be from what I hear of them. Although they go about on foot—the only reason they steal cattle is because they want something to eat—they get over a good stretch of country in a day, and jump down on a fellow before he knows they are near him. If I owned this wagon I’d turn back. We’ve got a journey of four weeks to make before we reach the Griquas’ principal town, and if the Bushmen are about they’ll have plenty of time to find us. We shall see trouble before many days.”
The trouble began that very night. It was commenced by the Kaffirs, who had overheard what the Boers said to Mack, and were greatly troubled by it. When the wagon halted for the night, these worthies went about the work of outspanning very reluctantly. They did not shout and sing as they usually did when their day’s labor was over, but went into the sulks, and acted like a lot of children who had been denied something their parents thought they ought not to have. Uncle Dick, who lay on his blanket under his tent enjoying his pipe, watched their actions for a few minutes and then called Frank to his side. “Just keep your weather eye open to-night, and see that the horses all come in,” said he, in a low tone, “and tell the rest of the boys to be very careful of their guns.”
“You know what that Boer said to Mack about the Bushmen, don’t you? Well, the Kaffirs heard it and are laying their plans to leave us. They are afraid of those wild men of the desert.”
“I am not particularly anxious to meet them,” said Uncle Dick, with a smile, “but I am not going to run until I see something to run from, and neither do I mean that our property shall be stolen. These Kaffirs are noted for deserting their employers when things don’t go to their liking, and they take care not to leave empty-handed. They always steal the best of the horses and the best of the guns, too, if they can get their hands on them. We must have a guard every night from this time forward. Don’t you think it would be a good plan?”
This question was addressed to the driver, who had been standing in the door of the tent long enough to overhear the most of what Uncle Dick said to Frank.