Part 26 (1/2)
”Probably they will, but I hope they will not fall in with your friend Hendricks and his party, or theythem,” observed Rupert
”They will not dare to do that,” answered Denis ”They depend sothely quarrel with any of them; still I should be very thankful to see Hendricks arrive here in safety”
While they were speaking they were joined by Percy, who said he felt hi He had not been with thelass Directing it towards the opposite shore, he exclaiht, I see four, but only one is a white man, the other three are black Two of them look very like those we sent away from here, and the other is apparently a chief”
Rupert took the glass froht!” he exclai clear of the Zulu caht, and think it prudent to avoid We will go down and uard You need not rouse up our father, but if you see anything suspicious, send down and let hi this, Rupert, followed by Denis, hurried down They e to the spot where the boat was concealed, and pulled across to the opposite bank, towards which the horse at full speed
”Why, there's our friend Crawford,” cried Denis, ”and there are U us news, I hope, of Hendricks and Lionel”
Crawford, ian to take the saddle off his horse ”Thank you,to , and perhaps fro somewhat in a hurry; but the fact is that the old Dutchman who escorted et hold of our party, to retain us as hostages till you deliver up a runaway chief who has taken refuge here” He was unbuckling the girths as he spoke, and noith the saddle on his arnised Denis ”What, my dear fellow, is it you yourself, safe and sound!” he exclaihted to see you The ers who came from this place told us of your arrival; for until then ere in great anxiety about you and Percy How did you get here?”
”I'll tell you all about it as we pull across,” answered Denis; ”but we have no ti towards us, and whether or not old Verht in his conjectures, I don't suppose that they are co with any friendly intentions”
As he spoke, he and Rupert shoved off, the Boer and the Kaffirs, who did not dis his horse before them across the river
While Rupert and Denis pulled, Crawford sat in the sternsheets,his head to ascertain how near the Zulus had got He and his companions on horseback had distanced thee a feords
”You gave us a treht, I can assure you, Denis,” said Crawford ”Hendricks sent in all directions to look for you; and when the body of poor Gozo was found, it was feared that you had met with the saht he would have abandoned his expedition and gone back to Maritzburg”
”I am sorry to have caused the fine old boy so much trouble,” answered Denis ”He ainst our wish, and I know that I wouldn't again go through e did for a good deal But, faith, those black fellows are gettingthem, they ht, Paddy,” said Rupert ”Though I doubt if they have firearly both gave ith a will Instead of returning to the place where the boat was usually kept, Rupert directed her upstream until they came to a point where the , they quickly towed her through the moat to the entrance, where she could lie protected from an enemy Here they found Captain Broderick, who had risen on hearing that the Zulus had been seenCrawford, whom he was prepared to receive, as Percy had erly asked what had becoret at not being able to pay you a visit; for he has been so long detained during the search for your son and Maloney, and by various other misadventures, that he is anxious to push on northithout further delay,” answered Crawford ”He has, however, sent his chief hunter to escort back our Irish friend, who is of course desirous of proceeding in search of his father”
”Had Hendricks kno anxious I a Lionel, he would have paid me his promised visit,” exclaimed Captain Broderick ”I would at once set off with Maloney, but I dare not leave the faret aithout being observed by them I doubt, indeed, whether it will be safe for our friend here and his guide, to set off while they re the farm, the Zulus will certainly endeavour to capture theitives who have sought my protection; and that I aht at seeing Percy, who now came down from the platform
”We will tell you all about our adventures by-and-by; and I shall be glad to hear yours,” said Percy, as they cordially shook hands ”Come in I want to introduce you toto theer”
Crawford was soonladies thought hireeable
In a short time, Rupert, who had taken Percy's place on the platform, came doith the information that the Zulus, who had attempted to cut off the horsemen, had retired to their camp It was uncertain what their intentions had been; but Captain Broderick believed that they were hostile
Crawford said that Hendricks intended to travel by slow stages, so as to allow Denis and Uolo quickly to overtake him He was, indeed, unable to move fast, as he had lost several of his oxen, and had not hitherto replaced theh he hoped to do so shortly The Zulus had shown a less friendly disposition than foret out of their country as soon as possible
The e from Hendricks to him much perplexed Denis He wished to acco to desert his new friends at a tier, and required all the assistance to be obtained; besides which, he had becoreatly interested in the whole fa, superior to any he had ever met before His interest in the family was still further increased when the Captain and Mrs Broderick begged hi of Lionel Next to Hendricks, he was better able to do this than any other person; and on their telling hiht had been destroyed with his nurse, and ould now be about the sae that Lionel was supposed to be, he exclaimed, in his usual i that Lionel is your son He has the same look and features as Miss Maud, ht hireatly resembles Rupert, and he has often told entleman he supposed to be his father, who there can be no doubt must be Captain Broderick”
Captain and Mrs Broderick were as fully persuaded that Lionel was their son, as Denis How they longed to see him, and to thank Hendricks for the care he had bestowed on the boy Still there was the difficulty of reaching hi him back in safety to the faraleesu Peacehiht of, neither would Captain Broderick express any wish that he and his ould quit the far the back Lionel; but although he had plenty of spirit, he was not strong enough to undertake the journey