ey had been sleeping in the sunshine, dropped upon their knees,
the Pig following this up by creeping among the bushes that were left
standing, and hiding his little head, ostrich-like, in the darkest part.

"Bravo! Hooray!" cried Mark, snatching a rifle from his cousin as Dean
rushed up with a piece over each shoulder. "Give them another, father!"

"No, my boy; only a waste of powder. We will save this shot for their
next visit, for I suppose we shall have another rush when they have got
over their alarm."

"Here, you two, come out," cried Mark, trotting up to where Mak and Pig
had taken refuge amongst the stones and bushes. "Get up, Mak; you have
got nothing to mind. You, Dean, lay hold of Pig's leg." Mak rose from
his knees and began to grin, but made a rather poor display of mirth as
he tried to explain that he knew the two "baas" did not mean to shoot
him, but he thought all the stones were coming down; and then he joined
merrily in Mark's laughter as they both looked on at the encounter Dean
was having with the pigmy, who was still half buried amongst the bushes.
Dean had given a haul at one leg which he grasped just above the ankle,
but had to drop it directly, for it saluted him with a tremendous series
of kicks. He fared no better when he managed to grasp the other, and
then as he was driven back, every advance was greeted with a display of
kicks, which enraged him at first, till he awoke to the fact that he was
helping to create a perfect exhibition. Then, and then only, he joined
in the hearty laugh. This effected that which violence had failed to
bring about: the little pair of black legs that were sticking out from
beneath the bushes ceased to kick as soon as the attack was given up,
were drawn a little farther in, and then by slow degrees Pig turned
himself so that he could look out at his assailant, found that the
attack came from a friend and that there was nothing to fear, and soon
after he was laughing merrily with the rest.

"Run up to the top of the wall, Pig," cried Mark; and the little fellow
scrambled up, and as soon as he reached the top called out to Mak that
the blacks were running away, following up the announcement by capering
in what was meant for a set of jeering, defiant gestures, ending by
picking up loose fragments of stone and hurling them in the direction of
the retreating party.

"That will do!" shouted Mark; and as the little fellow turned he signed
to him to come down,