"I have a bright idea," exclaimed Percy. "What do you say to letting
the girls dress up in Rupert's and my clothes? Perhaps we shall also
find some among my father's and Crawford's which would suit them. They
might show themselves while the enemy appeared at a distance, and then
get out of harm's way."

Mrs Broderick could not help smiling, notwithstanding her anxiety at
Percy's proposal.

"The girls will be ready to do anything that is necessary, but I trust
that after all no enemies will come near us, and I only wish you, as a
precautionary measure, to convince yourself that none are in the
neighbourhood," she said.

"Very well, mother, I will go, and shout out loud enough for you all to
hear, if I see any one," answered Percy. "Then let the girls put on
their male attire and hurry up, with muskets in their hands, to the
ramparts. They need not put on any lower garments, as the Zulus would
only see their heads and shoulders. By the bye, if they were to rig up
a few dummies, it might assist to deceive the enemy, and they might be
left to be shot at in case they should have firearms among them."

On leaving his mother, Percy shouted to his sisters to come and hear the
proposal he had to make.

The young ladies, who had been employed in various ways at the back of
the premises, hearing his voice, hurried round to ascertain what he
wanted. He had by this time reached the platform.

"I was telling mother that, should any enemy appear, I would advise you
all to rig up in our clothes. I forgot Biddy; she would be a host in
herself, if she will rout out father's old uniform coat and his cocked
hat and sword. If she flourishes the blade in the rays of the sun, and
rushes about here and there, she'll make the enemy believe that we have
a large garrison, and they will hesitate to approach us. Tell
Mangaleesu that he must disguise himself, and that he will not be
recognised in a round hat and big necktie; and his wife too, she will
prove useful. `We shall do finely,' as Denis would say, and now I'll
just look out and see if any enemy is at hand. In all probability the
Zulus have given up their search for Mangaleesu as hopeless, supposing
him by this time to be miles away from the frontier, so you need not
begin your preparations just yet, though I should like to see Biddy
dressed up in our father's cocked hat and uniform coat, with a sword by
her side. She'd make a fine picture of an Amazon."

Having thus d