"Yes," said Emson quietly. "But," he continued, as Tanta Sal ran off to the back of the house, "it may not be Morgenstern, young un. Fat Germans look very much alike." "Oh, but I feel sure this is the old chap.--I say, what's the German for fat old man?" "I don't know. My German has grown rusty out here. Dicker alte Mann, perhaps. Why?" "Because I mean to call him that. He always called me booby." "No, bube:--boy," said Emson, smiling. They stood watching the wagon creeping nearer and nearer for a minute or two, Dyke longing to run to meet the visitors; but he suddenly recalled the orderly look at Morgenstern's, and rushed back into the house to try to make their rough board a little more presentable; and he was still in the midst of this task, when, with a good deal of shouting from the Kaffir servants, and sundry loud cracks of the great whip, the wagon, creaking and groaning, stopped at the fence in front of the house, and the old German shouted: "Ach! mein goot vrient Emzon, how you vas to-day? Vere is der bube?" "Dicker alte Mann!" said Dyke between his teeth, and hurriedly brushing away some crumbs, and throwing a skin over the chest in which various odds and ends were kept, he listened to the big bluff voice outside as Morgenstern descended. "It is goot to shack hant mit an Englander. Bood you look tin, mein vrient. You haf been down mit dem vever?" "Yes, I've been very ill." "That is nod goot. Bood you ged besser now. Ach, here is der poy! Ach! mein goot liddle bube, ant how you vas?" Dyke's hands were seized, and to his horror the visitor hugged him to his broad chest, and kissed him loudly on each cheek. "Oh, I'm quite well," said Dyke rather ungraciously, as soon as he could get free. "Ov goorse you vas. Grade, pig, oogly, shtrong poy. I am clad to zee you again. You did got home guite zave?" "Eh? Oh yes. But that's ever so long ago." "Zo? Ach! I haf been zo busy as neffer vas. Now you led mein two poys outspan, eh?" "Of course," said Emson warmly.--"Show them where the best pasture is, toward the water, Dyke.--Come in, Herr. You look hot and tired." "Ja, zo. I am sehr hot, and you give me zomeden to drink. I haf zom peaudivul dea in dem vagons. I give you zom to make." An hour later, with the visitor and his men refreshed, Morgenstern smiled at Dyke, and winked both his eyes. "You know vad I vants?" he said. "Yes; your pipe." "Ja, I wand mein bibe. You gom mit me do god mein bibe und mein dobacco din; und den I light oop, und shmoke und dalk do you, und you go all round, und zhow me den ostridge-bird varm." They all went out together, the visitor noticing everything; and laying his hand upon Emson's shoulder, he said: "You muss god besser, mein vrient. You are nod enough dick--doo tin." "Oh, I'm mending fast," said Emson hastily, and then they stopped by the wagon, with Morgenstern's eyes twinkling as he turned to Dyke.