ith a heavy thud on to
the other wheels, and bumped and jolted on after the long team of oxen
into the obscurity. And then, when ruin seemed to have come completely
upon the expedition, _wish-wash_! _splish-splash_! the foaming of
water--the crunching of wheels over stones and sand--a quick rush--and
the waggon was standing, axletree deep, in a swiftly flowing river, down
whose shelving bank it had been dragged, and in whose cool waters the
oxen and horses were washing their legs, and drinking deeply with
delight.

CHAPTER NINE.

AN AWFUL FORD TO CROSS.

It was a wonderful relief, and following the example of the animals,
every one waded into the cool stream above the oxen, and drank deeply of
the delicious water.

"Oh, I say, father," cried Jack, "I never thought water was so good
before. This _is_ a river."

And really Jack had an idea that he had tumbled upon a stream whose
waters were wine-like in their flavour; and but for a few words of
warning he would have gone on drinking more deeply still.

"Thank goodness!" cried Mr Rogers, as soon as he could gain his breath.
"But what an escape! The waggon nearly went over. Where is that
scoundrel of a Zulu? Oh there you are," he cried excitedly. "How dared
you touch the oxen, sir! Your mad folly nearly spoiled our journey."

The General looked back at Mr Rogers, drawing himself up in savage
pride, and his eyes seemed to flash in the darkness; but he did not
speak, only turned away with a dignified look of displeasure.

"I know why he did it, father," cried Dick, excitedly. "Look, don't you
see? The ground slopes down here to the water. Up there it's all rock,
and the team would have gone over a precipice. See, it's twenty feet
deep."

"Of course! To be sure!" cried Mr Rogers eagerly. "His keen sight
showed him the danger. I beg your pardon, my man," he cried, "I did not
know the reason, and ought not to have acted and spoken so rashly."

He held out his hand to the stern scowling Zulu, as he spoke; but for a
moment the savage hot blood that had been roused by his leader's
injustice refused to be tamed down, and he remained with his arms
folded; but glancing at Dick's eager countenance, and recalling how it
was due to him that the real truth of his actions was made known, the
General let his better feelings prevail, and snatching Mr Rogers' hand
in his, he held it for a moment to his broad breast, and then let it
fall.

"Why you saved the wa