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Under some bushes a few yards off lay a huge trooper； whose nationality was
uncertain； but who was held to hail from some part of the British Isles；
and who had travelled round the world。 He was currently reported to have
done three years' labour for attempted rape in Australia； but nothing
certain was known regarding his antecedents。 He had been up on guard half
the night； and was now taking his rest lying on his back with his arm
thrown over his face； but a slight movement could be noted in his jaw as he
slowly chewed a piece of tobacco； and occasionally when he turned it round
the mouth opened； and disclosed two rows of broken yellow stumps set in
very red gums。
The three Colonial Englishmen took no notice of him。 Two； who were slowly
smoking； were of the large and powerful build； and somewhat loose set about
the shoulders； which is common among Colonial Europeans of the third
generation； whether Dutch or English； and had the placidity and general
good temper of expression which commonly marks the Colonial European who
grows up beyond the range of the cities。 The third was smaller and more
wiry and of an unusually nervous type； with aquiline nose； and sallow
hatchet face； with a somewhat discontented expression。 He was holding
forth； while his companions smoked and listened。
〃Now what I say is this；〃 he brought his hand down on the red sand； 〃here
we are with about one half teaspoon of Dop given us at night； while he has
ten empty champagne bottles lying behind his tent。 And we have to live on
the mealies we're convoying for the horses； while he has pati and beef； and
lives like a lord！ It's all very well for the regulars； they know what
they're in for； and they've got gentlemen over them anyhow； and one can
stomach anything if you know what kind of a fellow you've got over you。
English officers are gentlemen； anyhow； or if one was under Selous now〃
〃Oh； Selous's a MAN！〃 broke out the other two； taking their pipes from
their mouths。
〃Yes； well； that's what I say。 But these fellows； who couldn't do as
farmers； and couldn't do as shopkeepers； and God knows what else； and their
friends in England didn't want to have them； they're sent out here to boss
it over us！ It's a damned shame！ Why； I want to know； amn't I as good as
any of these fellows； who come swelling it about here？ Friends got money；
I suppose！〃 He cast his sharp glance over towards the bell tent。 〃If they
gave us real English officers now〃
〃Ah！〃 said the biggest of his companions； who； in spite of his huge form；
had something of the simplicity and good nature of a child in his handsome
face； 〃it's because you're not a big enough swell； you know！ He'll be a
colonel； or a general； before we've done with him。 I call them all
generals or colonels up here； it's safest； you know； if they're not that
today they will be tomorrow！〃
This was intended as a joke； and in that hot weather； and in that dull
world； anything was good enough to laugh at： the third man smiled； but the
first speaker remained serious。
〃I only know this；〃 he said； 〃I'd teach these fellows a lesson； if any one
belonging to me had been among the people they left to be murdered here；
while they went gallivanting to the Transvaal。 If my mother or sister had
been killed here； I'd have taken a pistol and blown out the brains of the
great Panjandrum； and the little ones after him。 Fine administration of a
country； this； to invite people to come in and live here； and then take
every fighting man out of the country on a gold hunting marauding
expedition to the Transvaal； and leave us to face the bitter end。 I look
upon every man and woman who was killed here as murdered by the Chartered
Company。〃
〃Well； Jameson only did what he was told。 He had to obey orders； like the
rest of us。 He didn't make the plan； and he's got the punishment。〃
〃What business had he to listen？ What's all this fine administration they
talk of？ It's six years since I came to this country； and I've worked like
a nigger ever since I came； and what have I； or any men who've worked hard
at real； honest farming； got for it？ Everything in the land is given away
for the benefit of a few big folks over the water or swells out here。 If
England took over the Chartered Company tomorrow； what would she find？
everything of value in the land given over to private concessionaires
they'll line their pockets if the whole land goes to pot！ It'll be the
jackals eating all the flesh off the horse's bones； and calling the lion in
to lick the bones。〃
〃Oh； you wait a bit and you'll be squared；〃 said the handsome man。 〃I've
been here five years and had lots of promises； though I haven't got
anything else yet； but I expect it to come some day； so I keep my mouth
shut！ If they asked me to sign a paper； that Mr。 Over…the…Way〃he nodded
towards the bell tent〃never got drunk or didn't know how to swear； I'd
sign it； if there was a good dose of squaring to come after it。 I could
stand a good lot of that sort of thingsquaringif it would only come my
way。〃
The men laughed in a dreary sort of way； and the third man； who had not
spoken yet； rolled round on to his back； and took the pipe from his mouth。
〃I tell you what；〃 said the keen man； 〃those of us up here who have got a
bit of land and are trying honestly and fairly to work； are getting pretty
sick of this humbugging fighting。 If we'd had a few men like the Curries
and Bowkers of the old days up here from the first； all this would never
have happened。 And there's no knowing when a reason won't turn up for
keeping the bloody thing on or stopping it off for a time； to break out
just when one's settled down to work。 It's a damned convenient thing to
have a war like this to turn on and off。〃
Slowly the third man keeled round on to his stomach again： 〃Let
resignation wait。 We fight the Matabele again tomorrow；〃 he said；
sententiously。
A low titter ran round the group。 Even the man under the bushes； though
his eyes were still closed and his arm across his face； let his mouth relax
a little； and showed his yellow teeth。
〃I'm always expecting；〃 said the big handsome man； 〃to have a paper come
round； signed by all the nigger chiefs； saying how much they love the
B。S。A。 Company； and how glad they are the Panjandrum has got them； and how
awfully good he is to them； and they're going to subscribe to the brazen
statue。 There's nothing a man can't be squared to do。〃
The third man lay on his back again； lazily examining his hand； which he
held above his face。 〃What's that in the Bible；〃 he said； slowly； 〃about
the statue； whose thighs and belly were of brass； and its feet of mud？〃
〃I don't know much about the Bible；〃 said the keen man； 〃I'm going to see
if my pot isn't boiling over。 Won't yours burn？〃
〃No； I asked the Captain's boy to keep an eye on itbut I expect he won't。
Do you put the rice in with the mealies？〃