as
difficult to account for his delay, unless he had lost so many of his
oxen as to be unable to proceed with his waggon. This, however, was not
likely. The natives were not hostile, as they were always glad to have
traders come among them to purchase their produce, and from whom they
could obtain the articles they required. The tsetse fly, although
destructive in some parts to cattle, was not supposed to exist in the
district through which he was passing, and although one or two of the
animals might have been killed by lions, that would not have hindered
him for any length of time, as he might easily have supplied their
places, or travelled on with a smaller team. At last, Captain Broderick
resolved to send out a couple of trusty men in the direction it was
supposed Hendricks would come.

One of these, Conrad Vermack by name, whose chief characteristic was his
intense hatred of the Zulus, had at one time possessed a farm of his
own, but it had been destroyed by the savages while he was absent on a
hunting expedition. He had returned to find his house burned to the
ground, and his wife, five children, and two servants massacred. He had
attempted to avenge their death, and had narrowly escaped with his own
life. With three assegai wounds in his body, utterly ruined in purse,
and his health broken, he had received shelter and kind treatment from
Captain Broderick, who pitied his misfortunes. He had in time recovered
his health, but had no desire or energy to attempt again setting up for
himself, though offered some stock with which to commence. He declined
the offer, saying that he would infinitely prefer devoting the remainder
of his life to the service of one from whom he had received so many
benefits; and he had thus remained on year after year, without changing
his resolution, apparently contented, if not happy. In appearance he
was unlike most of his countrymen. His figure was tall and bulky, his
face long and rugged. A smile never illumined his countenance. A mass
of long coal-black hair fell straight over his forehead and down his
back, giving him a strong resemblance, except in colour, to a North
American Indian. On all occasions he wore a short shooting jacket, his
arms sticking considerably beyond the sleeves, while it was darned and
patched in all directions, as were his trowsers, which had once been of
blue cloth, but had been mended with pieces of so many colours that it
was difficult to say wha