proached
nearer, as he hoped before that time that not only Crawford would have
arrived, but that his brother and the men would have reached the farm.
As far as he could judge, when looking through the telescope, the Zulus
were preparing to encamp, although they might have had some other reason
for halting.

He had kept his glass continually fixed on them to watch their
movements; it now occurred to him to turn it in the opposite direction,
when to his satisfaction he saw that Crawford had almost got up to the
farm. He waved to him to come, and then made signs to Mangaleesu, who
was waiting below, to open the gate.

Just as Crawford, leading his horse and the quagga filly--as tame as a
dog--crossed the drawbridge, Biddy and the three young ladies came out
of the house, dressed exactly as Percy had suggested, with hats and
coats, sashes round their waists, and rifles in their hands. He started
with astonishment, unable to comprehend the cause of their strange
masquerading.

"I beg your pardon, young ladies," he said, "but I did not at first know
you in your disguise. Did you take me for an enemy?"

"We should not have let you in so easily," answered Helen. "Percy has
seen the Zulus approaching, and being afraid that they would attack the
fort before you and Rupert had returned, we have got ready to defend it
to the best of our power."

"I consider that Percy is mistaken, although I have no doubt that you
have made the best preparations for defence," said Crawford, inclined to
treat the whole affair as a joke.

"Sure, if the inemy do show themselves near this, we will put them to
the right about," cried Biddy, flourishing the captain's sword.

"Let me secure my horse and this little zebra filly which I have brought
for you, Miss Helen; I will then join Percy, and ascertain what is
likely to happen," said Crawford.

Helen duly thanked the young Englishman for his intended gift, but as
the little animal at that moment took it into its head to grow restive,
and kick, scream, and prance about, she did not show any inclination to
approach it.

Crawford having taken his horse and little captive round to the yard,
hurried up to the platform, where Percy was standing. Looking through
the telescope, he was satisfied Percy was right in supposing that the
people he saw below the hill were Zulus. They were probably not aware
that they could be distinguished at so great a distance. He then turned
his glass in the di