The Kaffir told them, and the reply that came back through him was:
"The Boer men say that they will shoot the first strange ox or horse that puts his nose into the water."
Oscar had ridden away from the fountain, but when these words were translated to him he promptly turned about, and rode back again. He drove his horse in knee-deep, and scowled savagely at the Boers, who were struck motionless and dumb by his conduct. Little Gray put his nose into the fountain several times, and blew the water about, but the Dutchmen did not shoot him.
"Thompson, tell these gentlemen that my oxen are coming here to drink now, and that if they want to begin shooting when they come up to go ahead," said Oscar. "But warn them, also, that for every shot they fire I shall fire two, and I shall make every one count. If they want to go on with their trading expedition they had better let me and my property entirely alone. Now go and tell the boys to bring up the cattle."
Big Thompson translated his employer's emphatic words, and then turned and rode up the bank, while the Boers drew off on one side to hold a consultation.
Oscar kept his place in the fountain until his oxen arrived, and then he rode up between them and the Boers, passing so close to the latter that his horse fairly crowded them out of his path, and stood guard over them while they drank their fill.
The Boers remonstrated—at least Oscar thought they did, for they kept up a constant shouting all the while—but they made no hostile demonstrations.
When the oxen had quenched their thirst Oscar followed them to the wagon, and saw them put in their yokes and tied up for the night.
"I was really afraid you were going to get into trouble with those Dutchmen," said McCann from his seat on the dissel-boom.