ry manner, and had thus gained
experience both as a hunter and a trader. His uncle was so much pleased
that he promised before long to fit him out with a waggon and team on
his own account, that he might try his fortune in trading, chiefly for
cattle, among the Zulus.

"Mr Crawford and young Broderick asked me to come on and inquire when
we are likely to outspan, for they complain that they are both hungry
and tired, as they are not well accustomed to our style of travelling,"
he said, addressing their leader.

"Tell them we shall camp in an hour or in less time perhaps; and if they
can't hold out, do you get some biscuits from a box in the hinder part
of the waggon," answered Hendricks.

Young Lionel was inclined to feel something like contempt for those so
much older than himself, who were not ashamed to acknowledge that they
were hungry and tired after travelling somewhat under twenty miles in a
broiling sun. Denis, who had, it must be confessed, spoken one word for
them and two for himself, soon got out the biscuits, and keeping a
portion, distributed the rest between his two companions. One of them,
Percy Broderick, was a lad about his own age, fair and good-looking, and
well-grown, not having the appearance, however, of a person particularly
well fitted for a life in the wilderness. The other, Harry Crawford,
though much older, looked at the first glance still less fitted for
roughing it. Not that he wanted breadth of shoulders, strong muscles,
or stout limbs; but that his countenance betokened intellect and
refinement, rather than firmness, resolution, and the other qualities
requisite for a person who has to go through the hardships of a
settler's existence.

"Faith! I wonder what brought you two fellows out here, and I doubt
much whether you'll like the country now you have come. It's a mighty
fine one, there's no doubt about that, for those who have a fancy for a
wild life, and shooting rhinoceroses and buffaloes, not to speak of
elephants and lions," exclaimed Denis. He had as yet had but little
conversation with his fellow-travellers, they having only that morning
joined the waggon party from a farm at which they had been staying. All
Denis knew was that they had come out together from England, and were
now bound in the same direction.

"As to that, I was born in the colony, and have only come back to my
native land," answered Percy. "Haven't you heard of my father, Captain
Broderick, who is