ungry."

Coffee and Chicory understood that, and they began to grin and rub their
"tum-tums," as they called a prominent part of their persons; but the
next moment they had dragged their father to introduce him to Boss Dick
and Boss Jack, smiling with delight on seeing their young masters shake
hands with the Zulu warrior.

Dinny did not look at all pleasant as he brought out the bread and meat,
which was rapidly shared by the Zulu and his boys, who evidently meant
to eat the food as they went along; so after one more look round, and a
glance at the two great water-casks swung behind the waggon, Mr Rogers
gave the word, Peter the driver stood up on the great chest strapped in
front, cracking his whip with both hands, and Dirk the foreloper
followed suit.

"Trek Hans! Trek Buffler! Trek Zulu! Trek boys! Trek!" shouted
Peter, dancing about on the chest in his excitement.

"Trek, beauties! Trek, beauties! Trek! Trek! Trek!" yelled Dirk.

The oxen slowly tugged at their yokes, the great trek-tow tightened, the
wheels of the fine new waggon creaked; and as Mr Rogers mounted the big
bay, his sons took off and waved their caps, giving a loud cheer, for
now they were really off to the wilds.

CHAPTER FIVE.

A TASTE OF SOMETHING TO COME.

There was but little in the way of incident for some time. The dogs
seemed to be never weary of hunting here and there, thrusting their
noses under every rock, their heads into every hole; but they found
nothing till after the midday halt, when a furious barking from the
setter Rough'un took the attention of all, and Mr Rogers and the boys
cantered up to a thin cluster of trees, where, on what seemed to be at
first a broken stump, but which on nearer inspection proved to be a tall
ragged ant-hill, a vicious-looking snake was curled, swinging its head
about threateningly, and darting out its forked tongue at the dog, which
kept its distance, barking furiously.

"A poisonous fellow--cobra evidently. Now, Dick, bring it down."

"No; let Jack shoot, father," said Dick. "My head aches, and I'm tired.
Well, yes, I will."

"That's right, my boy. I want you to master this weakness," said his
father. "And besides, I want you to try how your horse stands fire.
Nip him tightly with your knees."

Dick cocked his double-barrelled breechloader--fired--and the serpent
hissed loudly and began to descend, but a shot from Jack's rifle laid it
writhing on the ground, when, before i