and, as usual, began the morning with drinks. We 

 were not used to that on the road or out hunting ; 

 indeed, we rarely took any drink, and most of us 

 never touched a drop except in the towns. The 

 transport rider had opportunities which might easily 

 become temptations the load often consisting of 

 liquor, easy to broach and only to be paid for at the 

 end of the trip ; but we had always before us the lesson 

 of the failures. Apart from this, however, we did not 

 take liquor, because we could not work as well or last 

 as long, run as fast or shoot as straight, if we did. And 

 that was reason enough ! 



We had one round of drinks which was * called ' 

 by one of the horsemen, and then, to return the com- 

 pliment, another round called by one of us. A few 

 minutes later Seedling announced effusively that it was 

 his 'shout.' But it was only ten in the morning, and 

 those who had taken spirits had had enough, indeed, 

 several had only taken a sip of the second round in 

 order to comply with a stupid and vicious custom ; 

 I would not and could not attack another bottle of 

 sour gingerbeer; and thus Seedling's round was 

 reduced to himself and the proprietor. No man 

 however thirsty would drink alone in those days it 

 was taken a mark of meanness or evidence of ' soaking ' 

 and the proprietor had to be ready at any time to 

 ' take one for the good of the house.' 



A quarter of an hour passed, and Seedling, who had 

 said nothing since his ' shout ' was declined, turned away 

 and strolled out, with hands thrust deep in the pockets 

 of his riding breeches and a long heavy sjambok dangling 



393 



