o see. Raff, who formed one of the circle, watched
them with the greatest gravity, as if he fully understood all that was
said. They then lay down to seek the rest the two young travellers at
all events so greatly needed.

The night passed quietly; and when they awoke, Percy declared that he
was sufficiently strong to undertake a two days' march, and having
breakfasted, they set off, followed by Raff, a short time before
daybreak.

Mangaleesu accompanied them some distance, to put them in the right way.
They felt rather anxious about his getting back in safety to the cave.

"No fear," he answered: "a Zulu can creep unseen where a white man would
certainly be observed. Even if my enemies were near, they would not
discover me; but they are some way from this, and you will, I hope, be a
good distance on your road before they find you, so that they will not
guess whence you set out."

They shook the chief warmly by the hand, and again thanked him for the
assistance he had rendered them. Scarcely had he left them a minute,
when, as they looked round, they could nowhere see him.

They trudged on as fast as they could venture to go in the gloom of
morning. When daylight broke, they increased their speed. Percy kept
up bravely, and Denis declared that he had never felt in better trim for
a long march. As they fell in with no hostile Zulus, they more than
ever regretted that Mangaleesu and Kalinda had not accompanied them.
From the rate they went they felt sure that they had accomplished half
the distance. Having a supply of cooked meat, they agreed that it would
be wiser to spend the night in a tree. As darkness approached, they
looked about and found one with wide-spreading branches; into this they
climbed.

"But I say, we must not run the risk of letting Raff be carried off as
poor Fangs was; we must get him with us," said Denis. "I cannot reach
him as I did before with my pocket-handkerchief, but we'll fasten our
rifle slings together, and he'll easily make his way up."

This was done. Raff caught hold of one end; they hauled away, and he,
helping himself up with his claws, was soon seated near them on the
forks of a tree.

"But what if a leopard should think of coming up here, like the one we
saw the other day!" said Percy.

"Raff will give us due notice," answered Denis. "We'll keep our rifles
ready, and send him back again with a shot through his skull."

Their beds were not very comfortable, but n