e care he had bestowed on the boy. Still there was the difficulty of
reaching him, and bringing him back in safety to the farm, should the
Zulus remain on the watch for Mangaleesu. Peace might be established at
once by delivering him up, but that was not to be thought of, neither
would Captain Broderick express any wish that he and his wife would quit
the farm, and relieve him from the responsibility of protecting them.
Percy offered to accompany Denis to bring back Lionel; but although he
had plenty of spirit, he was not strong enough to undertake the journey.
Rupert also begged that he might go, but it was a question whether
Hendricks, who was so greatly attached to Lionel, would deliver him up
without further proof that Captain Broderick had a right to him.

By making a wide circuit to the west, the Zulus, although they continued
on the watch, might be avoided; but the mountain would have to be twice
crossed before Hendricks could be reached, and it would be difficult to
find him. Crawford then offered to go; but being much knocked up by his
journey, he would be unable to start for a couple of days. On further
consideration, Captain Broderick came to the conclusion that the longer
route was not to be thought of, as there would be a great risk of
missing Hendricks altogether.

The day was already too far spent for any one to set off until the next
morning. Possibly by that time the Zulus, finding that the garrison had
been further increased, would consider that they had no chance of
success, and would take their departure. If so, Captain Broderick was
determined to set off himself with Denis and the two men he had before
despatched to look for Hendricks. A party of five, well-armed and
mounted, might travel without difficulty, and would, he hoped, soon
overtake the slow-moving waggon; while, although there would be only
four to return, Denis assured him that Lionel was worth any grown man.

Captain Broderick again sent out a couple of scouts to watch the enemy;
and should they move, to ascertain in what direction they went. They
returned after dark, saying that the Zulus were still encamped, and that
they had scouts out in all directions, evidently on the watch for
Mangaleesu, whom they probably supposed would try to make his escape.

This was a great disappointment. Though Captain Broderick knew that he
might easily evade them, they would certainly discover that he and his
party had left the farm, and migh