so much with
the view of serving as a fortification, as for the object of preventing
the inroad of elephants or other wild animals. The height, however, of
the palisade was such that even a lion or leopard would have found it
difficult to leap over. Within it could be penned also a considerable
number of cattle and horses and sheep. The front was, however, left
open, a drawbridge only crossing the moat; but materials for filling up
the gap were kept stored on either side, so that in a few hours the
whole circle could be completed. The planks were of such a thickness,
that neither assegais nor bullets could pierce them, and certainly no
force such as was likely to attack the farm would be provided with guns.
Captain Broderick felt confident that he could rely, in case of an
inroad, on the assistance of the neighbouring inhabitants, who would
eagerly hurry to the farm for their own protection. Here and there were
a few white settlers, but the greater number were Kaffirs, who did not
owe allegiance to the monarch of Zululand. Had not Captain Broderick
carefully studied the habits and customs of the natives, and ingratiated
himself with them, he would have been unable not only to put up his
house or the palisade, but even to have cultivated the ground, and found
herdsmen for his cattle. He had two faithful followers, of whom a
description will hereafter be given, as also three Hottentots, who lived
in huts outside the farm; and he occasionally obtained the assistance of
a couple of other white men; but the rest of the labour was performed by
the Kaffir natives. Indomitable perseverance and energy had enabled him
to overcome numberless difficulties, and had there been a market at
hand, he would by this time have become a rich man. But the expense and
loss of driving his cattle even to the nearest town was very great, and
the profit very small after their arrival, while the trader who
occasionally came that way could afford to give but low prices for
animals which might never reach their destination.

Provisions, however, were abundant; and Captain Broderick and his son
Rupert seldom failed, when they went out hunting, to return without a
good supply of game, as they could always depend upon the assistance of
the Kaffirs and any of the white settlers whom they invited to join
them.

A couple of days had passed since the arrival of Percy and Denis, and
they began to grow anxious at hearing nothing of Hendricks. It w