red out of the cunningly
contrived pitfall; but situated as he was, and surrounded by such
dangerous enemies, the Zulu made a virtue of necessity, and stoically
determined to wait for daylight before making any attempt to escape.

But all the same it was a terrible position, and required all the
firmness and nerve of a strong man to stand there patiently, feeling the
hideous little serpents gliding about his bare feet, and listening to
the hideous howlings of the hyaena.

But the longest and most painful nights have an end, and in due time the
day broke, and the Zulu began to consider how he could get out. With
the broad daylight he saw the wisdom he had practised in waiting, for
several very dangerous serpents were amongst those which had fallen in,
and their number was great enough to make even him, a thorough hunter,
shudder.

But the General was not destined to suffer much longer; soon after
sunrise he fancied he heard a well-known call, and then there was no
doubt about it; the call was repeated, and he sent forth a stentorian
reply.

These calls and answers soon brought Coffee and Chicory to the mouth of
the pitfall, closely followed by Mr Rogers and the boys, and amongst
them by help of their guns the unfortunate General reached the track in
safety, and leaving the hyaena dead, they set off back to the waggon,
the General congratulating himself on having escaped from a terrible
death.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

THE KING'S HUNTING-PARTY.

There was no mistaking the joy of Coffee and Chicory at finding their
father safe and sound, and they showed it by performing some most
ridiculous antics, making even the stern warrior smile with
satisfaction.

Mr Rogers also noticed it a good deal, and from that time the two Zulu
boys stood far higher in his estimation than of old.

They had a visit at the camp that morning from the king, one of the
first of whose questions, as he partook of a sugar-stick with great
gusto, was, had they heard the hippopotami shouting in the night, and
were they frightened?

Both Dick and Jack declared that they were not in the least alarmed; and
thereupon the king, who seemed to get on far better with them than with
their father, proposed that they should come up the little river, and
see his warriors hunt the great river-horse.

Mr Rogers consented with a nod; and taking their rifles, the boys
accompanied the king back to the town, where, orders being given, his
majesty's big canoe