t beneath
the shade of a clump of trees to rest and refresh.

This was followed by a nap, and afterwards, they felt so disheartened
and footsore that they decided to return.

"Let's go back, father," Dick had said, "and come on to-morrow morning
with the horses."

"To be sure," said Jack. "We could canter straight here without loss of
time."

"What do you say, General?" asked Mr Rogers.

"I say it would be wise," replied the Zulu. "The elephants leave their
path behind them, and you can come up rested and ready to fire."

Even without these remarks Mr Rogers would have returned, for the dread
of over-fatiguing Dick, would have been quite sufficient to make him
pause. The boy had altered wonderfully; but still there were limits to
the fatigue he could bear.

They went quietly back, then, as the sun was getting low, and contented
themselves with a few shots at the guinea-fowl which came over by
hundreds, on their way to particular spots to roost.

Before daylight, though, the next morning, they were in the saddle,
carrying with them provisions and water; and they were miles along the
track before the sun showed, by a robe of orange and a crown of ruddy
rays, that he was about to flood the earth once more with light.

The consequence was that they reached the spot where they had left off
tracking quite early in the morning, the General, Coffee, and Chicory,
although they had run all the way, seeming to be as fresh as when they
had started, and laughing at the idea of their feeling fatigue.

Mr Rogers, however, decided that it would be better to proceed with
judgment, so a second breakfast was eaten under the shade of the trees
where they had rested on the previous day, there being a limpid pool of
water close at hand.

"That's the best way to carry food, Dick," said Jack, laughing. "I like
to have mine in my inside pocket, where it isn't in the way;" and he
laughed, as he took a great bite out of a piece of cake baked on an iron
plate.

"Ready, boys?" said Mr Rogers, just then.

"Yes, father."

"Mount then, and off."

They were in their saddles on the instant, and made a fresh start, with
the two Zulu boys following the track at a run, till, the sun, growing
exceeding hot, a fresh halt was made, but not until the General had
declared from sundry signs he saw that the elephants had been going
leisurely now, and that he did not think that they were many miles
ahead.

The boys were for immediate purs