nters set themselves diligently to work to cook
their venison and warm up some mealy cakes which they had brought in
their saddle-bags; a small kettle was put on to boil, and tea was made.
Pepper and salt were not wanting, and although they had no milk, they
agreed that they could very well dispense with that luxury, especially
as they had plenty of sugar.

"Well, this is what I call jolly," cried Percy. "Although my throat now
feels as if a flowing stream had run down it, pleasanter than being like
a dust bin, I'll trouble you, Denis, for another cup of tea."

They were too hungry to wait until their meat was cooked, so they
nibbled their cakes and sipped their tea while waiting, till Denis
pronounced the venison fit for the table. It was very juicy, and
certainly not overdone. Gozo had in the meantime disposed of a couple
of slices before they were well warmed through.

"I say," said Percy, "we must not spend much time here, if we are to get
back before dark. I had no idea how fast time had gone by; it is two
o'clock already. Fortunately we have more game than we can carry home
on our horses, and we need not be ashamed of ourselves."

"I should like first to knock over another wildebeest, or an elephant,
if one were to come in our way," said Denis. "The tusks would be of
more value than all the meat we have obtained, as I have no doubt
Hendricks will have brought in more than we shall."

As he spoke, he leant back to enjoy that rest which a hunter can best
appreciate.

"Still I advise that we should not delay," said Percy. "Hendricks told
us to get back before dark, and we promised to do so. It would be no
valid excuse to say that we were tempted to stop longer than we
intended, for the sake of hunting even the most valuable game."

"Your are right," answered Denis. "Just hand me another cup of tea,
there's a good fellow. I don't feel I have had quite enough liquid to
supply the amount evaporated during the morning."

"That was a curious story you were telling me of yourself, Lionel,"
observed Percy; "I am more interested than you may suppose. Should you
like to find your real father and mother?"

"Indeed, I should," answered Lionel; "for young as I was, I fancy I
remember my mother. I have often in my sleep seen her standing by my
bedside and watching over me. I was very fond of Aunt Susannah. Still
I never looked upon her as my mother. She was very different to the
lady I remember."

"Then