he lead
as if in spite of himself.

At first Mr Rogers felt annoyed, and ready to put the man down; but in
a very short time he saw that the Zulu's sole thought was for the
success of the expedition, and that his actions were the natural results
of his former life; for, savage though he was, and servant to this
expedition, he had been a prince in his own tribe, and a leader amongst
the people.

The night was coming on fast, when one day, after a long and weary trek,
the heavily-laden waggon was approaching a belt of elevated forest-land,
where the General had assured Mr Rogers they would find water.

It had been a toilsome day, hot and dusty, and at their midday rest
there had been hardly a mouthful of herbage for the tired oxen, while
water there was none. The contents of the two casks swinging behind the
waggon were jealously guarded for the travellers' use; but so miserable
did the cattle seem that the two boys asked their father to tap one of
them for the oxen and horses.

"It will be but a taste a-piece," he said; "but perhaps you are right,
boys."

Then the tap being set running, every ox and horse had a refreshing
taste, though it was hard work to get the pail away from each thirsty
mouth.

Then all through that long parching afternoon they had toiled on, with
the draught cattle growing more listless, the horses sluggish and
restless; and a general feeling of weariness seemed to have seized upon
all.

The result was shown in the silence with which they progressed. The
driver and foreloper ceased to shout and crack their whips; the Zulus
trudged slowly on behind the waggon; and out of compassion for their
horses, Mr Rogers and his sons walked beside the weary beasts.

"You are sure we shall find water at sundown?" said Dick to the General.

"Nothing is sure out in the wilds, young master," said the Zulu gravely.
"There should be water there. If there is not, we must trek on through
the night, to the first river or spring."

"But will there be water there?"

"We shall be in the game country then, and I can soon find where the
game goes to drink, and can lead you there."

This was satisfactory, and they trudged on and on, with the land
gradually rising, making the pull more heavy for the oxen, whose tongues
were lolling out, and whose efforts at last became so painful that Mr
Rogers at once accepted his sons' proposal, which was that the horses
should help.

A halt was called, and great stones w