"How kim I here, Masther Dick? Shure it was on me own handsome pair o'
legs."
"But we thought you were lost."
"Lost! bedad, not I. Shure, I sez, they're going to carry the light themselves, an' they don't want me anny longer; so I just sat down on a big shtone, while I took out me matchbox, and lit me morsel of candle I had in me pocket, and I kim back, and afther getting me dinner ready, I laid down for a rest."
"Oh!" cried Dick wrathfully.
He could say no more; but his brother spoke for him in a way that made Dinny uncomfortable, as the boys turned sharply and ran back, reaching the mouth of the cavern just as the Boer lad came up with his torches.
Mr Rogers started up.
"Where are the lanterns?" he cried. Then, seeing that the boys had something to say he eagerly listened; and the next moment, with his brow knotted with anger, he strode off to the waggon.
"Jack," whispered Dick, "I never saw father look so cross as that."
He was angry indeed, and they saw him seize Dinny by the throat, force him upon his knees, and raise his clenched fist to strike; but the next moment education and manliness prevailed, his hand dropped to his side, and he stood there talking to Dinny for some time in a way that made that gentleman slink away and go about his work with a very hangdog expression of countenance.
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.
THE LAST ADVENTURE.
Days of slow, steady trekking homeward, and then, to the consternation of all, they learned from a Boer, fleeing with his waggon and belongings to another part of the country, that it would not be safe to go farther, for a war had broken out between a powerful Zulu tribe and the Amaswazis, both sides taking advantage of the disturbed state of the country to rob and plunder in every way they could.
"Dey dake away all dose caddles," said the Boer, "and kill you all. I go away."
He went away, and the General was called into consultation.
"What shall we do?" said Mr Rogers, who, without fearing for their lives, had a horror of losing the fruits of their long journey into the interior.
"Go straight on home like brave men," said the Zulu, sturdily. "The boss may not see enemies in the way. If he does, we shall see the boss, who can fight lions, will not be afraid of men. Man sees boss not afraid, he will not fight."
"I shall take your advice, General," said Mr Rogers; and to the horror of Dinny, who from that moment began to contrive a hiding-place in the biggest chest, the order was given, "Forward!"
They came upon danger sooner than they expected, for, steadily trekking on, they had halted for the day in an open plain, when, to Mr Rogers'
horror, he found that he had inadvertently halted in what was about to be the battle-ground of the contending tribes.
It was almost like magic. One hour the valley was empty, the next it was swarming with contending men.
Escape was impossible, and in a very short time the waggon was put in as good a state of defence as could be, and they were surrounded by the enemy; but before hostilities between them could commence, the Zulu tribe came swarming down from the hills behind them, advancing with a regular dancing tramp, forming themselves into a crescent, and dashing on to the attack.
The Amaswazis who had first surrounded the waggon were largely armed with rifles; but in spite of the superiority this gave them, they gave way before the determination of the assegai-armed Zulu warriors, who came trooping by the waggon, the greater portion of them thorough counterparts of the General, till some fifty remained about the waggon in company with three fierce-looking chiefs.
"What are we to do, General?" said Dick stoutly, as he stood there with his rifle--"fight?"
"Wait and see," said the General calmly; and followed by Coffee and Chicory, he walked out from the waggon to meet the Zulu chiefs.
A short conference ensued, and then the three chiefs came back with the General, to hold out their hands to Mr Rogers and his sons.
"They say I am to tell you that they thank you in the name of our people for making us your brothers in the hunt," said the General quietly, "and that they will all fight for you and see you safe."
Then, in obedience to the General's directions, the oxen were in-spanned, ready to go forward if necessary, or to retreat with the Zulu tribe should it be beaten.
This latter misfortune, however, did not occur, for before a quarter of an hour had elapsed the Amaswazis tribe was being chased by the Zulus, and seeking safety in flight; while after making presents to the chiefs, to the General's great pride and gratification in spite of his calm demeanour, they parted with mutual feelings of goodwill.
"Saved from wreck," said Dick, who had made the principal chief happy, by taking off his belt with the stout, keen hunting-knife and sheath, and himself buckling it on, the others receiving similar gifts from Mr Rogers, and Jack.
Three weeks' long journey was yet before them, during which the oxen suffered much from the prevailing drought, but there was little of adventure upon the rest of their road; and it was with no little relief that the familiar land-marks in the neighbourhood of their home were at last made out, the oxen trekking well during the last few miles, as if they scented plenty of water and fresh green pasture at the farm.
The full moon was shining brightly as the waggon trekked up to the house, several friends having ridden out to welcome them, as soon as it was known that the hunters were in sight; and then once more, as soon as the dumb creatures were seen to, they sat down at a table to an old-fashioned English meat tea with their friends, glad to be able to recount that they had returned without a single loss, save that of the horses from the dreaded tsetse, while the prime object of their journey had been attained--Dick sat amongst them completely restored, and glowing with vigorous health.
"I should think, boys, you will be glad to sleep once more in a soft bed," said Mr Rogers, smiling; but before either Dick or Jack could answer, Dinny presented himself at the door.
"Av ye plaze, sor--"
"Well, Dinny?"
"I'd thank ye to come and shpake to the naygurs. We've put up a bed and blankets for them in the best barn, and they won't go there, but are making up a camp again, wid a fire, under the waggon."
"Well, Dinny, if it pleases them, let them alone," said Mr Rogers quietly.
"Shure, sor, I don't mind," said Dinny; "but it's the naybours, sor, and what they'll think."
"Never mind what the neighbours think," said his master. "Dick, go and see that the General and his boys have everything they want."
"Av ye plaze, sor," said Dinny, "I want to ax ye a favour."
"What is it, Dinny?"
"Shure, sor, we've had a long journey, and I'm moighty toired."
"Then go to bed and have a good sleep."
"That's just what I'm axing of yer honour. I want a holiday."
"What for, Dinny?"
"To go to shlape for a week."
Dinny had as much sleep as he liked, but he contented himself with twenty-four hours, and then helped to unpack the treasures from the waggon, the store of feathers, skins, and curiosities far more than paying the cost of the expedition, even counting the loss of the horses.
The boys' pets too, the leopard and giraffe, had to be sold, for they could not keep them; but they fetched handsome sums for exportation to Europe.
At last there was nothing to do but to recompense the General and his sons; not that they were going away, for they preferred staying about the farm.
Mr Rogers took his sons into his confidence, and the result was the presentation to the three Zulus of gifts which they esteemed most highly of anything they could receive, and these were the three double rifles of the father and sons, whose accuracy the Zulus had so often seen proved.
Dick was right when he said the present was better than diamonds, for the stern old warrior's face lit up with joy, and when Coffee and Chicory could be made to understand that they were to have the rifles to keep, their excitement was something wonderful to see.