sleep once more in a soft
bed," said Mr Rogers, smiling; but before either Dick or Jack could
answer, Dinny presented himself at the door.

"Av ye plaze, sor--"

"Well, Dinny?"

"I'd thank ye to come and shpake to the naygurs. We've put up a bed and
blankets for them in the best barn, and they won't go there, but are
making up a camp again, wid a fire, under the waggon."

"Well, Dinny, if it pleases them, let them alone," said Mr Rogers
quietly.

"Shure, sor, I don't mind," said Dinny; "but it's the naybours, sor, and
what they'll think."

"Never mind what the neighbours think," said his master. "Dick, go and
see that the General and his boys have everything they want."

"Av ye plaze, sor," said Dinny, "I want to ax ye a favour."

"What is it, Dinny?"

"Shure, sor, we've had a long journey, and I'm moighty toired."

"Then go to bed and have a good sleep."

"That's just what I'm axing of yer honour. I want a holiday."

"What for, Dinny?"

"To go to shlape for a week."

Dinny had as much sleep as he liked, but he contented himself with
twenty-four hours, and then helped to unpack the treasures from the
waggon, the store of feathers, skins, and curiosities far more than
paying the cost of the expedition, even counting the loss of the horses.
The boys' pets too, the leopard and giraffe, had to be sold, for they
could not keep them; but they fetched handsome sums for exportation to
Europe.

At last there was nothing to do but to recompense the General and his
sons; not that they were going away, for they preferred staying about
the farm.

Mr Rogers took his sons into his confidence, and the result was the
presentation to the three Zulus of gifts which they esteemed most highly
of anything they could receive, and these were the three double rifles
of the father and sons, whose accuracy the Zulus had so often seen
proved.

Dick was right when he said the present was better than diamonds, for
the stern old warrior's face lit up with joy, and when Coffee and
Chicory could be made to understand that they were to have the rifles to
keep, their excitement was something wonderful to see.

"Shure an' the master must be aff his head to give them boys such
things," grumbled Dinny to Peter and Dirk, who were quite content with
the presents they had received in clothes additional to their pay.

Right or wrong, he gave great satisfaction on all sides; and health
being restored, and the sorrows of the past som