The Boy Traders; Or, The Sportsman's Club Among the Boers

by Harry Castlemon

The horses too needed a good looking over. At first glance they were anything but pleased with them, and they expressed great astonishment that the English colonel, who had spent money so lavishly on other portions of his outfit, should have been content with such sorry-looking beasts. There were but two handsome ones in the lot. The rest, to quote from Archie, looked like the “breaking up of a hard winter,” and the sight of them made the boys wish for the sleek, well-conditioned riding nags they had left at home. But they proved themselves capable of good service, and after two of them, the homeliest and most vicious horses in the group, had carried their riders safely through an ambuscade, as they did a few weeks later, nothing more was said about their looks.

This part of their outfit having been purchased, the next thing was to lay in a supply of provisions and ammunition, and also a stock of goods suitable for barter. Here Mack proved himself to be an invaluable assistant. He knew just what to take and what to leave behind, and he showed as much skill in loading the wagon as any sailor would have showed in stowing away the cargo of his vessel. The boys were as surprised at the quantity of goods he put into it as they were at the great variety of articles he selected. For the Boers, with whom Uncle Dick intended to trade for cattle, he had everything, from a piece of thread with which to mend a harness, to a gaudy handkerchief for the fraus to tie around their necks. For the Griquas he laid in a supply of beads, brass and copper wire, and cheap smooth-bore guns, all of which were to be exchanged for ivory.

While Mack was employed in this way the rest of the party were not idle. The horses and guns were to be distributed, and there were servants to be engaged. We have said that there were two desirable animals among the horses, and there were also among the weapons some light handy pieces, which the boys would have selected in preference to any of the others. Of course all could not be exactly suited, and in order to give every one a fair opportunity to secure the best, it was decided to dispose of the horses and guns by lot. The colonel’s own riding mare and his favorite double-barrel, both of which were pointed out by the agent of whom the outfit was purchased, were first set aside for Uncle Dick. Those that were left were then numbered, and corresponding numbers being placed in Walter Gaylord’s hat, each boy drew out one, and became temporary owner of the steed and the rifle whose number agreed with his own. Frank drew number three; and on hunting up his property, found that the charger which bore that number on a card tied to his foretop, was a long-legged, raw-boned animal, and the most vicious one in the whole drove. He welcomed his new master by laying back his ears and making a savage bite at his hand. When he came to examine the weapons, he found that number three rifle was the mass of wood and iron which he had declared to be heavy enough for a giant. He had the worst luck of all; and the boys laughed heartily at the wry faces he made, and more heartily still at the antics of Archie Winters, who paraded past his cousin mounted on a high-stepping thoroughbred, and carrying a handsome silver-mounted rifle, both of which had fallen to his lot.

“Now here’s what I call a horse,” cried Archie, patting the sleek neck of the animal he bestrode. “He doesn’t look much like your old crowbait, does he? I say, Frank, I don’t believe I’d go, if I were in your place. You can’t possibly keep up with us, and neither can you shoot anything; for it will take so long to raise that killdeer to your shoulder, that all the game within range will have plenty of time to get safely out of sight. Here’s a rifle, if you want to look at one. Just lift it, and see how nicely it is balanced.”

But Frank said he didn’t care to examine it—he was very well satisfied with his own. He took charge of his property in a quiet, indifferent sort of way, that had a volume of meaning in it. He resolved that his “crowbait” and “killdeer” should become famous before the journey was ended.

The servants, of whom Uncle Dick was in search, were soon forthcoming in the shape of four stalwart Kaffirs, who had accompanied English sportsmen on expeditions similar to this, and understood the duties required of them; but the sequel proved that they were lacking in some very necessary qualities. The letter of recommendation that one of them proudly presented to Uncle Dick would have applied to them all. It was from his last employer, and read as follows:

“This man is a good cook, but he is a fearful twister of the truth, and a most expert thief. Take him, if you like a good cup of coffee in the morning, but never take your eyes from him; if you do, he will be missing some fine day, and so will your best horse and gun.”

Uncle Dick engaged the Kaffir, but took care to post the boys, and his head man, Mack, in order that they might keep watch of him.

At last Mack announced that all the arrangements had been made, and he was ready to “trek”—that is, to begin the journey. This was followed by an order from Uncle Dick to “inspan” (oxen are not “yoked” or “unyoked” in Africa—they are “inspanned” and “outspanned”), and that occupied the best part of the forenoon. In the first place the oxen had to be brought in from the neighboring hills, where they had been driven to graze, and, of course, some of them had strayed away, and had to be hunted up, while others, preferring the freedom of the pasture to labor under the yoke, didn’t want to be driven to camp. The training Frank and Archie had received while living in California came into play here, and the latter showed that he had not yet lost his skill with the lasso, by capturing an obstinate brute which had repeatedly dodged Eugene and Featherweight, and seemed determined to follow every road except the one that led toward the wagon. When the oxen were brought in they were surrounded to keep them from running away again, and after a good deal of breath had been expended in shouting and scolding, and a bushel or two of stones had been thrown, and the hair had been cut from some of the most unruly ones by the heavy whip which Mack handled as if it had been a feather, the inspanning was completed and the journey begun. The wagon went first, driven by Mack; behind it followed half a dozen cows, twice as many goats, and three loose horses; while the boys and the trappers brought up the rear, and rode on the flanks of the train to keep these extra animals from straying away. The cows and goats were expected to furnish the travellers with milk until they reached the Griqua country, when they were to be exchanged for ivory. The horses were to mount any member of the party who might be so unfortunate as to injure or lose his own nag.

During the first six weeks nothing happened that is of sufficient interest to be recorded here. The weather for the most part was pleasant, the roads much better than they had expected to find them, and Mack often declared that they were making wonderful headway. Nothing had yet been done in the way of trading, for they were too close to the settlements. Mack was gradually drawing away from the travelled routes, in order to reach a colony of Boers who had located their farms on the very borders of the Griqua country. Cattle were plenty and cheap there, and consequently good bargains could be made. The country through which they were travelling showed some few signs of civilization. Once or twice each week they met a transport rider, and about as often they would encounter a few Boers going to or returning from some remote settlement. About as often, too, they would make their camp near the house of some farmer, who in the evening would come over and drink tea with Uncle Dick. All these Boers talked of was the impending war with the natives, and every one of them urged Uncle Dick to turn aside and give the Griqua country a wide berth.