“Boss Boers come to fetch up go and fight. Won’t go.”
“Nonsense,” I said. “I dare say they’ve only come to buy bullocks.”
“No,” said the black, shaking his head fiercely. “Come to fetch Joeboy.”
“Here, don’t run away.”
“On’y go up in kopje,” he said. “Hide dar.”
He rushed away, and I was sure I knew where he would hide himself. Then I walked on with my brother, to find my father and Aunt Jenny by the door.
“What’s it all about, father?” I asked.
“I don’t know yet, my boy; but we soon shall. There’s about a score of the Boers, well mounted and armed. Yonder they are, coming at a walk. There were only twelve; but another party have caught up to them, and maybe there are more.”
“Joeboy has run off in a fright,” I said. “He thinks they’ve come to fetch him.”
“Oh no; it isn’t that, my boy,” said my father. “I fear it’s something worse.”