I cooked a girl like that in Natal last year, and when she came out she was quite white!" Bessie translated this fiendish threat, whereat the girl grinned from ear to ear and murmured "_Koos_" (chief) in cheerful acquiescence.

A Kafir maid on a pleasant afternoon is not troubled by the prospect of being baked at nightfall, which is a long way off, especially when it is John Niel who threatened the baking.

The natives about Mooifontein had taken the measure of John's foot by this time with accuracy.

His threats were awful, but his performances were not great.

Once, indeed, he was forced to engage in a stand-up fight with a great fellow who thought that he could be taken advantage of on this account, but after he had succeeded in administering a sound hiding to that champion he was never again troubled in this respect.
"Now," he said, "I think we have provided for the safety of your cake, so come on." "Thank you, Captain Niel," answered Bessie, looking at him in a bewitching little way she well knew how to assume, "thank you, but I think I had rather not go out walking." This was what she said, but her eyes added, "I am offended with you; I want to have nothing to do with you." "Very well," said John; "then I suppose I must go alone," and he took up his hat with the air of a martyr.
Bessie looked through the open kitchen door at the lights and shadows that chased each other across the swelling bosom of the hill behind the house.
"It certainly is very fine," she said; "are you going far ?" "No, only round the plantation." "There are so many puff-adders down there, and I hate snakes," suggested Bessie, by way of finding another excuse for not coming.
"Oh, I'll look after the puff-adders--come along." "Well," she said at last, as she slowly unrolled her sleeves, which had been tucked up during the cake-making, and hid her beautiful white arms, "I will come, not because I want to come, but because you have over-persuaded me.