e, two
sons, and Dennis; then made his way to Maritzburg; and soon after he had
purchased an extensive tract of land, and a pleasantly situated home,
with garden in full perfection, the owner of which, having made money in
the colony, wished to retire to England.

Here for a time Mrs Rogers had seemed better, and undoubtedly her life
was considerably prolonged. Gardening, farming, and a little hunting
formed the occupations of the father and sons, and for a time all was
happiness in the sunny far-off home. Then the much-dreaded day came,
and they were left to mourn for a tender wife and mother, whose loss was
irreparable.

Richard, who partook greatly of his mother's nature, was, like his
father, completely prostrated by the terrible loss; and though time
somewhat assuaged his grief, he seemed to have gone back in his health,
and lost the way he had made up since he left England, and he had become
so weak and delicate that Mr Rogers had consulted the doctor, who from
time to time visited their far-off home.

"Medicine is of no use, my dear sir," he said frankly. "I can do him no
good. I suppose he sits indoors a good deal and mopes?"

"Exactly."

"Then look here, my dear sir, give him a thorough change. You are not
tied to your farming in any way?"

"Not in the least."

"Then fit up a waggon, take your horses, and have a few months' campaign
in the wilds yonder. You want a change as badly as the boy, and you
will both come back, I'll venture to say, doubled in strength. Why, the
ivory and skins you'll collect will pay your expenses. I wish I had the
chance to go."

It was settled then, and the waggon was being fitted up with ammunition
and stores; horses, guaranteed to be well-salted, had been purchased for
Mr Rogers and his boys. The two young Zulus who had been hanging about
the place for months, making little trips with Dick and Jack, were to
go; and in addition a couple of trustworthy blacks, experienced as
waggon-driver and foreloper, had been engaged; so that in a very few
days they would say good-bye to civilisation for months, and go seek for
health in the far-off wilds.

The boys were delighted, for Mr Rogers proposed that they should aim
for the Zambesi River, and seek some of the seldom-traversed lands,
where game abounded, and where the wonders of nature would be opened to
them as from an unsealed book.

If Dick and Jack were delighted, the two Zulu boys were half mad with
joy. As soo