ome along, Lionel; we must manage to catch
the brutes. If we don't look sharp, they will be away back to
Maritzburg."

Percy, seeing them start off, also followed. While Denis went on one
side, Lionel took the other, accompanied by the young Englishman.
Fortunately the horses stopped to graze at a tempting spot of grass
which they found on their way. This, after a long run, enabled the lads
to get to the south of them. They then crept up slowly, and Denis, who
was the most active of the party, caught one which had a long halter
trailing from its head. Instead of hauling at it, he allowed the horse
to continue feeding until his two companions had seized the others.
They were, however, at this time, at a considerable distance from the
river, and when they got back they found the remaining horses and oxen
swimming over, with the Hottentots and several Kaffirs holding on to
their tails, shouting, shrieking, and splashing the water, to keep the
crocodiles at a distance.

"I vote we cross on horseback," said Denis. "It will be half an hour or
more before the raft can come for us, and I'm getting desperately
hungry. We can get over just as easily as those Kaffir fellows. We can
either sit on the horses' backs, or hold on to their tails, while they
tow us over. See, that's how the Kaffirs are crossing."

"I'm ready, at all events," said Lionel. "I think I'll ride my horse."

"Mind if you do, give him his head, and don't on any account pull at the
halter," said Denis. "What way are you going to cross, Percy?"

Percy did not quite like the undertaking, not being accustomed to this
sort of thing. But he was ashamed to refuse; at the same time, being an
excellent swimmer, he was not afraid of the water, but more apprehensive
of crocodiles, which he thought after the noise had ceased might come
swimming up to the spot. At last, however, after seeing Denis and
Lionel mount, they having secured their outer clothing to the heads of
their horses, he imitated their example, and all three plunged into the
river together, the horses now, with riders on their backs, taking to
the water willingly enough. Denis led the way, keeping on the left or
up stream. Percy followed closely a little farther down. Lionel was on
his right. For some distance the river was sufficiently shallow for the
horses to wade, with the water only half-way up their backs. Presently
Denis's horse began to swim.

"I'll try the Kaffir fashion, and