d now we must see how we can get across."

They soon reached the margin of the river. It was apparently not very
deep; but on the possibility of crocodiles existing in it, they were not
inclined to attempt swimming across. Presently, however, they saw a
person running along the bank. They shouted and waved to him. He saw
them, and waved in return.

"I shouldn't be surprised if that is my brother Rupert," cried Percy,
"though I shall not know him to a certainty, even when I see him close;
it is so long since we parted."

The person they had seen was lost to sight among the trees, but soon
reappeared on board a boat, in which he quickly came paddling across.

"Who are you?" he asked, "though I am sure you are Englishmen."

"Yes, I am Percy Broderick, and this is my friend Denis Maloney."

"And I am Rupert Broderick," said the person in the boat, leaping out,
and shaking hands warmly with his brother and then with Denis. "I am
delighted to see you, and so will father and mother be, and the girls.
We were beginning to grow anxious about you. How have you managed to
get here all alone? and what has become of Hendricks the hunter, with
whom we understood you were coming through Zululand?"

"I'll tell you all about it as we go along," answered Percy. "I know
Denis here is very hungry, and I confess that my joy in getting home has
not quite taken away my appetite."

"Well, get into the boat, and we'll soon be at the house; it isn't as
grand a mansion as you might have expected to find, but it's big enough
to hold us, and a few visitors besides."

They were soon across, Percy and Denis talking all the time, giving such
bits of their adventures as they knew would be interesting to their
hearer. No sooner did they land, than Percy set off running, eager to
meet his father and mother and sisters.

"Stop, stop!" cried Rupert; "let me say that you are coming, or the
sudden surprise may be too trying to our mother's nerves."

But Percy had been seen from the verandah, and a middle-aged lady and
three young ones came rushing down the steps, followed by a tall,
strongly built gentleman, who seemed well capable of wielding an axe or
a broadsword, as occasion might require.

"Percy, Percy!" cried the lady. "I know you, my dear boy! It must be
you. Say I am right!"

"Yes, mother, yes," answered Percy, and rushing forward he was soon
receiving affectionate embraces from his mother and sisters. His father
was not l