Part 24 (1/2)

”And I a out, and shaking hands warhted to see you, and so will father and row anxious about you How have you et here all alone? and what has become of Hendricks the hunter, e understood you were coh Zululand?”

”I'll tell you all about it as we go along,” answered Percy ”I know Denis here is very hungry, and I confess thathoet into the boat, and we'll soon be at the house; it isn't as grand a h to hold us, and a few visitors besides”

They were soon across, Percy and Denis talking all the ti such bits of their adventures as they kneould be interesting to their hearer No sooner did they land, than Percy set off running, eager to meet his father and mother and sisters

”Stop, stop!” cried Rupert; ”let , or the sudden surpriseto our mother's nerves”

But Percy had been seen fro ones caly built gentle an axe or a broadsword, as occasion ht require

”Percy, Percy!” cried the lady ”I know you, ht!”

”Yes,forward he was soon receiving affectionate e behind theht up Denis, as received in the kindestin for a share of their attention

Another person soon appeared upon the scene A gaunt worey hair destitute of cap, a red shawl over her shoulders, ca ladle in her hand, which she threw unconsciously to the ground, while she stretched out her ar them round him, exclaimed--

”Sure it's Masther Percy himself coood to see you, although it's a hty outlandish country you've come to”

”It's home, however, Biddy, for I'h so many years have passed since you carried me in your ar her e that,” cried Biddy; ”and who is the other young gintleman?”

”A countrylad to have a talk with you about the old country, although he's not seen much of it hihted to find that Denis was actually born in her native village

”Come, Biddy, the lads want supper as soon as possible, and the potsyour absence,” said Captain Broderick

Biddy took the hint, and picking up her ladle, hastened back to her kitchen As soon as the excitean to feel the fatigue of their long journey

Percy could scarcely keep his eyes open while he sat at table Mrs Broderick advised that they should both go to bed, and they accordingly retired Denis ot into his bed without the assistance of his mother and brother

The next day Percy was unable to rise, and Denis did not turn out until the evening, when he declared that he felt sufficiently rested to start again, if it was necessary, although he had no wish to leave the farm

Percy was affectionately tended by his mother and sisters, and he assured thehts The three Miss Brodericks were very nice girls--Denis thought the ladies

assisted by Biddy, their only domestic, they attended to all the household affairs, cooked and baked, milked the cows, arden, but still found time to stitch, sew, and darn, and make their mother's and their own dresses, as well as clothes for their father and brother, while they did not neglect the culture of their ht a small library with him, which had been increased froland They were all cheerful and happy; but a shade of melancholy occasionally passed over the countenance of Mrs Broderick, as if her thoughts were reverting to so the past

Captain Broderick had now been settled at Falls Farm about twelve years

He had selected it on account of the beauty of its situation and the fertility of its soil, but had not sufficiently considered at the time its distance from a market He had been over-persuaded by the Boer, froather round hiation would be established on the river, by which his produce could be conveyed southward But neither of these expectations had been fulfilled Having a sot up a good house, had planted an orchard of fruit trees, and brought numerous acres under cultivation, while his herds of cattle and flocks of sheep and goats had greatly increased He had done his utmost also to win the confidence and affections of the natives in his neighbourhood, who looked up to him as a counsellor and a friend, on whose assistance they could always rely When they would work, and he had ees he pro farther in search of them While they were thus friendly and ready to protect him and his family, there were others at a distance beyond his influence, ere as savage as the generality of the Kaffir tribes, and addicted to predatory excursions on the property of their neighbours The captain was an old soldier, and when building his house, had had an eye to its defence He therefore had enclosed the acre or so of ground in which it stood with a high palisade, on the outside of which ran a deep ditch, and this could be filled by diverting a stream from the falls above, inaccessible to an enerounds and fields beyond, and neither did it nor the palisade appear to have been for as a fortification, as for the object of preventing the inroad of elephants or other wild aniht, however, of the palisade was such that even a lion or leopard would have found it difficult to leap over Within it could be penned also a considerable number of cattle and horses and sheep The front was, however, left open, a drawbridge only crossing the ap were kept stored on either side, so that in a few hours the whole circle could be completed The planks were of such a thickness, that neither assegais nor bullets could pierce them, and certainly no force such as was likely to attack the faruns

Captain Broderick felt confident that he could rely, in case of an inroad, on the assistance of the neighbouring inhabitants, ould eagerly hurry to the farm for their own protection Here and there were a fehite settlers, but the greater nuiance to the monarch of Zululand Had not Captain Broderick carefully studied the habits and custoratiated himself with them, he would have been unable not only to put up his house or the palisade, but even to have cultivated the ground, and found herdsmen for his cattle He had two faithful followers, of whoiven, as also three Hottentots, who lived in huts outside the farm; and he occasionally obtained the assistance of a couple of other white men; but the rest of the labour was perfory had enabled him to overcome numberless difficulties, and had there been a market at hand, he would by this ti his cattle even to the nearest toas very great, and the profit very small after their arrival, while the trader who occasionally caive but low prices for aniht never reach their destination

Provisions, however, were abundant; and Captain Broderick and his son Rupert seldoood supply of game, as they could always depend upon the assistance of the Kaffirs and any of the white settlers whom they invited to join them

A couple of days had passed since the arrival of Percy and Denis, and they began to grow anxious at hearing nothing of Hendricks It was difficult to account for his delay, unless he had lost so on This, however, was not likely The natives were not hostile, as they were always glad to have traders co them to purchase their produce, and from whom they could obtain the articles they required The tsetse fly, although destructive in some parts to cattle, was not supposed to exist in the district through which he was passing, and although one or two of the aniht have been killed by lions, that would not have hindered hiht easily have supplied their places, or travelled on with a smaller team At last, Captain Broderick resolved to send out a couple of trusty men in the direction it was supposed Hendricks would come