MY NOVEL-BEADING DRIVER ABSCONDS. 173 



hauled at the heads of the leaders, and Jim cracked his 

 whip nigh the flank of the after-beasts ; for a moment 

 there was a slacking of the pace, sufficient to cause me 

 to think that the team were coming to a standstill, so I 

 rushed, waist deep, into the stream, armed with a spare 

 whip, and plied it on the refractory. All the oxen 

 now pulled, and pulled together, so at length the wagon 

 reached the opposite brow, and we were safe from what 

 might have been a grave misfortune. Down the middle 

 of the village I passed, and outspanned near the store 

 of Messrs. Taylor and Leask, my countrymen, 



" Nursing my wrath to keep it warm." 



I kept my pent-up fury to myself ; so, when my 

 new employe came to me, and congratulated me on my 

 driving, I did not refer to his delinquency, and pre- 

 tended to take all that he said as a well-earned compli- 

 ment. In a day or two after I wished to unpack, and 

 alter the load into a more convenient form. Of my 

 intention I informed him the previous night ; but my 

 wishes were not of the slightest importance, so I had 

 to do all the packing and unpacking alone, for my 

 servant forsooth ! preferred to go fishing. 



I knew a row was at hand, and when the storm 

 did come I was aware it would be severe, for flesh and 

 blood can only bear a certain strain without resisting. 

 However, I was saved from such an indulgence of my 

 temper, for the object of my indignation came to me 

 and stated that he desired to go to Potschefstrom to 

 see his wife : borrowed clothes, waterproofs, and 

 blankets ; and although he had received an advance 

 of fifteen pounds, never returned. Better, possibly, 

 that it was so; for if he had remained, and continued 



