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they are all higgledy…piggledy。〃 So those two got into the wagon
through the back curtains。 Then the Kafir driver flourished his
kambok； or long whip； in the air； and made it crack like a pistol；
and the horses reared； and the oxen started and slowly bored in
between them； for they whinnied； and kicked； and spread out like a
fan all over the road； but a flick or two from the terrible kambok
soon sent them bleeding and trembling and rubbing shoulders； and
the oxen； mildly but persistently goring their recalcitrating
haunches； the intelligent animals went ahead； and revenged
themselves by breaking the harness。 But that goes for little in
Cape travel。
The body of the wagon was long and low and very stout。 The tilt
strong and tight…made。 The roof inside； and most of the sides；
lined with green baize。 Curtains of the same to the little window
and the back。 There was a sort of hold literally built full of
purchases； a small fireproof safe； huge blocks of salt； saws； axes；
pickaxes； adzes； flails； tools innumerable； bales of wool and linen
stuff； hams； and two hundred empty sacks strewn over all。 In large
pigeon…holes fixed to the sides were light goods； groceries；
collars； glaring cotton handkerchiefs for Phoebe's aboriginal
domestics； since not every year did she go to Cape Town； a twenty
days' journey by wagon： things dangled from the very roof； but no
hard goods there； if you please； to batter one's head in a spill。
Outside were latticed grooves with tent； tent…poles； and rifles。
Great pieces of cork； and bags of hay and corn； hung dangling from
mighty hooksthe latter to feed the cattle； should they be
compelled to camp out on some sterile spot on the Veldt； and
methinks to act as buffers； should the whole concern roll down a
nullah or little precipice； no very uncommon incident in the
blessed region they must pass to reach Dale's Kloof。
Harness mended； fresh start。 The Hottentots and Kafir vociferated
and yelled； and made the unearthly row of a dozen wild beasts
wrangling： the horses drew the bullocks； they the wagon； it crawled
and creaked； and its appendages wobbled finely。
Slowly they creaked and wobbled past apricot hedges and detached
houses and huts； and got into an open country without a tree； but
here and there a stunted camel…thorn。 The soil was arid； and grew
little food for man or beast； yet； by a singular freak of nature；
it put forth abundantly things that here at home we find it harder
to raise than homely grass and oats； the ground was thickly clad
with flowers of delightful hues； pyramids of snow or rose…color
bordered the track； yellow and crimson stars bejewelled the ground；
and a thousand bulbous plants burst into all imaginable colors； and
spread a rainbow carpet to the foot of the violet hills； and all
this glowed； and gleamed； and glittered in a sun shining with
incredible brightness and purity of light； but； somehow； without
giving a headache or making the air sultry。
Christopher fell to gathering flowers； and interrogating the past
by means of them； for he had studied botany： the past gave him back
some pitiably vague ideas。 He sighed。 〃Never mind；〃 said he to
Dick； and tapped his forehead： 〃it is here： it is only locked up。〃
〃All right；〃 said Dick； 〃nothing is lost when you know where 'tis。〃
〃This is a beautiful country；〃 suggested Christopher。 〃It is all
flowers。 It is like the garden ofthe garden oflocked up。〃
〃It is delightful；〃 replied the self…compelled optimist
sturdily。 But here nature gave way； he was obliged to relieve his
agricultural bile by getting into the cart and complaining to his
sister。 〃'Twill take us all our time to cure him。 He have been
bepraising this here soil； which it is only fit to clean the
women's kettles。 'Twouldn't feed three larks to an acre； I know；
no； NOR HALF SO MANY。〃
〃Poor soul！ mayhap the flowers have took his eye。 Sit here a bit；
Dick。 I want to talk to you about a many things。〃
While these two were conversing； Ucatella； who was very fond of
Phoebe； but abhorred wagons； stepped out and stalked by the side；
like an ostrich； a camelopard； or a Taglioni； nor did the effort
with which she subdued her stride to the pace of the procession
appear： it was the poetry of walking。 Christopher admired it a
moment； but the noble expanse tempted him； and he strode forth like
a giant； his lungs inflating in the glorious air； and soon left the
wagon far behind。
The consequence was that when they came to a halt； and Dick and
Phoebe got out to release and water the cattle； there was
Christopher's figure retiring into space。
〃Hanc rem aegre tulit Phoebe；〃 as my old friend Livy would say。
〃Oh dear！ oh dear！ if he strays so far from us； he will be eaten up
at nightfall by jackals； or lions； or something。 One of you must
go after him。〃
〃Me go； missy；〃 said Ucatella zealously； pleased with an excuse for
stretching her magnificent limbs。
〃Ay； but mayhap he will not come back with YOU： will he； Dick？〃
〃That he will； like a lamb。〃 Dick wanted to look after the cattle。
〃Yuke； my girl；〃 said Phoebe； 〃listen。 He has been a good friend
of ours in trouble； and now he is not quite right HERE。 So be very
kind to him； but be sure and bring him back； or keep him till we
come。〃
〃Me bring him back alive； certain sure；〃 said Ucatella； smiling
from ear to ear。 She started with a sudden glide； like a boat
taking the water； and appeared almost to saunter away； so easy was
the motion； but when you looked at the ground she was covering； the
stride； or glide； or whatever it was； was amazing。
〃She seem'd in walking to devour the way。〃
Christopher walked fast； but nothing like this； and as he stopped
at times to botanize and gaze at the violet hills； and interrogate
the past； she came up with him about five miles from the halting…
place。
She laid her hand quietly on his shoulder； and said； with a broad
genial smile； and a musical chuckle； 〃Ucatella come for you。 Missy
want to speak you。〃
〃Oh！ very well；〃 and he turned back with her； directly； but she
took him by the hand to make sure； and they marched back peaceably；
in silence； and hand in hand。 But he looked and looked at her； and
at last he stopped dead short； and said； a little arrogantly；
〃Come； I know YOU。 YOU are not locked up；〃 and he inspected her
point…blank。 She stood like an antique statue； and faced the
examination。 〃You are 'the noble savage；'〃 said he； having
concluded his inspection。
〃Nay；〃 said she。 〃I be the housemaid。〃
〃The housemaid？〃
〃Iss； the housemaid； Ucatella。 So come on。〃 And she drew him
along； sore perplexed。
They met the cavalcade a mile from the halting…place； and Phoebe
apologized a little to Christopher。 〃I hope you'll excuse me；
sir；〃 said she； 〃but I am just for all the world like a hen with
her chickens； if but one strays； I'm all in a flutter till I get
him back。〃
〃Madam；〃 said Christopher； 〃I am very unhappy at the way things are
locked up。 Please tell me truly； is this 'the housemaid；' or 'the
noble savage'？〃
〃Well； she is both； if you go to that； and the best creature ever
breathed。〃
〃Then she IS 'the noble sa