Oh, of course I do, growled the Boer. Just as if it was likely! You dont seem to have a very good opinion of us burghers.
You have not given us cause to think well of you, said the colonel sternly. Now we understand each other. But of course you
will have to work with the men, and now you had better help to unload the wagons.
The cornet nodded, and turned to his companions, who had been watching anxiously at a little distance; and as soon as they heard the colonels verdict they seemed at ease.
A few minutes later the regimental butchers had taken charge of one of the oxen and a couple of sheep, whose fate was soon decided in the shambles, and the men gathered round to cheer at the unwonted sight of the carcasses hung up to cool.
Meanwhile an end of one of the warehouses had been set apart for the new supply of grain, and the Boers worked readily enough with a batch of the soldiers at unloading and storing, with lanterns hung from the rafters to gleam on the bayonets of the appointed guard, the sergeant and his men keeping a strict lookout, in which they were imitated by the younger officers, Lennox and Dickenson waiting, as the latter laughingly said, for the smuggled-in Boers, who of course did not appear.
Lennox made it his business to stand close to the tail-board of one of the wagons, in which another lantern was hung, and with the sergeant he gave every sack a heavy punch as it was dragged to the edge ready for the Boers to shoulder and walk off into the magazine.
Seeing this, the Boer chief, now all smiles and good humour, made for the next sack, untied the tarred string which was tied round the mouth, opened it, and called to the sergeant to stand out of the light.
I want the officers to see what beautiful corn it is, he said.
The sergeant reached up into the wagon-tilt to lift down the lantern from where he had hung it to one of the tilt-bows.
No, no, cried the Boer; you neednt do that, boss. They can see. There, he cried, thrusting in both hands and scooping as much as he could grasp, and letting the glistening yellow grains fall trickling back in a rivulet again and again. See that? Hard as shot. Smell it. Fresh. This years harvest. I know where theres enough to feed four or five thousand men.
Yes, it looks good, said Dickenson, helping himself to a handful, and putting a grain into his mouth. Sweet as a nut, Drew, but as hard as flint. Fine work for the teeth.
Yes, said the Boer, grinning. You English cant grind that up with your teeth. Wait till its boiled, though, or pounded up and made into mealie. Ha! Make yours skins shine like the Kaffirs.
You dont want these sacks back, I suppose? said the sergeant who was superintending. Because if you do Id better have them emptied.
Oh no, oh no, said the Boer. Keep it as it is; it will be cleaner.
Why are some of the sacks tied up with white string and some with black? said Lennox suddenly.
Came from different farms, said the Boer, who overheard the remark. Here, Ill open that one; its smaller corn.
He signed to one of his fellows to set down the sack he was about to shoulder, and opening it, he went through the same performance again, shovelling up the yellow grain with his hands. Not quite so good as the other sort, he said; its smaller, but it yields better in the fields.
Humph! I dont see much difference in it, said Lennox, taking up a few grains and following his friends example.
No? said the Boer, chuckling as he scooped up a double handful and tossed it up, to shine like gold in the light. You are not a farmer, and have not grown thousands of sacks of it. I have.
He drew the mouth of the sack together again and tied it with its white string, when it too was borne off through the open doorway to follow its predecessors.
That roof sound? said the Boer, pointing up at the corrugated iron sheeting.
Oh yes, thats all right, said the sergeant.
Good, said the Boer. Pity to let rain come through on grain like that. Make it swell and shoot.
The first wagon was emptied and the second begun, the Boers working splendidly till it was nearly emptied; and then the cornet turned to Captain Roby.
Dont you want some left out, he said, to use at once?
Yes, said the captain; leave out six, and well hand them over to the bakers and cooks.
Three of the white-tied and three of the black-tied sacks were selected by the field-cornet, who told his men to shoulder them, and they were borne off at once to the iron-roofed hut which was used as a store. Then the wagons being emptied, they were drawn on one side, and the captain turned to consult Lennox about what hut was to be apportioned to the Boers for quarters.
Why not make them take to the wagons? said Dickenson.
Not a bad notion, replied Captain Roby; and just at that moment, well buttoned up in their greatcoats for the night was cold the colonel and major came round.
Where are you going
to quarter these men, Roby? said the former.
Mr Dickenson here, sir, has just suggested that they shall keep to their wagons.