“Oh yes; pretty well.”
“Some of all sorts. That’s an ugly one,” continued the farmer, pointing to Humpy Dee, and mentally valuing him as if he were one in a herd of cattle. “But I daresay he can work.”
“He’ll have to,” said the overseer, and Nic saw that each black face wore a grin, while Humpy was scowling savagely.
“Yes, I should like a lot such as that. ’Member me to the Gaffer. Tell him to look in if he comes to town.”
“Yes,” thought Nic as they passed on; “it must be a dream, and I shall wake soon.”
It grew more and more dream-like to him as the track was followed among the trees till a rough landing-place was reached, formed by some huge stakes driven down into the mud, with heavy planks stretched over to them, and others laid across. The reddening sun was turning the gliding water to gold, as it ran up the river now, for the flood-tide was running fast; and as they drew nearer, Nic caught sight of what looked like the launch of some large vessel swinging by a rope fastened to an upright of the landing-stage.
Just then one of the blacks uttered a peculiar, melodious cry, the great dogs bounded on to the stage and began to bark, and a couple of blacks, dressed like those about him, sprang up in the boat, where they had been lying asleep, and began to haul upon the now unfastened rope to draw the craft up to the stage.
Nic’s head was throbbing again, and the unreality and novelty of the scene increased.
“I shall wake soon,” he said to himself. “How strange it is!”
For at that moment, as the boat came abreast, he saw one of the great dogs leap from the stage, run to the stern, and sit down, the others following and joining it behind the seat provided with a back rail.