himself, with Chicory for a companion; Jack was to take the second, with
the Zulu; and Dick, Coffee, and Dinny were to form the third.

The oxen and horses having been all secured, the fire was piled up, and
those who were to rest gladly availed themselves of the opportunity, and
in a very short time nothing was to be heard but the fluttering noise
made by the burning fire, and the snorting sigh of one or the other of
the horses.

In due time Jack was aroused, to sit up and stare at his father.

"What's matter?" he said sleepily.

"Nothing, only that it is your turn to watch," said his father.

"Why, I've only just lain down," replied Jack. "It can't be time yet."

But a good rub at his eyes seemed to bring a little thoughtfulness as
well, and he climbed put of the waggon and descended to the ground.

"I don't think you will have anything to alarm you, my boy," said his
father. "Wake me up though if there is the slightest sign of danger."

Jack promised, and, shivering and uncomfortable, he crept up to the
fire, which the Zulu renewed; but though he roasted his face and knees,
his back felt horribly cold, and he heartily wished himself at home, and
in his snug bed. But the Zulu began to look round at the cattle, to
satisfy himself that all were safe; and then seating himself with his
assegai across his knees close to the fire, he began to tell the young
Englishman about the dangers that would have surrounded them if they had
encamped here a few years earlier; and, then he lapsed into such vivid
accounts of his own hunting adventures and escapes, that the four hours'
watch seemed to have passed like magic, and Jack was ready to finish the
next; but recalling the last injunctions he had received from his
father, he went to the waggon, roused up Dick, and from under it Dinny
and Coffee, and soon after left them to finish the morning watch.

Jack felt as if it would be of no use to try and sleep again; but
knowing that their next day's journey would be very fatiguing, he lay
down in his brother's place, found the blankets very warm and cosy, and
then, with the sound of Dinny yawning loudly, he fell fast asleep. He
seemed hardly to have closed his eyes, when a shout aroused him, just as
he heard his father seize his double rifle, and go to the front of the
waggon.

Jack did likewise, with as much speed as his sleepy confusion would
allow; and on reaching the opening he found that it was still dark, so
that he c