x months, a
proceeding to which her lover greatly objected. Finding she was
determined, however, he had no alternative; and so, to make the time
pass as rapidly as possible, he arranged with his old companions, Victor
and Bernhard, and three other farmers, to go on an elephant-hunting
expedition up the country to the north-east, where it was reported
elephants abounded.

The party who started on this expedition each took a waggon, which was
drawn by fourteen oxen. Accompanying the waggon was a Hottentot driver
and three Kaffirs. From four to five horses were taken by each hunter,
so that the party amounted to nearly thirty in all. It was quite an
unexplored country where these hunters intended to travel, and so there
was an additional interest in this expedition. Guns and ammunition were
in plenty, and it was anticipated that considerable profit would be
derived from the ivory and skins which would be taken during the
journey.

"Well, Victor," said Hans, as the two sat in a tent which had been
brought with them, "we have scarcely had a long chat since our battles
with the Zulus. Tell me of your escapes."

"I had several," replied Victor; "the nearest, though, was when we went
with Uys, and we thought you were killed. There were Bernhard and Cobus
and some half-dozen of us who wanted to turn back and look after you,
but the others would not. The Zulus were closing on us again, and the
hill swarmed with them, but we waited for a minute to try and persuade
the others to turn back. During that minute the Zulus closed on us, and
a great brawny Kaffir threw his knob-kerrie at me. I tried to dodge it,
but it came so quickly I could not, and it struck me fairly on the head.
Cess, I fell as if I had been shot. I did not lose my senses, but felt
paralysed for a time. The Zulus yelled triumphantly as they saw me
fall, and the assagies flew thick about us; but the few men with me were
my staunch friends, and a dozen bullets answered the triumphant shouts
of the Kaffirs. I think it was old Piet who lifted me on my horse, and
holding the reins dragged my horse along, till I got right again, and
could hold the reins. I returned the kindness before long; for as we
rode through the bush a Zulu started up close to him, and would have had
an assagy through him before he could have saved himself, for the Kaffir
was quite round on his right side, but I was behind him a little, and
just as the assagy was leaving the Kaffir's