We were just a little pushed on the score of tableware, as our canteen was made up for four persons; but by making some of the plates and dishes do double duty, and calling into use some tin cups and tin plates, we managed to get along.
About half an hour past the meridian one of our Kafirs reported people approaching from the westward, and shortly thereafter our visitors arrived. The fair ones were accompanied by their manager and after-rider, and all were on horseback. We met them at the front of the kraal; I assisted Mrs. Roberts to dismount, while Jack showed the same civility to Miss Boland. The manager and after-rider disappeared in the direction of the kraal, where our manager took charge of them; and after presenting my two friends to the ladies I escorted them to the tent. We had been not a little curious as to the costume they would wear on their visit, but all our doubts were set at rest when they came in sight, as they were habited precisely like English or American equestriennes, and their riding-habits had a decidedly fresh and unused look; but more about that by and by.
They departed a little, though, from the fashion of civilized life in avoiding the chimney-pot hat which custom ordains for the woman on horseback. On their heads they wore the sola topee, or sun-hat, which is familiar to everybody in Africa and Asia, and pretty well known at present throughout Europe and the United States. And I may add that this head-gear is a pleasing addition to a woman's riding-dress and ought to be more generally used than it is.
We had a little conversation in the tent, and then I suggested to Jack and Harry that our duties as assistant cooks required our presence in the kitchen. If the ladies would excuse us we would go and see that the ice-cream was properly on the fire and the Scotch whisky browned after the style of the old country. The ladies excused us graciously, and we left them to themselves in the tent, so that they might remove their hats and repair any little damages to hair or face which the ride might have caused. But there was more earnestness than jest in my suggestion, as we all had something to attend to in the way of preparing the feast.
We returned in a little while, and conversation was resumed on general topics. The ladies had much to say about the neatness of our camp and the stanch manner in which our kraal was constructed. I told them of our lion adventure, and added that I thought their kraal was quite as well built as ours.
"As to the neatness of things as you see them," said Jack, with the most outspoken frankness, "it is very largely due to your visit. Man, when left to himself, isn't a very orderly being, and we three fellows haven't wasted much time in making things shipshape about our camp. Each of us has his corner in the tent and leaves his things pretty much as he likes. We have a rule that no one is to disturb the property of anybody else, and we abide by it strictly. So, although everything may appear in disorder, we can each of us lay hands on everything of our own that we want, because we know exactly where it is."
Jack paused, and Harry took up the line of talk by suggesting that we had been straightening up a good deal since I returned with the announcement that the ladies were coming to visit us. "We don't think it at all right to allow you to take things as they were, but rather as you find them now. At the same time, we don't believe it proper to live under any false pretenses."
"I think I ought to blush for my conduct in this matter," I said, as Harry paused.
"How so?" queried Mrs. Roberts.
"Why, because I called at your camp without warning, while we have had two days' notice."