ead;
and although they had taken an interest in the child, they had made no
further inquiries about him. Captain Broderick therefore kept to his
resolution of setting out with his two attendants as soon as it was
ascertained that the Zulus had left the neighbourhood. In the meantime
the defences of the farm were increased as much as possible, in case the
Zulus should venture to attack it.

The night was passing by quietly. Crawford volunteered to keep watch,
Mangaleesu also offered his services, so that those who had been on foot
the previous night might obtain the rest they required. Rupert and
Denis joined them shortly after midnight. They were continually going
round the whole circuit of the stockade to see that the men who were
ported at the different angles had their eyes open, and that the enemy
were not stealing up, as it was thought possible they might attempt to
do, to take them by surprise.

Crawford had just returned to the platform in front of the house, when
Mangaleesu pointed across the river, towards the Zulu camp. No fire was
to be seen, and Crawford remarked that the flames had sunk completely
down, although there was still a glow as if from hot embers.

Rupert and Denis soon afterwards came up.

"That looks as if they had gone away at last," observed Rupert, "and I
hope that my father will be able to set out to-morrow."

"Don't be too sure of that," observed Denis. "The fellows are up to all
sorts of tricks. They may have crossed the river lower down, and we may
see their ugly faces in the morning, or hear their shrieks and yells
before then, or it is just as likely that they have crossed to the
north, and will try to make their way down from above the falls. I have
heard a great deal of their devices from my father and Hendricks, and
the other traders, and it never does to trust them."

Mangaleesu did not understand what was said, but perhaps he would have
considered the remarks rather complimentary than otherwise, although
made about those who were now his deadly enemies. Denis asked him what
he thought upon the subject; he replied, that he believed they had gone
away to the eastward, finding that the garrison of the farm were keeping
a vigilant watch, and that they could not hope to succeed, unless at the
risk of losing a number of men, with the comparatively small force they
possessed. He expressed his regret at causing his friends so much
trouble and anxiety, and offered the next