"And so there's to be no more home," I said softly as I carefully folded up the paper and placed it in my breast. Then somehow the terrible feeling of hunger died out, and I only drank some more water. "Boss Val eat lot," said Joeboy, his voice making me start. "No more, now, Joeboy," I said. "I'll wait a bit." "Wait a bit," he said, nodding his head, and then carefully replacing what I had left in the satchel. "Fasten that to the back of my saddle," I said. "Um! Joeboy carry." "No, no," I replied. "We must part now, Joeboy. I can't go back home, nor stay here." Joeboy shook his head. "No stop," he said. "All bad." "You don't understand," I said. "Um!" he said, nodding. "Joeboy know. Boss Val fight Boers." "Perhaps; but you must go back and help my father if he has to leave the farm." There was another shake of the head and a frown; then a silence, during which the great black seemed to be thinking out what he was to say in English to make his meaning clear. At last it came as he sat there with his shield on one side, his assagais on the other; and, to my surprise, he took up the big stabbing weapon and one of the light throwing-shafts before touching me on the chest with a finger. "Boss John big boss," he said solemnly. "Boss Val little boss;" and he held up the two spears to illustrate his words. "Big boss say, `Go 'long my boy.' Little boss say, `Go 'long my dad.' Joeboy say, `Don't car'; shan't go. Got to go 'long Boss Val.'" "My father told you this?" "Um!" said the great fellow; "dat's all right." "But you would be so much use to my father, Joe, to manage the bullocks in the wagon." "No," he said. "No bullock. Boer boy take 'em all away. Boss John no got nothing soon." "You are sure my father said you were to go with me, Joeboy?" I said after a few minutes' pause. "Um," he said, nodding his head fiercely. "Say, `Take care my boy, Joeboy.' Joeboy take care Boss Val." He caught up his shield and sprang to his feet, with the assagais trembling in his big hand, looking as if he could be a terrible adversary in a close conflict, though helpless against modern weapons of war. This thought made me think of myself and my own position. "Very well, Joeboy. I say you shall come with me." He nodded. "But you'll have to lend me one of your assagais till I can get a rifle." "Boss Val got rifle gun," he said sharply. "Where? No; I have only my knife." Joeboy laughed, and ran to the side of the rift, where he began to scratch in the sand, and a few inches down laid bare the muzzle of my rifle, gave it a tug, and it came out with the well-filled bandolier attached.