esu and Kalinda
walked together close to the waggon, and it had been arranged that
should any natives appear, she was to get inside, while the young chief,
who had put off the insignia of his rank, and was dressed like one of
the other natives, would then, it was hoped, pass without discovery.
Little Lionel, whose wound was slighter than at first supposed, and who
seemed to look upon it as a mere scratch, some times trotted alongside
them, and at others clambered up by the side of the driver, to whom he
took an especial fancy. Denis frequently called him to sit in the
corner at the other end of the waggon, and amused himself by trying to
teach him English, which the boy acquired with wonderful rapidity, it
being scarcely ever necessary to tell him twice the name of a thing.

"I'm sure the little chap is English," said Denis to Hendricks, when
they outspanned for the night. "Had his parents been Dutch, he would
not have recollected the names of things so uncommonly fast as he does.
When I put my hand to my head, and said head, he immediately repeated
the word after me, and when I asked him again ten minutes afterwards he
had not forgotten it. When I touched my cap, without telling him the
name, he at once said `cap.' If he goes on at that rate, he'll be able
to talk English before we get to Maritzburg, and I shouldn't be
surprised if he will then be able to give us a more clear account of
himself than he has hitherto done."

"That's right, Denis; go on and try to make him talk as much as you can.
I have got some books, and you may be able to teach him his letters,
and perhaps even to read before the journey is over," said Hendricks.
"He is a sharp little fellow, no doubt about that, and will do credit to
your instruction."

Denis looked well pleased at this remark. He was flattered at the
confidence placed in him, and was thus reconciled to sitting quietly in
the waggon all day, instead of mounting his horse. He was really unfit
for hard exercise, though, had he not found this employment, he would
probably have been restless and discontented, and would have insisted on
mounting his horse, and exposing himself to the hot sun.

Day after day the waggon moved on, generally only ten miles were
accomplished, frequently even less, and seldom much more, except when
the ground was level and hard. Occasionally the men had to put their
shoulders to the wheels to help on the oxen where the ground was
unusually steep. On