Part 2 (1/2)
He was unwilling indeed, till the poor boy had regained his strength, further to question hialeesu and Kalinda, who he had no doubt would be able to afford it
Having given the boy some of the broth which was now ready, and placed a blanket under his head to serve as a pillow, he left Uolo to watch over hialeesu, who still lay in the haon, not yet recovered froht, and the loss of blood from his wounds
”I have recovered one of your people, and have brought him to the caaleesu eagerly ”I thought that all had been killed”
”Although he has a white skin, he seee to be a Zulu,” answered the trader
”Then he lad he has escaped, for he was a favourite with us, and will soreat warrior”
”By what chance did he happen to be living ah he is dressed like a Zulu, and speaks the Kaffir tongue alone, he is evidently the child of white parents”
”He was brought to my kraal by a tribe from a distant part of the country, who afterwards joined my people,” answered the chief ”They had taken him, they said, fro white, they had been unwilling to destroy him, and had carried him off with them He was at once adopted into the tribe, and has lived with us ever since, learning our custoli”
From this answer it was evident that no further satisfactory infor the boy This was a disappoint the little fellow, to have had the satisfaction of discovering his parents or friends, and restoring hilish or Dutch, and from his features he was inclined to think he was the for hiet one more suited to hi in curls over the boy's head, his freckled, though otherwise fair countenance, his large blue eyes, and broad, open countenance, he exclai lion he looks, and will, I hope, so downto leave the caht co the trader sent out Uame to supply his folloith meat, for in that climate what is killed one day is scarcely eatable the next
He also despatched two others in different directions to ascertain if any of the Zulus were in the neighbourhood, apparently searching for Mangaleesu, as he intended in that case to keep the chief and his bride more carefully concealed until he had carried them safely across the border
The hunters were the first to return, loaded with the flesh of a couple of antelopes Soon afterwards, while they were busily e the the infore party who see from the south-west, but ere too far off to enable theround being uneven--it would have taken theet nearer, they deemed it wise to return at once with their report
”Whether friends or foes, we are ready for them,” said the trader ”In case they should be foes, we uests concealed; but from the direction they come, I think it more likely that they are friends, and ill have some food ready for the to camp fashi+on an additional supply of meat to roast, while the trader walked on a short distance in the direction he expected the strangers to appear He was not lass a waggon very similar to his own, accompanied by two persons on horseback and several on foot On this, returning to the camp, he ordered his horse to be saddled, and went out to ers rode forward
”What, Hendricks the Hunter!” exclaiaunteyes, the forue showed hilad to fall in with you, old friend!” and the gentlemen shook hands warmly
”I'm equally well pleased to ivefor s ood news for you; but the Kathla troublesome, and have lately carried off several head of cattle and horses from the settlers in that direction, which is a badand co as usual because they do not find the colony the Eldorado they expected, before they have had tih over it For et out of their coenerally, after I have been a short tih I have ain to spend a few days,” replied Hendricks ”Had you, however, waited a little longer, I intended to propose that we should join forces and travel together I thought it possible indeed that I h as I did not expect to do so for several days to come I was in hopes that you would be induced to wait for me till I was ready to ly have delayed my journey or waited for you, had we met closer to the Natal border,” answered Mr Maloney; ”but as you know, it would not be prudent to reer than possible in this part of the country, and even now, as I shall spend so, you will probably overtake et over the mountains”
”It will be from no fault ofin transactingHowever, we'll talk of that presently; and now coet there By the bye, who is the lad with you? He looks somewhat tired from his journey”
”He is my son Denis, a chip of the old block,” answered Mr Maloney
”To say the truth, however, he is just now so than travelling with me into the wilderness
I have a favour to ask--it is that you will take charge of hihty thankful to you if you will”
”I will do as you wish,” said Hendricks, ”though the lad, I suspect, would rather be hunting with you than kicking his heels in toith nothing to do”
”He has been too well-trained to dispute my authority,” observed Mr Maloney ”I took him from the office of his uncle, o back for a few months until I return and am ready to make my next trip By that time he'll have ue and hard life we hunters have to endure”
”I'll carry out your wishes with all my heart, and will look after the lad while I remain in the colony,” said Hendricks
This conversation took place while the two leaders were riding on towards the ca a short distance behind them