sh mixed
with Dutch, that they were going north.

They were curious-looking men from an English point of view, and would
have been greatly improved by the use of a pair of scissors to their
long, abundant, fair hair. Each man carried his rifle ready for the
first enemy that might cross his path, and their numerous black servants
trudged on with loads or rode the oxen.

These blacks, too, took the attention of the boys, one being a perfect
giant in his way, a great square shouldered fellow of quite six-feet-six
in height; while another, mounted upon an ox, had his hair twisted up
into a couple of points, standing up from his head like the horns of an
antelope.

Every one looked jaded and worn out, as if with a long journey; and the
dejected aspect of the masters was traceable even in their dogs, one of
which went on in front with his head, down and tongue lolling out,
aiming evidently at some particular point.

So surly were the leaders of the party that Mr Rogers made no further
effort to be friendly, but sat with his sons looking-on, till the whole
troop, extending several hundred yards, had filed by, under the cloud of
dust shuffled up by the oxen's feet; and then, as the little
hunting-party rode on, they could see as it were a cloud go rolling
slowly over the plain, the emigrant party being quite hidden by its
folds, till the dreary dust-covered plain was passed.

"How are we to get at these rhinoceroses?" said Mr Rogers, as they rode
homeward. "We must have one, boys; but I don't want to have out the
Zulus to track, for fear of their getting injured."

"Perhaps we shall come across one, father, when we don't expect it,"
said Dick. "Let's try to get a giraffe or two, and we may find a
rhinoceros without hunting for it."

"Very wisely said," replied Mr Rogers; "perhaps we shall."

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

HOW THE WAGGON WAS PUT STRAIGHT.

The remark made by Dick as he rode home with his father was much nearer
fulfilment than he expected.

The morning broke dark and lowering, with great thunder clouds in the
north; and as it was evident that it was raining hard, as it can rain
sometimes in South Africa, and they might get caught, it was decided to
spend the morning at home, and devote that day to a general clean up of
arms, and a repacking of the waggon, which needed doing sadly. Besides
which there were cases of stores that they had not yet been able to get
at; and these it was advisable to have, e