on our side, I'll now turn
my glass in that direction."

He was for some time silent, while Maud watched his countenance.
Suddenly he exclaimed--

"Yes, I do see something moving. Now don't tumble down off the
platform, Maud; for whether they are men or beasts I cannot yet clearly
make out. Yes, I see now; there is a man leading a horse with one hand
and a small animal with the other. I do believe it is Crawford. The
animal is a quagga. Every now and then the creature begins to frisk
about and pull away from him. He has a hard matter to get it along,
that is very evident. Now he stops and is patting the creature, now
they are coming on again. Now the little brute is kicking and plunging,
trying to bite him; but he holds on manfully. I wish that I could go
and help him; but I must not desert my post. I guess how it is; he has
managed to catch the quagga, and is bringing it in to try and tame it,
very likely to present to one of you girls."

"Not for me or Rose. If it's for one of us, it's for Helen," exclaimed
Maud. "He evidently admires her, though she is too busy to admire him
in return. At all events, we shall have him as an addition to the
garrison, should the Zulus come before Rupert and the men with him
return."

"I have been looking out for them, but I don't see them. Crawford,
however, will be here presently, and tell us what they are about, so
that we may know when to expect them."

Percy had taken two or three turns on the platform, when he suddenly
exclaimed, "I do believe there are some people coming down the mountain,
but who they are I cannot make out, though there appear to be a good
many of them. Maud, do you go down and tell Helen and Rose and Biddy to
get ready. I'll fire the signals to let the men know they are to drive
in the cattle. Crawford will be here long before the Zulus can cross
the river, even if he doesn't mount his horse and let the young quagga
go. Don't alarm our mother, that's all. I say, Maud," he added, as his
sister was hastening away, "before you do anything else, send Biddy here
with the swivel guns. One at a time is as much as she can carry, and I
have got a rope to hoist them up. There are places already fitted to
fix them in; and then tell her to bring along the muskets and a good
store of ammunition. Let Mangaleesu know what is wanted, and he'll help
her, and his wife too. As long as they do not show themselves, there is
no reason why they should not