Charge! | Page 4

the Cape and settle there. They'll grow
up well and strong in the new land, and I shall try to make a home for
them yonder.' `Yes, John,' I said, `that's the very thing you ought to do.'
`Ah,' he said, `but it means leaving you behind, Jenny, dear, and you'll
perhaps never set eyes upon them again.' `Oh, yes, I shall, John,' I said,
`for I've come to stay.' `What!' he cried; `would you go with us, sis?'
`Yes,' I said, `to the very end of the world.' So we came here, Val,
where there's plenty of room, and no neighbours to find fault with our
ways."
That's how it was; and now I can admire and think of how Aunt Jenny,
the prim maiden lady, gave up all her own old ways to set to and work
and drudge for us all, living in a wagon and then in a tent, and smiling
pleasantly at the trees we planted, and bringing us lunch where we
were working away, dragging down stones for the house which
progressed so slowly, though father's ideas wore modest.
"For," said he, "we'll build one big stone room, Val, and make it into

two with part of the tent. Then by-and-by we'll build another room
against it, and then another and another till we get it into a house."
Yes, it was hard work getting the stones, and we were busy enough one
day in the hot sunshine, about a month after the wagon had been with
the trees and stores, when Bob suddenly stood shading his eyes, and
cried:
"Some one's coming!"
We looked up, and there, far in the distance, I saw a black figure
striding along under a great, broad matting-hat.
"Why, it looks like that great Kaffir, father," I said.
"Nonsense, boy," he replied; "the Kaffirs all look alike at a distance."
"But it is, father," I cried excitedly. "Look; he's waving his big hat
because he sees us." I waved mine in answer; and directly after he
began to run, coming up laughing merrily, and ending by throwing
down three assagais and the bundle he carried, as he cried:
"Come back, boss."
We gave him something to eat, and the next minute he was lifting and
carrying stones, working like a slave; and at night he told me in his
way that he was going to stop along with old boss and young boss and
little boss and old gal, and never go away no more.
CHAPTER TWO.
OUR UGLY VISITOR.
The black fellow's arrival at such a time was most welcome; but my
father put no faith in his declaration.
"They're all alike, Val," he said. "He's a quick worker, and as willing
and good-tempered as a man can be; but he'll only stay with us till he

has earned wages enough to buy himself some bright-coloured blankets
and handkerchiefs, and then he'll be off back to his tribe."
"Think so, father?" I said. "He seems to like us all here. He says it's
better than being with the Boers. He always says he means to stay."
"He does mean it, of course," said my father; "but these black fellows
are like big children, and are easily led away by some new attraction.
We shall wake up some morning and find him gone."
But seven years glided away, during which apprenticeshiplike time
Joeboy, as we called him--for he would not be content with Joe when
he had heard the "boy" after it once or twice, "Joeboy" quite taking his
fancy--worked for us constantly, and became the most useful of fellows
upon our farm, ready to do anything and do it well, as his strength
became tempered with education. In fact, it grew to be a favourite
saying with my father, "I don't know what we should have done
without Joeboy."
One of the first persons I saw that morning, when I trotted towards the
house after being called by my brother, was the great black hurrying
out to meet us; and as we got closer it was to see his face puckered up
and his eyes flashing, as he said to me hoarsely:
"Won't go, Boss Val; won't go. You tell the Boss I've run up into the
hills. Won't go."
"Here, what do you mean?" I said.
"Boss Boers come to fetch up go and fight. Won't go."
"Nonsense," I said. "I dare say they've only come to buy bullocks."
"No," said the black, shaking his head fiercely. "Come to fetch
Joeboy."
"Here, don't run away."
"On'y go up in kopje," he said. "Hide dar."

He rushed away, and I was sure I knew where he would hide himself.
Then I walked on with my brother, to find my father and Aunt Jenny by
the door.
"What's it all about,