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Poor Jerry Goldboy, however, had sufficient faith in the reality of the vision to increase his nervous condition considerably, and he resolved to lie down with his "arms handy." These arms consisted of a flint-lock blunderbuss, an heirloom in his father's family, and a bowie-knife, which had been presented to him by an American cousin on his leaving England.
"Weel, weel, did ever 'ee see the like o' that, noo?" observed Sandy Black, as he passed some sandhills covered with aloes and cactuses and rare exotics, such as one might expect to find in English greenhouses. "Well, yes," replied Jerry Goldboy, "them are hodd lookin' wegitables.
It turned out to be a contingent from Glen Lynden, under Groot Willem of Baviaans River, with Andrew Rivers, Jerry Goldboy, and several of the Dutch farmers of the Tarka in his train. "Ho! here you are," cried Groot Willem in his hearty bass roar, as he leaped to the ground and seized Hans Marais by the hand. "All well at Eden eh?" "Burnt out," said Hans quietly.
It was evident from the tone of McTavish's reply that he did not care much what should become of either wife or daughter just then, for he saw that his male friends were laughing at him, but he was fortunately relieved by Jerry Goldboy coming up at the moment with the blunderbuss on his shoulder and informing Mrs McTavish that her "pet," a lamb which had been recently purchased from one of the Tarka boers, was at large, with two or three hungry dogs looking earnestly at it!
"It wasn't a teeger, Miss Jessie," interposed Sandy Black, "it was only a leopard ane o' thae wee spottit beasts that they're sae prood o' in this country as to ca' them teegers." "Come, Sandy," cried Jerry Goldboy, "don't rob me of the honour that is my due. The hanimal was big enough to 'ave torn you limb from limb if 'e'd got 'old of you."
Round one of these fires was assembled the family and retainers of our Highland farmer, Kenneth McTavish, among whom were Sandy Black and Jerry Goldboy. They had been joined by Charlie Considine, who felt drawn somewhat to Sandy. Quite close to these, round another fire, were grouped the three bachelor brothers Skyd, with their friend Dobson.
"Well, Mr Black and Mr Coldboy" Goldboy, interposed Jerry "I speak for my brothers and friend when I wish you all success in the new land." "Do talk less, Jack," said Robert Skyd, the youngest brother, "and give our friends a chance of speaking Have you come ashore lately!" "Just arrived," answered Jerry. "I thought so.
Little Jerry Goldboy, being naturally a nervous creature, and having his imagination filled with snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, etcetera, would fain have slept in one of the waggons above the baggage as did many of the women and children if he had not been laughed out of his desire by Dally, and induced to spread his couch manfully on the bare ground.
"What a funny man Jerry Goldboy is!" said Jessie McTavish, as she sat that same evening sipping a pannikin of tea in her father's tent. From the opening of the tent the fire was visible. Jerry was busy preparing his supper, while he kept up an incessant run of small-chat with Booby and Jemalee. The latter replied to him chiefly with grave smiles, the former with shouts of appreciative laughter.
He was joined in this enterprise by Jerry Goldboy, and the two ultimately bought a farm on the karroo and settled down. Rivers had a turn for engineering, and set himself to form a huge dam to collect rain near his dwelling. From this reservoir he drew forth constant supplies, not only to water flocks and herds, but to create a garden in the karroo, which soon glowed with golden fruit.
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