We had the same fight over and over again, but I 

 always won in the end. Once, when he would not 

 make up his mind what to buy, I offered him instead 

 of cash two of the worst oxen in his span at the highest 

 possible valuation, and the effect was excellent ; but the 

 usual lever was to announce that if he could not make 

 his choice and bargain for himself I would do it for 

 him. In the end he invariably gave way and bargained 

 with his kafHr friends for a deal, venting on them by 

 his hard driving and brow-beating some of the accumu- 

 lated indignation which ought to have gone elsewhere. 



When it was all over Jim recovered rapidly, and 

 at parting time there was the broadest of grins and a 

 stentorian shout of " Hlala Kahle ! Inkos ! " and 

 Jim went off with his springy walk, swinging his sticks 

 and jabbering his thoughts aloud, evidently about me, 

 for every now and again he would spring lightly into 

 the air, twirl the stick, and shout a deep throated 

 " Inkos ! " full of the joy of living. A boy going home 

 for his holiday ! 



This time Jim was too fully wound up to be dealt 

 with as before, and I simply turned him off, telling 

 him to come to the camp in a fortnight's time. 

 ***** 



I was a day behind the waggons returning, 

 and riding up to the camp towards midday 

 ' Cf j: - found Jim waiting for me. He looked ill 

 \^ and shrunken, wrapped in an old coat and 

 squatting against the wall of the little hut. 

 As I passed he rose slowly and gave his " Saku- 

 bona ! Inkos ! " with that curious controlled 



404 



