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"You're quite right, Val," said Denham, with a sigh. "Hullo! here's your black Cupid come up to have a look at us." For Joeboy, whom a good hearty meal had made very shiny and happy-looking, came climbing up to where we sat, and stood looking down at us as if waiting for orders. "Here, Joeboy," I said; "look through this." "Um?
Couldn't find at first," he said. "Joeboy went behind um. All out before Doppies." "Then you did find them?" I whispered joyfully. "Um? Yes, Joeboy find um. Went long way and then come back." "But how did you manage to find them in the dark?" "Um? Smell um," he said quietly. "Now, wait bit. Boss Val know what to say?" "Oh yes, I know," I said. "Get up," he whispered. "No Doppie here."
"Here, give us a specimen," said Denham. "Don't make a bully row. Just roar gently so that I shall know it again." Joeboy dropped upon his hands and knees, placed his lips close to the surface of the wall, and a low, deep, thunderous roar seemed to make the air quiver and shudder. Directly afterwards there was an excited stamping and neighing amongst the horses.
"Think Doppie talky, Boss Val take Joeboy and go in a dark night up to wagon. Stoop down and kick big black fool driver and big black fool vorloper. `Get up! he say. `Want sleep alway? Get up, big fool! Trek!" "What?" I cried excitedly. "Um? Talk like Doppie, Boss Val talk. Big fool get up an' inspan. Boss Val get up on box an' keep call driver big black fool, like Doppie.
Joeboy made a brief halt, and then we went down on hands and knees, and crawled to the right for about fifty yards before turning again in the direction of the wagons; and this movement was kept up for quite a hundred yards; then the black rose to his foot, and our walk recommenced.
The firing kept on for a few minutes longer, and then suddenly ceased; while as we proceeded, with Joeboy leading on as fast as Sandho could walk, we could hear voices behind us; men shouting and answering one another, though it was impossible to hear what was said; but it seemed as if they were asking one another what the firing was about, and whether any one had seen the attacking party.
"Big fool black fellow drive wagon," said Joeboy, still gazing through the glass, as if he could see those of whom he spoke. "'Nother big fool black fellow vorloper. Both fast sleep under wagon. Boss Val talk like Boer: double-Dutch." "Is that right?" said Denham. "Oh yes," I said. "I can speak like a Boer if it is necessary." "Um? Yes," said Joeboy quietly.
It seemed to me that an hour had passed, during which I stood behind the natural breastwork of a stone upon which my rifle rested, gazing straight away up the pass, and straining my sense of hearing to catch something to suggest that the enemy was in motion; but there was not a sound in the grim and desolate gap between the hills, and my beating heart sank lower and lower as I glanced back at Joeboy, who reached towards me.
It seemed to me we must have been creeping along for an hour, though perhaps it was not half that time, when suddenly the first team of oxen was stopped, the wheels of the first wagon ceased to move, and the whole line came, in the most matter-of-fact way, to a stand. No one seemed to heed, and the oxen went on contemplatively chewing their cud. "What is it?" I said, running up to Joeboy. "Um!
"Because he was so fond of eating; and he said the black would be found curled up amongst the stones somewhere in the kopje among the baboons, sleeping off his feed." "It isn't true," I said warmly. "Joeboy wouldn't steal unless he knew we were starving, and then it would be to bring it to his master and his master's friend."