, and he used to say
that if it was only play it ought to be done well.

He was letting the glass rest upon his knees, with his eyes running
dreamily over the landscape, when he became aware of the fact that the
Zulu was watching him intently, as he sat there with a couple of
assegais across his knees.

"I am sorry I was so unjust to him that night," thought Mr Rogers. "It
is a pity one's nature prompts one to be so hasty and suspicious."

Then as his eyes met those of the General, as it was fast becoming the
custom to call him, he cudgelled his brains for some way of showing his
confidence in him, who was so completely their guide.

Suddenly a soft smile beamed on the Zulu's fierce countenance, and he
said gently,--

"Boss thinking about his boys. Fine brave boys; make big warriors and
chiefs. Zulu wish his boys here too. Love his boys same as white man."

Mr Rogers stretched out his hand to the Zulu on the instant, for he had
touched the chord of their common humanity, and white man and black man,
as their hands joined in one firm grip, felt that henceforth they would
be friends who could trust each other to the end.

"Look!" cried the Zulu suddenly; and he pointed down into the plain,
where the alarm had been taken in the direction taken by Dick.

Antelopes that had been feeding, suddenly threw up their heads and
galloped together, seeming to form square--first with horns outward to
resist attack; then they reformed, and charged in one direction; halted,
turned, and charged in another--as if alarmed, and yet not knowing which
way to go.

The wildebeestes that had been fighting stopped, erected their tails,
pawed the ground, and then, throwing their heads side-wise, began to
plough it with one horn, but only to snort loudly and tear over the
plain; while the zebras and quaggas began to toss their heads and tear
about over the grassy wild, kicking and plunging, and scattering the
light antelopes like the wind.

Suddenly there was a puff of smoke from a clump of bushes quite a mile
away, and after an interval the faint crack of a rifle.

"That's Dick's gun, General," said Mr Rogers, bringing his glass to
bear upon a little herd of antelopes that must have formed the object of
the shot; but not one of them fell, neither did either of them seem to
be lamed.

"Miss, this time," said the General, quietly.

Just then there was another report, evidently a shot at long range; but
the only effect was to driv