382 KLOOF AND KARROO. 



was hard up and out of work, and though I didn't 

 half like coming into the kloof again, I thought, 

 perhaps, after so many years, the ghosts might have 

 vanished. I hadn't been many nights here, though, 

 before I knew too well I was mistaken. Even then 

 I would have left, but Van der Meulen swore I should 

 not. He and his family came here soon after 

 Prinsloo's night, and left before it came round again ; 

 but after the old man and his sons had twice been 

 face to face with Jan's ghost prowling about the 

 stable and kraals, and even looking in at the windows, 

 they were not long before they wanted to clear out, 

 and now you know their reason, baas." 



" Yes, Cupido, to my cost I do," said Goodrick. 

 " I don't suppose I shall ever come across that 

 delightful family again ; for it is a far cry to 

 Zoutpansberg in the north of the Transvaal, and a 

 wild enough country when you get there. But tell 

 me, why is it that this dreadful thing is always in 

 and out of the stables and kraals, frightening the 

 horses?" "Well, baas, I am not certain, but I 

 believe, for my father aways told me so, that 

 Prinsloo was very fond of horseflesh, extraordinarily 

 so for a Boer ; for you know as a rule they don't 

 waste much care on their horses, and use them but 

 ill. He had the finest stud in the Colony, and took 

 great pains and trouble with it ; and they say that 

 Jan's ghost is still just as fond as ever of his 

 favourites, and is always in and out of the stable 

 in consequence. Anyhow the horses don't care 

 -about it, as you know ; they seem just as scared at 

 him as any human being." 



Cupido, like all Hottentots, could tell a story with 

 the dramatic force and interest peculiar to his race, 



