CHAPTER FOUR.
INSPANNING FOR THE TRIP.
The eventful morning at last! Bright, clear, and the dew lying thickupon the thirsty earth. All the arrangements had been made; the waggonstood ready. Peter the driver was upon the box in front of the waggon;the boys were mounted, and a couple of neighbours had ridden over to seethem start; but to the infinite vexation of Dick and Jack, the youngZulus had not returned. They had started off on the day when theykilled the coranne, and that was the last that had been seen of them.
"Now, Dinny, you may let the dogs loose," cried Dick, who lookedbrighter and better, his father thought, than he had been for days.Dinny at once obeyed; when, yelping and barking with delight, the fourdogs--Pompey, Caesar, Crassus, and Rough'un--came bounding about,leaping up at their masters, and taking short dashes out into the plainand back.
"Where are those two boys?" said Mr Rogers suddenly. "I haven't seenthem for days."
"Dinny offended them," said Jack petulantly, as he patted the archedneck of Stockings. "He told them they shouldn't go."
"Sure I only hinted to the black young gintlemen that it was justpossible the masther might lave them behind, when they took themselvesoff in the most ondacent way; and that's all I know, sor."
"Here they are!" cried Jack suddenly, "Hi-yi-yi-yi--Coff! Hi-yi-yi-yi--Chick!"
"Hi-yi-yi-yi-yi!" echoed back; and the two boys came running up, one oneither side of a fierce-looking, very powerfully-built Zulu--a handfulof assegais, and his long, narrow, oval shield in one hand, and forcostume a fringe of skins round the waist, a sort of tippet of the sameover his back and chest, and smaller fringes just beneath each knee.His back hair was secured in a knot behind, and depending from it weresome feathers, one of which drooped right down his back.
He was a noble-looking specimen of humanity, and as he came up he gazedalmost haughtily round at the party, seeming as if he had come as anenemy, and not as a friend.
"Been fetch de father," cried Coffee, pushing the great Zulu towards MrRogers. "Father going to boss. Kill and hunt lion."
Mr Rogers raised his eyebrows a little, for he had not reckoned uponthis; but one more or less on such an expedition did not matter, forplenty of provisions would be killed; and a man like this was no littleaddition to their strength.
"Oh, very good," he said. "Dinny, run into the house, and fetch thebread and meat we left. I daresay the boys are hungry."
Coffee and Chicory understood that, and they began to grin and rub their"tum-tums," as they called a prominent part of their persons; but thenext moment they had dragged their father to introduce him to Boss Dickand Boss Jack, smiling with delight on seeing their young masters shakehands with the Zulu warrior.
Dinny did not look at all pleasant as he brought out the bread and meat,which was rapidly shared by the Zulu and his boys, who evidently meantto eat the food as they went along; so after one more look round, and aglance at the two great water-casks swung behind the waggon, Mr Rogersgave the word, Peter the driver stood up on the great chest strapped infront, cracking his whip with both hands, and Dirk the foreloperfollowed suit.
"Trek Hans! Trek Buffler! Trek Zulu! Trek boys! Trek!" shoutedPeter, dancing about on the chest in his excitement.
"Trek, beauties! Trek, beauties! Trek! Trek! Trek!" yelled Dirk.
The oxen slowly tugged at their yokes, the great trek-tow tightened, thewheels of the fine new waggon creaked; and as Mr Rogers mounted the bigbay, his sons took off and waved their caps, giving a loud cheer, fornow they were really off to the wilds.