sorry to have lost. I first fancied that he was either the
son or nephew of Mr Hendricks, but he afterwards told me that he was
neither the one nor the other, but that he had been rescued by Hendricks
during a trip he made some years before into Zululand."

Percy went on to give an account of Lionel's history. Mrs Broderick
listened with deep attention, and inquired the age and appearance of her
son's friend, which Percy described.

"Did you ever hear, Percy, that your youngest brother, during the
journey we made in coming here, was lost? We always supposed that he
perished with his nurse, who was killed and thrown into the river by the
savages. Her body was discovered some time afterwards, though our
child's was never found."

"Do you know, mother, I cannot help thinking that Lionel must be that
young brother of mine," exclaimed Percy. "I am aware that I ought not
to raise your hopes, but I felt drawn towards him from the first; and,
as Denis will tell you, he very soon learned to speak English. He
remembered a lady he felt sure was his mother, and a tall gentleman he
supposed to be his father, although he had no recollection of how he
came into the hands of the Zulus. It is strange that he should have
been found in the kraal of Mangaleesu, who is now here. He, however,
can give very little information as to Lionel's history, as he was
brought to the kraal by another tribe who were afterwards destroyed.
Besides Lionel, Mangaleesu and his wife are the only inhabitants of the
whole kraal who escaped. Denis, however, knows the exact particulars
better than I do, as he joined Hendricks the very next day, and has been
with Lionel nearly ever since."

Mrs Broderick, on hearing this, could scarcely restrain her agitation.
She naturally at once felt sure that her child's life had by some
wonderful means been preserved. Her impulse was to hurry forthwith to
gain more particulars from Denis, and to talk over the subject with her
husband, but she felt that it would be wrong to draw off their attention
from their duties, engaged as they were in guarding the house. She then
thought of visiting Mangaleesu and Kalinda, who had been placed in a
small room at the back of the house. She knew enough of the language to
speak to them; but Percy assured her that they would not be able to give
her more information than he had done.

"I don't know that Denis can do so either," he added. "We must wait
until Hendricks and Lion