Between Snow and Fire — page 118: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CHAPTER XVIII. THE TABLES TURNED, EAGER at the prospect of a brush, their appetites for which had been whetted by what had just occurred, they resumed their way in the best of spirits, and at length fixing upon a suitable spot the party off-saddled for breakfast. “ We ought to fall in with a patrol of Brathwaite’s horse lower down,” remarked a man, stirring the contents of a three-legged cooking-pot with a wooden spoon. ‘ Then we should be strong enough to take the bush for it and pepper Jack Kafir handsomely.” “If we can find him,” rejoined another with a loud guffaw. “Hallo! Who's this?” A dark form appeared in the hollow beneath. Immedi- ately every man had seized his rifle, and the moment was a perilous one for the new arrival. “Hold hard! Don’t fire!” cried Shelton. “It’s onlya single Kafir. Let’s see what the fellow wants.” And lowering their weapons they awaited the approach of a rather sulky looking native, who drew near with a suspicious and apprehensive expression of countenance. “Who are you and where do you come from?” asked Shelton. “From down there, Saas,” replied the fellow, in fair English, jerking his thumb in the direction of a labyrinth of bushy kloofs stretching away beneath. “ They have taken all my cattle—the Gcalékas have. I can show you where to find theirs.” The men looked at each other and several shook their ‘heads incredulously. “What are you? Are you a Gcaléka?”’ asked Shelton. “No, Baas. Bomvana. I’m Jonas. I’m a loyal Mission- station boy.” “Oh, the devil you are! Now, then, Jonas, what about these cattle?” Then the native unfolded his tale—how that in the forest Po aw (ECO payicel oxox) <Si (e(o) m