“I’ll get on now, sir,” said Shaddy, “and see to the pieces frizzling for our dinner, if you’ll stop and see that the men don’t leave before they are done.”
“How am I to speak to them? I don’t know their tongue.”
“No need to speak, sir. If they see you’re watching them they won’t neglect anything, but will do it properly. I was only afraid of their wanting to step off to the fireside to begin broiling bones.”
Shaddy shouldered his gun, and went off after the man who was loaded with strips of flesh to make what is called biltong, and the two left worked on very diligently, with the boys wandering here and there in search of objects of interest and finding plenty—brilliant metallic-cased beetles, strange flowers which they wanted named, birds which it was a delight to watch as they busied themselves about the fruit and flowers of the trees at the forest edge.
“I shall be glad when they’ve done,” said Joe at last, as they were walking back to where Brazier stood leaning upon the muzzle of his gun. “I am so hungry. Wonder whether these berries are good to eat!”
He turned aside into the bushes to begin picking some bright yellow fruit, and scaring away a little parrot from the feast.
“I want something better than those,” said Rob contemptuously; and he went on, expecting that Joe was close behind.
All at once, when he was about twenty yards away from where Brazier was standing, Rob saw him start, raise his gun, and cock it as he glared wildly at his young companion.
“Anything the matter, sir?” cried Rob, hastening his steps.
“Yes!” cried Brazier hoarsely. “Stand aside, boy! Take care! Out of my line of fire! You’re being stalked by a wild beast!”