Part 83 (1/2)

”This” being a large tumbler of cool, sparkling lemonade, which she held in her hand. Sam took it with a grateful, pleasing e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n of thanks. A dusky savage, born in a remote kraal beneath the towering cones of the Kwahlamba range, he appreciated her thoughtful kindness far more than many a white ”Christian” would have done--the action more than the result.

”Dat good,” he said, after a long pull at the refres.h.i.+ng liquid, ”but not so good as see Missie Lilian again.”

She smiled at the genuine though inaccurately-worded compliment, and began questioning him, a little shyly at first, but soon so fast that she found herself asking the same questions over again, and hardly giving time for answers. Sam, who, like all natives, dearly loved to hear himself talk, once on the congenial topic of his master and the war, lectured away _ad libitum_.

”Missie Lilian--master he say, I stop here till he come back. I do everyting you tell me. If you want tell master anyting, you send Sam, straight--so!” and, extending his arm, he cracked his fingers in the direction of Kafirland with an expressive gesture. ”Sam he go in no time. Dat what Inkos say.”

”And, Sam--didn't your master tell you how long he would be away?”

”No, Missie Lilian--yes, he did. He say, be away not long--come back very soon--in few days. Yes, he come back in very few days--dat what Inkos say, de last ting.”

”A very few days!” Just what he had told Mrs Payne. Things looked promising.

”Was he looking--looking well, Sam? He has to travel alone, too,” she added, half to herself.

”No, Missie Lilian, he not ride 'lone. One Dutchman going back to laager. Inkos and dat Dutchman ride together. Inkos he buy horse from dat Dutchman--big young horse--'cos Fleck go lame. Dey see Amaxosa n.i.g.g.e.r, dey shoot--shoot. Amaxosa not hurt. Inkos--Amaxosa n.i.g.g.a no good. Ha?”

”Why, Sam; you don't mean they met any Kafirs?” exclaimed Lilian in alarm.

”No. Dey not see any n.i.g.g.a, Missie Lilian. Sam mean _if_ dey see Amaxosa dey shoot--shoot 'em dead. Bang!”

He did not tell her of the warning as to the dangers of the road, which the two troopers had given his master the last thing before he started.

It would only make her uneasy, and, besides, Sam had the most rooted faith in his chief's invulnerability.

Then Sam, being once under weigh, launched out into much reminiscence, all tending towards one point, the glorification of his master and his master's exploits; for which his said master would have been sorely tempted to kick him, could he have overheard; but which, to his present listener, was of all topics the most welcome.

”Hallo, Sam, you rascal! Where have you dropped from?”

”Evenin', Baas Payne!” said Sam, jumping to his feet, for he had been squatting, tailor-fas.h.i.+on, while Lilian had been talking to him. ”Sam, he come from Inkos. Inkos he say, Sam stay here till he come. Sam do all he told. Dat what Inkos say.”

”You've got fat, Sam, since we saw you last. Campaigning seems to agree with you,” said Payne.

The boy grinned, and, seeing that they had done with him, he returned to his work.

”I rather think I shall go to the front for a spell myself when Claverton comes back,” remarked Payne, as they went in.

”Oh, do you?” put in his wife, of whose presence he was unaware. ”And since when have you come to that conclusion, Mr George?”

He started. ”Hallo! I didn't know you there. But, seriously, it wouldn't do a fellow any harm. Needn't stay away long, you know. Shoot a few n.i.g.g.e.rs and come back again.”

”Yes, pa,” cried Harry, delightedly. ”Do go and shoot the Kafirs, and you'll be able to tell us such lots of stunning stories.”

”Oh, ah! Anything else in a small way, Master Harry?” said his father, ironically.

The urchin laughed.

”I want an a.s.segai,” he replied. ”A real Kafir a.s.segai; like the one Johnny Timms has got. It's a beauty. He throws it at the fowls in the garden.”