at last! Bright, clear, and the dew lying thick
upon the thirsty earth. All the arrangements had been made; the waggon
stood ready. Peter the driver was upon the box in front of the waggon;
the boys were mounted, and a couple of neighbours had ridden over to see
them start; but to the infinite vexation of Dick and Jack, the young
Zulus had not returned. They had started off on the day when they
killed the coranne, and that was the last that had been seen of them.

"Now, Dinny, you may let the dogs loose," cried Dick, who looked
brighter and better, his father thought, than he had been for days.
Dinny at once obeyed; when, yelping and barking with delight, the four
dogs--Pompey, Caesar, Crassus, and Rough'un--came bounding about,
leaping up at their masters, and taking short dashes out into the plain
and back.

"Where are those two boys?" said Mr Rogers suddenly. "I haven't seen
them for days."

"Dinny offended them," said Jack petulantly, as he patted the arched
neck of Stockings. "He told them they shouldn't go."

"Sure I only hinted to the black young gintlemen that it was just
possible the masther might lave them behind, when they took themselves
off in the most ondacent way; and that's all I know, sor."

"Here they are!" cried Jack suddenly, "Hi-yi-yi-yi--Coff! Hi-yi-yi-yi--
Chick!"

"Hi-yi-yi-yi-yi!" echoed back; and the two boys came running up, one on
either side of a fierce-looking, very powerfully-built Zulu--a handful
of assegais, and his long, narrow, oval shield in one hand, and for
costume a fringe of skins round the waist, a sort of tippet of the same
over his back and chest, and smaller fringes just beneath each knee.
His back hair was secured in a knot behind, and depending from it were
some feathers, one of which drooped right down his back.

He was a noble-looking specimen of humanity, and as he came up he gazed
almost haughtily round at the party, seeming as if he had come as an
enemy, and not as a friend.

"Been fetch de father," cried Coffee, pushing the great Zulu towards Mr
Rogers. "Father going to boss. Kill and hunt lion."

Mr Rogers raised his eyebrows a little, for he had not reckoned upon
this; but one more or less on such an expedition did not matter, for
plenty of provisions would be killed; and a man like this was no little
addition to their strength.

"Oh, very good," he said. "Dinny, run into the house, and fetch the
bread and meat we left. I daresay the boys are h