"Jimmie sed nothin', but his lip trembled. He thought a heap of Jake, and here he seed him turnin' tail. "`Abe,' said Jake, speaking quietly; `you've got no part in this--come with me.' "`I'm not running away,' I sed. `I'll stay with Harry.' "Jake opened his mouth as if he'd speak, then he turned on his heel and strode away with his axe over his shoulder. "His brothers turned to look after him, and ole Tolver, he called out in a hard voice, `Don't you come back here again. You're no son of mine.' Jake he gave no sign, and I seed Jimmie's face working. "`Yah! you're afraid like him,' I sed. "`You lie,' he sed, and hit me 'longside the jaw. "`Be quiet, boys,' said Oll Tolver, ketching Jim by the arm. "`Seth,' said the ole baas, speaking short and firm. `Get ter the top of that hill, and keep a sharp look-out. Willie and Jim, bring the cows into the kraal. Oll and Harry, fill the water barrel, and put it inside the house. Tom and you, Abe, move all the things outer the big room, and get the guns ready.' "Seth sot off up the hill at a lope, and the other boys all went about their work, and got things to rights in no time. Then we hung about fidgettin'--picking things up and putting them down, and looking up to Seth all the time. "Arter a long time Seth lifted up his hand, and we all stood in a bunch watching him till our eyes ached--then here he come down the hill like a cart wheel, while the big chaps grabbed their guns, and I bolted inter the house. "`Are they coming?' shouted Harry. "Seth nodded as he ran. "`How many?' "`One,' said Seth, with a gasp. "`Good lord!' said Harry, throwing his rifle down. "`I say,' sed Seth, drawlin' out his words--his neck was that long; `you fellows jes' slouch around 's if you were at work. I'm goin' to meet this chap. Maybe he's a spy.' "`Seth's right,' said the ole baas; and the boys put the guns away, and scattered about as if they were restin'. "Seth slipped a naked hunting-knife inside the band of his trousers, and lounged away up the path; and bymby, when he nearly got to the top, a Kaffir came over the ridge, stood a moment looking, then come down. He carried his blanket over his right shoulder. "When they met, the Kaffir he took snuff, and Seth he gave him a bit of tobacco. Then they talked and talked, and the Kaffir, he kep' his eye on the house, and arter a time he kep' movin' around--'s if he'd like to get behind Seth--and Seth all the time he kep' his face to the t'other. Then the Kaffir went away back, and Seth went up to the ridge again, and there was another spell of waiting. "Then Harry sed he weren't going to fool about any more, and he made tracks for the little wood above the clearing, and Willie follered. No sooner'd they got clear than here comes Seth again, like a streak. "`It's all right,' he sed; `they're comin' thick. The veld's red with 'em.'