"Not it, sir. He crept away as soon as he thought it was safe. Got into some hole or another. There must be hundreds of places where he could tuck hisself, and we shall dig him out one day, as sure as sure; and that'll be when we least expect it. But talk about a kraal, sir, for my bullocks! They are as safe as safe, and you have got a regular stable for your ponies, quarters for us as Dan calls a snug forecastle and Peter says is a bothy, and as for yours, you gen'lemen's being up against that wall, why, it's splendid, only as I was telling the doctor, sir, I shan't feel quite happy till we've got an extra thatch on. You know, it can rain out here in Africa, sir, and when it does it goes it." "Well, I daresay we shall get that done, Buck, when we have got time." "Yes, sir, when we have got time; but that won't be just yet, and I suppose I shan't be here to help." "You not here to help! What do you mean?" "Well, sir, I suppose I wasn't to chatter about it, but I may tell you; the doctor got talking to me only yesterday about what he calls the supplies, by which he meant wittles for the guns and extra for ourselves." "Ah," said Mark. "He said that of course meat was plentiful enough, and there were lots of fish in the river, but we ought to be prepared if we stayed here long to get a fresh lot of flour and mealies, tea, and coffee, and sugar, so as to have enough when the stores begins to run out." "Yes; I never thought of that," said Mark. "Ah, but the doctor did, sir. He thinks of everything. Well, sir, he put it to me whether I could pick out a mate and be ready any time to take the waggons and go back to Illakaree." "There," cried Mark, "what did I say?" "I d'know, sir. Lots of things." "I meant about the doctor trusting you. Did you say you'd go." "Course I did, sir. I don't want to go, for I'm just right here. This is the sort of thing I like. I am enjying myself here just as much as you young gents. It fits me right down to the ground, and if I do go I shan't be happy till I get back." "Ah," said Mark thoughtfully. "But you said about picking out a mate. Whom should you choose?" "Well, if you come to regular choosing, sir," said Buck, "I should like to have you--not for a mate, sir, but to be my young boss. I know though that couldn't be, and I wouldn't want it, 'cause I know how I should be cutting you off from all the sarching as the doctor wants done. Why, you wouldn't be here when you hunt out the place where all the gold is buried." "N-no." "And the working tools and the pots and pans as the doctor expects to find." "N-no," said Mark thoughtfully. "But I say, Buck, do you think there is plenty of gold here somewhere?" "Pretty sure of it, sir. Why, where did that little kiddy of a black get his ornaments from?"