ling atmosphere, the hoarse thunder of the great seas shivering the
fabric, and the shrieks of the panic-stricken women, and it will be seen
that the 'tweendecks of a tug-boat crossing the Durban bar might almost
put Pandemonium itself to the blush.

"Well, Ridgeley, how did you come through it?" said Maitland, emerging
very white and shaky. "I believe I'd sooner end my days in this country
than go through that awful cabin experience again."

"You'd have been better above," said Gerard. "Although I haven't got a
dry stitch on me, and am going to land in our new country wet to the
very bones!"

But the semi-tropical sun was strong and bright, and the sea-water warm.
No harm would come of ten such wettings. Then the tug was moored to
the quay. There was a rush of coolie porters on board, and our two
friends, surrounded by all their worldly goods, planted a first footstep
on the land which was to be the scene of their start in life.

CHAPTER TWO.

STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND.

"Now, young fellows. Bring along your traps this way. Got anything to
declare?"

The voice proceeded from a bluff hearty individual wearing a thick
grizzled beard and a brass-buttoned coat. He was standing in the
doorway of the Custom-house.

"Oh, hang it, I don't know," answered Maitland, peevishly, and looking
around rather wildly. "Those niggers have cleared out every mortal
thing we possess. What they've done with them, Heaven only knows.
There doesn't seem to be any one to look after one's things in this
beast of a place."

The official burst into a loud laugh.

"Any one to look after your things!" he echoed. "You've got to do that
yourself, sonny, here. But we are going to do that too."

"I wish you had said so before," was the ill-tempered reply. "Well,
then, I have got two portmanteaus, a saddle-case and two gun-cases; a
hatbox, a handbag, and two bundles of wraps."

"All right. Step in here," said the official, leading the way inside.
The luggage was all piled on a counter, and presently Harry, to his
intense disgust, found himself nearly five pounds the poorer, which
amount he had contributed to the Colonial revenue as duty upon his guns,
saddle, and a few other small sundries; while Gerard, whose outfit was
of a more modest order, came off considerably lighter.

"Going up-country, mister?" said the official, as, the examination over,
he lit his pipe and strolled into the air again.

"Yes," answered Gerard