294 Among Men and Horses. 



Having finished with Durban, we formed ourselves into a 

 committee of ways and means. We might have gone to East 

 London, Queenstown, King Williamstown, Aliwal North, 

 Bloemfontein ; have had another turn at Colesberg and 

 Kimberley, and then finished at Vryburg. But we were both 

 very tired of the work and wanted to get back to London. 

 Besides, my wife did not think her health could stand the 

 strain of another trip, and as she had been the best part of 

 the show, I thought it only fair that her interests should be 

 first considered. I was very sorry to say good-bye to dear 

 old October, who had been a faithful and helpful friend to me. 

 He had saved money enough to buy a sufficiency of cattle 

 and wives to keep him well supplied with food and strong 

 drink for the remainder of his life, without working. As he 

 had no higher aspirations than the gratification of his 

 instincts, he was troubled with no longing after more wealth 

 than he possessed. He was happy, and that was all he 

 wanted to be. I offered to take him with me by sea to East 

 London or Port Elizabeth and from thence to send him on 

 to his home in Craddock ; but he shook his head, doubled 

 himself up, and laughed long and low, as if he thought my 

 offer excruciatingly funny. I asked him how he intended 

 going to Craddock. He told me that he would travel to 

 Ladysmith by train, and would then march across country on 

 foot. I represented to him that by taking such an overland 

 route he would spend a good deal of money and time ; but 

 that if he went with me his journey would cost him nothing. 

 The more I argued with him, the more he laughed and shook 

 his head, till at last the fact began to dawn on me that the 

 fear of my carrying him off and making him a slave, was the 

 cause of October's refusal to go on board a steamer. That 

 evening I saw him off by train, and having been accustomed 

 to the demonstrative forms of grief freely indulged in by well- 

 rewarded Eastern and Western servants when parting from 

 their respective masters, I could not help being somewhat 

 disappointed with October for not weeping or at least show- 



