"
Again Mr. Clifford made no direct answer, only asked a question:
"How long will it take to get the guns and ammunition, and what will
they cost?"
"About a week from Wakkerstroom," replied Meyer. "Old Potgieter,
the trader there, has just imported a hundred Martinis and a hundred
Westley-Richards falling-blocks. Fifty of each, with ten thousand rounds
of cartridges, will cost about L600, and we have as much as that in the
bank; also we have the new waggon, and plenty of good oxen and horses.
We can take a dozen of the horses with us, and sell them in the north
of the Transvaal for a fine price, before we get into the tetsefly
belt. The oxen will probably carry us through, as they are most of them
salted."
"You have thought it all out, Jacob, I see; but it means a lot of money
one way and another, to say nothing of other things."
"Yes, a lot of money, and those rifles are too good for Kaffirs.
Birmingham gas-pipes would have done for them, but there are none to be
had. But what is the money, and what are the guns, compared to all they
will bring us?"
"I think you had better ask my daughter, Jacob. She seems to have her
own ideas upon the subject."
"Miss Clifford has made up her mind, and it will not change. I shall ask
her no more," replied Meyer.
Pages:
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104