trees. There in the plains were herds of buffalo too numerous to
count, quagga, zebra, gnu, eland, and bok of all kinds. There was a
great river there, he said, full of fish, and with great crocodiles
ready to seize upon the unwary. The hippopotamus was there too, big and
massive, ready to upset boats or to attack all he could see.

Mr Rogers watched his sons attentively as the Zulu narrated his
experience of the land, and he was delighted to see how much Dick was
already leaving off his dull languid ways, and taking an interest in
what was projected. One thing the father wished to arrive at, and that
was whether Dick would be frightened through his weakness, and the
hunting parties consequently do him more harm than good. But just then
a question put by his son showed him that he was as eager as his brother
for an encounter with the wild creatures of the forest and plains.

"And do you say there are lions?" said Dick.

"Yes, plenty lion," said the Zulu. "They come to camp at night, and try
to get the ox and horse."

"Oomph! oomph! oomph!" growled Coffee, in an admirable imitation of the
lion's roar.

"Keep big fire," said the Zulu, "then no lion come."

"Well, Dick," said Mr Rogers, "how do you feel? Ready for the fray?"

"Yes, father, I am longing for the time when we shall get amongst the
wild beasts. I want to try my gun; and I want to grow strong and manly,
like Jack."

"All in good time, my boy," replied Mr Rogers, smiling. "We shall soon
be leaving civilisation almost entirely behind, and then you shall make
your first attempts at becoming a mighty hunter."

Comparatively uninteresting as the journey was, they still had plenty to
take their attention--grand views of distant mountains; wondrous
sunsets; great flights of birds; but the absence of game was remarkable;
and twice over, in spite of their being so well armed and provided, Mr
Rogers was glad to purchase a freshly-killed springbok of a Boer, at one
of the outlying farms that they passed.

On the seventh night out though, their fortune was better, for they had
out-spanned, or loosened their oxen from the waggon, just by a clump of
trees in a wide plain, and the Zulu went off the moment they stopped.

Both Peter and Dirk began to complain, for they expected help from their
black companion; but upon this occasion they had their work to do
without aid, Coffee and Chicory having also gone off with their kiris in
search of game.

Mr Roge