The two argued for an hour, Jan emphatic and expostulating, the old
Kafir calm, feeling both right and law were on his side.
[Sidenote: "We shan't Pay"]
At length, Jan surprised us by announcing, "We shan't pay. Your Baas
won't expect money from me anyhow, if he does from other people."
"Why not?" exclaimed the other in surprise, for Jan spoke with
conviction.
"My Baas' wife is cousin to your Baas' wife, so of course we're free on
his veldt."
We laughed, but the collector remarked that he would go and inquire. So
he marched up to the wagon, followed closely by Lang-Jan, in fear of
treachery, and asked Mrs. Gilbert if it was true, and being informed
that the ladies were related, he retired at once, and Jan triumphantly
accompanied him back to the fire.
I thought Jan would be happy now the wicked had ceased from troubling,
but the storm had its after-roll. He now expressed indignation that two
shillings had been demanded. If such an iniquitous claim was made at
all, one shilling was all that should be asked for.
They harried this point till the stranger asked Jan what odds it was to
him--he did not pay the money.
"Don't I pay the money?" cried Jan. "Isn't it taken out of my very
hand?"
"Oh, ja! But it comes out of the Baas' pocket."
"It comes out of my very hand," reiterated Jan, springing up; and
fetching his whip, he gave three tremendous clacks with it, the signal
to April, that could be heard a mile away in the still air, to bring
back the oxen; and the baffled enemy picked up his lamb and retired from
action.
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