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Then the past opened its stores； and lent Christopher a word。
〃BARBARIANS！〃 he roared； and seized a gigantic Kafir by the throat；
just as his shambok descended for the hundredth time。 There was a
mighty struggle； as of two Titans； dust flew round the combatants
in a cloud； a whirling of big bodies； and down they both went with
an awful thud； the Saxon uppermost； by Nature's law。
The Kafir's companions； amazed at first； began to roll their eyes
and draw a knife or two； but Dick ran forward； and said； 〃Don't
hurt him： he is wrong HERE。〃
This representation pacified them more readily than one might have
expected。 Dick added hastily； 〃We'll get you out of the hole OUR
way； and cry quits。〃
The proposal was favorably received； and the next minute
Christopher and Ucatella at one wheel； and Dick and the Hottentot
at the other； with no other help than two pointed iron bars bought
for their shepherds； had effected what sixteen oxen could not。 To
do this Dick Dale had bared his arm to the shoulder； it was a
stalwart limb； like his sister's； and he now held it out all
swollen and corded； and slapped it with his other hand。 〃Look'ee
here； you chaps；〃 said he： 〃the worst use a man can put that there
to is to go cutting out a poor beast's heart for not doing more
than he can。 You are good fellows； you Kafirs； but I think you
have sworn never to put your shoulder to a wheel。 But； bless your
poor silly hearts； a little strength put on at the right place is
better than a deal at the wrong。〃
〃You hear that； you Kafir chaps？〃 inquired Ucatella； a little
arrogantlyfor a Kafir。
The Kafirs； who had stood quite silent to imbibe these remarks；
bowed their heads with all the dignity and politeness of Roman
senators； Spanish grandees； etc。； and one of the party replied
gravely； 〃The words of the white man are always wise。〃
〃And his arm blanked* strong；〃 said Christopher's late opponent；
from whose mind； however； all resentment had vanished。
* I take this very useful expression from a delightful volume by
Mr。 Boyle。
Thus spake the Kafirs； yet to this day never hath a man of all
their tribe put his shoulder to a wheel； so strong is custom in
South Africa； probably in all Africa； since I remember St。 Augustin
found it stronger than he liked； at Carthage。
Ucatella went to Phoebe； and said； 〃Missy； my child is good and
brave。〃
〃Bother you and your child！〃 said poor Phoebe。 〃To think of his
flying at a giant like that； and you letting of him。 I'm all of a
tremble from head to foot：〃 and Phoebe relieved herself with a cry。
〃Oh； missy！〃 said Ucatella。
〃There； never mind me。 Do go and look after your child； and keep
him out of more mischief。 I wish we were safe at Dale's Kloof； I
do。〃
Ucatella complied； and went botanizing with Dr。 Staines； but that
gentleman； in the course of his scientific researches into camomile
flowers and blasted heath； which were all that lovely region
afforded； suddenly succumbed and stretched out his limbs； and said；
sleepily； 〃Good…nightUcat〃 and was off into the land of Nod。
The wagon； which； by the way； had passed the larger but slower
vehicle； found him fast asleep； and Ucatella standing by him as
ordered； motionless and grand。
〃Oh； dear！ what now？〃 said Phoebe： but being a sensible woman；
though in the hen and chickens line； she said； 〃'Tis the fighting
and the excitement。 'Twill do him more good than harm； I think：〃
and she had him bestowed in the wagon； and never disturbed him
night nor day。 He slept thirty…six hours at a stretch； and when he
awoke； she noticed a slight change in his eye。 He looked at her
with an interest he had not shown before； and said； 〃Madam； I know
you。〃
〃Thank God for that；〃 said Phoebe。
〃You kept a little shop； in the other world。〃
Phoebe opened her eyes with some little alarm。
〃You understandthe world that is locked upfor the present。〃
〃Well； sir； so I did； and sold you milk and butter。 Don't you
mind？〃
〃Nothe milk and butterthey are locked up。〃
The country became wilder； the signs of life miserably sparse；
about every twenty miles the farmhouse or hut of a degenerate Boer；
whose children and slaves pigged together； and all ran jostling；
and the mistress screamed in her shrill Dutch； and the Hottentots
all chirped together； and confusion reigned for want of method：
often they went miles； and saw nothing but a hut or two； with a
nude Hottentot eating flesh； burnt a little； but not cooked； at the
door； and the kloofs became deeper and more turbid； and Phoebe was
in an agony about her salt； and Christopher advised her to break it
in big lumps； and hang it all about the wagon in sacks； and she
did； and Ucatella said profoundly； 〃My child is wise；〃 and they
began to draw near home； and Phoebe to fidget； and she said to
Christopher； 〃Oh； dear！ I hope they are all alive and well： once
you leave home； you don't know what may have happened by then you
come back。 One comfort； I've got Sophy： she is very dependable；
and no beauty； thank my stars。〃
That night； the last they had to travel； was cloudy； for a wonder；
and they groped with lanterns。
Ucatella and her child brought up the rear。 Presently there was a
light pattering behind them。 The swift…eared Ucatella clutched
Christopher's arm； and turning round； pointed back； with eyeballs
white and rolling。 There were full a dozen animals following them；
whose bodies seemed colorless as shadows； but their eyes little
balls of flaming lime…light。
〃GUN！〃 said Christie； and gave the Kafir's arm a pinch。 She flew
to the caravan； he walked backwards； facing the foe。 The wagon was
halted； and Dick ran back with two loaded rifles。 In his haste he
gave one to Christopher； and repented at leisure； but Christopher
took it； and handled it like an experienced person； and said； with
delight； 〃VOLUNTEER。〃 But with this the cautious animals had
vanished like bubbles。 But Dick told Christopher they would be
sure to come back； he ordered Ucatella into the wagon； and told her
to warn Phoebe not to be frightened if guns should be fired。 This
soothing message brought Phoebe's white face out between the
curtains； and she implored them to get into the wagon； and not
tempt Providence。
〃Not till I have got thee a kaross of jackal's fur。〃
〃I'll never wear it！〃 said Phoebe violently； to divert him from his
purpose。
〃Time will show；〃 said Dick dryly。 〃These varmint are on and off
like shadows； and as cunning as Old Nick。 We two will walk on
quite unconcerned like； and as soon as ever the varmint are at our
heels you give us the office； and we'll pepper their furwon't we；
doctor？〃
〃Wewillpeppertheir fur；〃 said Christopher； repeating what to
him was a lesson in the ancient and venerable English tongue。
So they walked on expectant； and by and by the four…footed shadows
with large lime…light eyes came stealing on； and Phoebe shrieked；
and they vanished before the men could draw a bead on them。
〃Thou's no use at this work； Pheeb；〃 said Dick。 〃Shut thy eyes；
and let us have Yuke。〃
〃Iss； master： here I be。〃
〃You can bleat like a lamb； for I've heard ye。〃
〃Iss； master。 I bleats beau