ks.

This conversation took place while the two leaders were riding on
towards the camp, the lad following a short distance behind them.

Mr Hendricks briefly related to his companion the attack on the kraal,
and the way in which the Zulu chief, his bride and the little boy had
been rescued. "I intend to take the child with me, to leave him in
charge of my good sister, Susannah Jansen," he added. "We may some day
discover to whom he belongs, but I will, in the meantime, act the part
of a guardian to him."

"It is a kind act of yours, but faith! I suppose I should be after
doing the same sort of thing myself, though I find one son as much as I
can manage. To be sure, all boys are not like Denis here, who boasts
that he shot a springboc before he was ten years old, and that he has
since killed a lion and a wild boar, his great ambition being now to
bring an elephant to the ground."

As his father was speaking, Denis, who had hitherto kept in the rear,
hearing his name mentioned rode up.

"I have asked Mr Hendricks to take you back with him to Maritzburg,
where you must wait with all the patience you can muster till my next
trip," said Mr Maloney. "You are not strong enough for the work before
us; and if you knock up, the object of my expedition will be defeated,
for I shall have to nurse you instead of being able to hunt or carry on
trade."

"I am much obliged to Mr Hendricks, but I don't intend to knock up,"
said Denis, not looking very well pleased at his father's proposal.
"I'm a little sick now, but I shall be all to rights in a day or two,
and will be able to continue the journey."

His looks, however, belied his assertion, though he was evidently doing
his utmost to appear at his ease.

"Well, well, we'll see about it, my boy; but for your own sake, as well
as mine, I wish you to go back. I took you somewhat against my better
judgment, in the hopes that the journey would strengthen you, instead of
which you look worse than when we started."

Denis still begged to be allowed to go on, until his father, losing
patience, told him to say no more about the matter; that he should
decide what was best to be done, and should act accordingly.

Hearing his father say this, Denis, not venturing to make any further
appeal, again dropped behind.

"You see the boy has a will of his own," observed Mr Maloney. "Though
so tall and full of spirit, he is scarcely twelve years of age, and has
in truth outgrown his