Off to the Wilds | Page 8

Chicory, who also rose to his feet, and in obedience to a word from his
brother they took their assegais and hid them in a tree which formed
their armoury--for out of its branches Chicory took the two kiris or
clubs; and then the boys ran round to the front, and stood making signs.
The brothers had such a keen love of anything in the way of sport that,
expecting something new, they ran out and willingly followed the two
young blacks out into the grassy plain about a mile from the house,
when after posting their young masters behind a bush, Coffee and
Chicory whispered to them to watch, and then began to advance
cautiously through the grass, kiri in hand, their eyes glistening as they
keenly peered from side to side.

"What are they going to do?" said Dick.
"I don't know. Show us something. I wish we had brought our guns.
Look out!"
There was a whirring of wings, and the two Zulu boys struck attitudes
that would have been models for a sculptor; then as a large bird similar
to a partridge rose up, Coffee sent his knobbed club whizzing through
the air; another bird rose, and Chicory imitated his brother's act; and the
result was, that the cleverly thrown kiris hit the birds, which fell in
amongst the long grass, from which they were retrieved by the lads
with shouts of triumph--the birds proving to be the coranne, so called
from the peculiarity of their cry.
"Well done, boys!" cried Jack. "They'll be good eating."
"Boss Dick, Boss Jack take Zulu boys, now?" said the kiri-throwers,
eagerly.
"Why, of course. You know you are going," replied Dick.
"Dinny say Zulu boys not going," cried Chicory.
"Then Dinny knows nothing about it," said Dick, angrily. "If he don't
mind he'll be left behind himself."
Coffee sent his kiri spinning up in the air, Chicory followed suit, each
catching the weapon again with ease; and then they both dashed off
across the plain as if mad, and to the astonishment of the brothers, who
took the brace of birds and walked back towards the house, to continue
the preparations for the start.
For there was so much to do, packing the great long tilted waggon with
necessaries, in the shape of tea, sugar, coffee, and chocolate. Barrels of
mealies or Indian corn, and wheaten flour, besides. Salt too, had to be
taken, and a large store of ammunition; for in addition to boxes well
filled with cartridges, they took a keg or two of powder and a quantity
of lead. Then there were rolls of brass wire, and a quantity of showy

beads--the latter commodities to take the place of money in exchanges
with the natives--salt, powder, and lead answering the same purpose.
It was a delightful task to the boys, who thoroughly enjoyed the
packing, and eagerly asked what every package contained, when they
had no opportunity of opening it; while Mr Rogers looked on, smiling
at the interest they took.
"Here y'are, young gentlemen," said Dinny. "The masther seems to
think that you're going to do nothing but suck sweet-stuff all the time
you're out."
"Why, what's that, Dinny?" cried Dick, who had just brought out a
heavy box.
"Sure, it's sugar-shticks and candy," said Dinny; and he went off to
fetch something else.
"Why, so it is, Dick," said Jack. "I say, father, are we to pack this
sweet-stuff in the waggon? We don't want it."
"Indeed, but we do," said his father, coming up. "Why a handful of
sweet-stuff will make friends with a Boer, when everything else fails.
Here, put this in the fore box. Perhaps, when I bring this out you'll be
glad to get at the sweet-stuff."
"What is it, father?" said Dick.
Mr Rogers opened the little deal case and turned it out, to begin
packing it again.
"Here's a bottle of chloroform, and another of castor oil; two bottles of
chlorodyne; a pound of Epsom salts; four large boxes of pills; a roll of
sticking-plaster; a pot of zinc ointment; and a bottle of quinine and one
of rhubarb and magnesia."
Jack's countenance was a study. For as his father carefully repacked the
little box the lad's face grew into a hideous grimace. He waited till Mr

Rogers had finished his enumeration, and then clapping his
handkerchief over his mouth, he uttered a loud "Ugh!" and ran and
stood a few yards away.
"I shan't go," he cried.
"Why not?" said Mr Rogers, smiling.
"Why the waggon will smell, of nothing but physic. What's the good of
taking it, father?"
"The good? Well, my boy, there's nothing like being prepared; and we
are going far away from doctors, if we wanted their help. We may none
of us be unwell, but