ny other wild
beast, making an inroad into the camp.

Next day a messenger from the king made his appearance, and presented an
invitation to the great white hunter to dine with His Majesty, and to
bring his young white companions.

Hendricks groaned. "I know what that means," he observed to Crawford.
"We shall have to drink beer and eat beef until we are ready to die of
repletion. I would thankfully avoid the honour if we could possibly do
so; but if we were to refuse, the king might grow angry, and perhaps
confiscate our goods, if he did not order us all to be put to death."

"Let us go by all means," said Crawford. "It will be great fun, and we
shall, at all events, be able to boast that we dined with the king of
Zululand."

"We must go, I fear, but I doubt if you or any of us will find it much
fun," answered Hendricks.

He then turned to the messenger, who, of course, had no conception of
the remarks which had been made, and begged him to inform the great king
that his white friends would do themselves the immense honour of obeying
his commands.

At the appointed time Hendricks and his four companions set off, leaving
the waggon under the charge of Umgolo, with directions to keep a strict
watch upon it, lest any of Cetchwayo's brave soldiers should take it
into their heads to appropriate the contents. They then proceeded
towards the kraal at the side of the hill. The heat was excessive, the
sun beat down with intense force upon their heads, so that they were not
inclined to move very fast. Having arrived at the kraal, they were
ushered into the outer circle, where, in a hut considerably larger than
those inhabited by the common people, they found the king seated on a
pile of mats, he being utterly unable to squat down in the fashion of
his less obese subjects. Hendricks saluted him in due form, and
Crawford and Percy imitated their leader as well as they could. They
then arranged themselves so as to form part of a circle on one side of
His Majesty.

Panda looked at Lionel. "That boy knows how to behave," he remarked,
observing the proper Kaffir salutation which he made on entering.

"Yes, O King! I have long lived in Zululand, and I know good manners,"
answered Lionel, with perfect gravity, while Denis turned away his head
to indulge in a quiet laugh, to which he could not openly venture to
give way.

Presently several girls appeared, each carrying a bowl holding about a
gallon of beer, one of w