the owner of the waggon and the master of the men
attending it, we will for the present designate him as the Trader. He
generally rode on in silence, amusing himself with his own thoughts, but
occasionally he turned to address a tall Kaffir by his side, whose
leopard-skin robe and head-dress, the long rifle at his back, and the
independent air with which he walked, betokened him to be a leading
hunter, and the familiar way in which he was addressed and replied,
showed that he was held in high esteem by his employer.

"We must look out for a camping-place before long, Umgolo," said the
trader. "The beasts have had a rough journey, and will require plenty
of time for feeding. Do you go on ahead, and select a spot where grass
and water are to be found, and where we may watch them, and defend
ourselves, should any of the people hereabouts take a fancy to the
beasts or to the contents of our waggon."

"The master shall be obeyed," answered the Kaffir. "It may be as well,
as he has said, to be on our guard, for the Zulus in these parts are
arrant thieves, and will not scruple to steal if they have the chance."

The Kaffir, who had of course spoken in his native tongue, hurried ahead
of the team. In a short time the waggon overtook him at a spot which he
had chosen on the slope of a hill forming one side of a valley through
which ran a sparkling stream, the ground in the neighbourhood of its
banks being covered with rich grass. No more favourable spot could have
been selected for the camp, as the stream served as a boundary on one
side, and the hill on the other, so that a man stationed at either end
could effectually prevent the cattle from straying.

Another valley opened into that along which the waggon was travelling,
and on a level space some considerable way from the bottom could be
distinguished in the distance a circular palisade forming a kraal, the
dome-roofed huts just appearing above the enclosure. It was so far off,
however, that the inhabitants were not likely to have discovered the
waggon as it passed along.

At that period, it should be understood, the Zulus and their white
neighbours were on tolerably good terms, though some of the former might
occasionally have carried off a few horses or head of cattle belonging
to the settlers, when they could do so without the risk of being caught.
Sportsmen and traders therefore penetrated fearlessly into the country,
the traders carrying cotton goods, blankets