“You don’t really think they are coming, do you?” asked Maud, in a somewhat anxious tone.
“Of course not; but I almost wish they would, that we might have an opportunity of putting my admirable plan of defence into execution. I’d give anything to see Biddy hurling defiance at the savages from the ramparts. I’m confident that we should make an heroic defence, and immortalise our names.”
“I wish you would not joke about so serious a matter,” exclaimed Maud. “What would be the use of immortalising our names if we were all to be killed?”
“I don’t mean that we should be killed,” said Percy. “My idea is that we should drive them back defeated and discomfited. I confess that I should like to have old Vermack and a few of our other men to follow up the enemy. Depend upon it, they would give a good account of all they caught sight of. The Dutchman, who hates the Zulus with all his heart, would knock them over like ninepins.”
“Oh, don’t speak in that way!” said Maud. “But are you sure that you do not see any one coming? Pray do take another look round with your glass. I daresay you are right. But mother is unusually anxious, and I don’t think she would be so unless there was a strong impression on her mind that danger is at hand.”
“Well, I’ll make another examination of the surrounding world,” said Percy; and he again took up the glass, and resting it on the top of the wall, swept the country. “Don’t start back with terror if I say that I see a regiment of Zulus in the distance. They may not be intending to come here. Perhaps Cetchwayo is at their head, and he may merely be making a visit of inspection round his father’s territories.”
“But do you really mean to say that you see a regiment crossing the river?” asked Maud, in a somewhat alarmed tone.
“No; I was only supposing the matter,” said Percy, laughing. “In case any may have crossed over, and be creeping up on our side, I’ll now turn my glass in that direction.”
He was for some time silent, while Maud watched his countenance. Suddenly he exclaimed—
“Yes, I do see something moving. Now don’t tumble down off the platform, Maud; for whether they are men or beasts I cannot yet clearly make out. Yes, I see now; there is a man leading a horse with one hand and a small animal with the other. I do believe it is Crawford. The animal is a quagga. Every now and then the creature begins to frisk about and pull away from him. He has a hard matter to get it along, that is very evident. Now he stops and is patting the creature, now they are coming on again. Now the little brute is kicking and plunging, trying to bite him; but he holds on manfully. I wish that I could go and help him; but I must not desert my post. I guess how it is; he has managed to catch the quagga, and is bringing it in to try and tame it, very likely to present to one of you girls.”