Part 3 (1/2)

”Indeed I will, for I like your face,” answered the boy frankly

”I suspect the little fellow is the child of so in search of a location,”

observed Hendricks to his guest ”So many of the unfortunate settlers have thus lost their lives, that it is very is If not, I will adopt hie by Providence”

Meantion had arrived, and had been drawn up close to that of his friend, in such a position that in case of necessity it th to the camp Their respective Kaffir and Hottentot servants had assee fire a little distance off, the necessary guards only re on, and young Denis looked very sleepy, his father ordered hih pretty well loaded with goods for traffic, had space enough for a couple of sleeping-places

The lad got up, and wishi+ng his father and Hendricks ”good-night,”

sauntered away to the waggon, while the hunters re their plans for the future The Irishion some distance to the northward, where elephants, rhinoceroses, and hippopotaht obtain a supply of ivory as well as of skins and any other valuable products of the country which heat Maritzburg two or three ain to set out northith the sa than his own skill as a hunter to load up his waggon

”If you findwith you, do so; though don't tell hi has arrived, or he will not settle down to his work in the town,” said Maloney

His friend promised to carry out his wishes, and at last, their various plans being arranged, they gave the word to their followers to go to sleep, while they the-place had been constructed for the young chief and his wife under the waggon, and little Lionel, who did not occupy o beneath the tilt

Before lying down Hendricks took a turn round the cauards were properly posted and on the watch This precaution his friend did not appear to have considered necessary, a single Hottentot alone being left to watch the cattle The night was cal him to see a considerable distance both up and down the valley

No sounds broke the silence, and if there were lions or other wild anihbourhood, they did not ht, he at length got into his usual berth, and was soon fast asleep

CHAPTER THREE

LOST AND FOUND

Hendricks akened by the voice of Maloney shouting--

”Do you knohat has become of my son Denis? The boy is not in his berth, and none of one They all declare that they did not see hi to him for the last ten ing out of the waggon, answered--

”As I have been fast asleep I cannot tell you, but the chances are that he has taken his gun to show his skill as a sportsboc for breakfast We one Perhaps some of my Hottentots ent doith the oxen to the stream may have seen hiive any account of the uard were also questioned, but none of theave it see at their posts One of theure, just before daybreak, so to the northward

Further search was , his father and Hendricks determined to set off in quest of hi orders with their followers to get breakfast ready and to prepare for inspanning directly they returned

”I fancy that my first suspicions are correct, and that your boy wants to prove how able he is to accompany you,” observed the latter ”If he appears loaded with venison, it will be difficult to persuade hi rascal has spirit enough, but his strength is not equal to it,” answered Maloney ”If I take hi into mischief; whether, therefore, he appears loaded with venison or empty handed, nolens volens, I'll send hi, the sound of footsteps was heard co to see Master Denis; but instead, little Unozingli the white boy, or Lionel, as Hendricks called his you after us, boy?” asked Hendricks in Zulu

”To help the masters find my white brother,” answered the boy ”I know the way he has taken, for I saw his footsteps on the grass, though the master may not have discovered them We shall find him in time, but he may already be solad you came,” said Hendricks ”But how is it you are so confident of finding hione out with ans on the ground which guided the broken off, or a stone moved, or the mark of feet on the sand or soft earth”

”You understand what is wanted, I see Co to his companion, he added, ”The boy's wits have been sharpened by his life with the blacks I have always noted that when a white es, he always surpasses them In course of time, had that boy continued with the Zulus, he would have beco them, and would probably have made himself a terror to the settlers, had any cause of quarrel arisen It's an ill wind that blows no one good, and it's fortunate for him as well as for the settlers, that the kraal was destroyed and that he was liberated”