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As she approached, several of the little creatures had flown towards her, and alighted upon her arms and shoulders; but not as was their wont when desiring to be fed. They appeared to be in a state of alarm, and had come to her for protection. Some enemy certainly must be near, thought Truey, though she could see none. She looked around and above.
"I hope papa will stay here a long time," she said to her companion, little Jan. "And I hope so too. Oh! Trüey, what a fine tree yon is! Look! nuts as big as my head, I declare. Bless me, sis! how are we to knock some of them down?" And so the children conversed, both delighted with the new scenes around them.
Little Truey and Jan laughed, clapped their hands, and waited with curiosity until they should come nearer. All had heard enough of locusts to know that they were only grasshoppers that neither bit nor stung any one, and therefore no one was afraid of them. Even Von Bloom himself was at first very little concerned about them.
Trüey and little Jan sat beside Swartboy on the fore-chest of the wagon; and the round full eyes of the pretty springbok could be seen peeping curiously out from under the cap-tent. Casting a last look upon his desolate kraal, the field-cornet turned his horse's head, and rode after the wagon. On moved the little caravan, but not in silence.
Had Trüey known the character of that reptile, she would have trembled all the more. She saw before her one of the most venomous of serpents, the black naja, or "spitting-snake" the cobra of Africa far more dangerous than its congener the cobra de capello of India, because far more active in its movements, and equally fatal in its bite. Trüey knew not this.
The fond creature, having passed the danger, now ran on to its mistress, and stood with its big shining eyes bent upon her inquiringly. But the cry that Truey had uttered had summoned another individual. To her horror, she now saw little Jan running down the slope, and coming directly upon the path where the cobra lay coiled! Jan's danger was imminent.
That's it, good bird! Give it to him! See, Jan! What a fight!" "Oh, ah!" said Jan, now comprehending the situation. "Oh, ah! Sure yonder is a snake, and a whopper, too. Ne'er fear, Truey! Trust my secretary. He'll give the rascal a taste of his claws. There's a lick well put in! Another touch like that, and there won't be much life left in the scaly villain. There again, wop!"
If a Christian, he fails not to remember that highly poetical passage of sacred writing, that speaks of the willow of Babylon. Now the one which grew upon the little peninsula had all these points of interest for little Truey but it had others as well. Upon its branches that overhung the water a very singular appearance presented itself.
The words were uttered in vain. Jan heard them, but did not comprehend their meaning. He heard the word "snake." He was expecting as much. It had attacked Trüey; and although he did not see it, it was no doubt wound about her body. He hurried on. Already he was within six paces of the dread reptile, that had erected its long spread neck to receive him.
Little Jan was packed off to school to study grammar and geography; while the beautiful Truey remained at home to grace the mansion of her honoured father, and look after his household affairs.
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