Bunyip Land; a Story of Adventure in New Guinea, by George Manville Fenn. 

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Joe Carstairs is a boy on a farm in Australia. His father is a keennaturalist who, some years before had set off for New Guinea in searchof specimens, and never been heard of again. Joe is old enough to mounta search expedition, and takes with him a local doctor and anaboriginal worker on his farm. They find themselves joined by astowaway, Jimmy, whose father is a squatter (farmer) nearby, togetherwith his dog, Gyp. 

This team sets off, arrive in New Guinea, hire some more porters, andtravel guided by some sixth sense straight to where Mr Carstairs hasbeen kept a prisoner, along with another Englishman, whose mind hasgone, under the stress of his imprisonment. 

There are the usual close shaves and tense moments, but finally theyachieve their end, and return home triumphantly. 

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BUNYIP LAND; A STORY OF ADVENTURE IN NEW GUINEA, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

HOW I MADE MY PLANS AND THEY WERE ENDORSED. 

"Now, Master Joseph, do adone now, do. I'm sure your poor dear eyes'llgo afore you're forty, and think of that!"

"Bother!"

"What say, my dear?"

"Don't bother. "

"You're always running your finger over that map thing, my dear. Ican't abear to see it. "

Nurse Brown looked over the top of her spectacles at me and shook herhead, while I bent lower over the map. 

Then the old lady sighed, and went on making cottage windows all over myworsted stockings, giving vent to comments all the time, for the oldlady had been servant to my grandmother, and had followed her youngmistress when she married, nursing me when I was born, and treating meas a baby ever since. In fact she had grown into an institution athome, moving when we moved, and doing pretty well as she liked in whatshe called "our house. "

"Bang!"

"Bless the boy! don't bang the table like that, " she cried. "How youmade me jump!"

"It's of no use talking, nurse, " I cried; "I mean to go. "

"Go!" she said. "Go where?"

"Go and find my poor dear father, " I cried. "Why, nurse, am I to sitdown quietly at home here, when perhaps my poor father is waiting for meto come to his help?"

"Oh, hush! my dearie; don't talk like that I'm afraid he's dead andgone. "

"He isn't, nurse, " I cried fiercely. "He's a prisoner somewhere amongthose New Guinea savages, and I mean to find him and bring him back. "

Nurse Brown thrust her needle into the big round ball of worsted, andheld it up as if for me to see. Then she took off her glasses with theleft hand in the stocking, and shaking her head she exclaimed:

"Oh, you bad boy; wasn't it enough for your father to go mad after hisbotaniky, and want to go collecting furren buttercups and daisies, tobreak your mother's heart, that you must ketch his complaint and want togo too?"

"My father isn't mad, " I said. 

"Your father _was_ mad, " retorted Nurse Brown, "and I was surprised athim. What did he ever get by going wandering about collecting his dryorchardses and rubbish, and sending of 'em to England?"

"Fame, " I cried, "and honour. "

"Fame and honour never bought potatoes, " said nurse. 

"Why, four different plants were named after him. "

"Oh, stuff and rubbish, boy! What's the good of that when a man getslost and starves to death in the furren wilds!"

"My father was too clever a man to get lost or to starve in the wilds, "I said proudly. "The savages have made him a prisoner, and I'm going tofind him and bring him back. "

"Ah! you've gone wandering about with that dirty black till you've quitegot into his ways. "

"Jimmy isn't dirty, " I said; "and he can't help being black any morethan you can being white. "

"I wonder at a well-brought-up young gent like you bemeaning yourself toassociate with such a low creature, Master Joseph. "

"Jimmy's a native gentleman, nurse, " I said. 

"Gentleman, indeed!" cried the old lady, "as goes about without a bit ofdecent clothes to his back. "

"So did Adam, nursey, " I said laughing. 

"Master Joseph, I won't sit here and listen to you if you talk likethat, " cried the old lady; "a-comparing that black savage to Adam! Youought to be ashamed of yourself. It all comes of living in thishorrible place. I wish we were back at Putney. "

"Hang Putney!" I cried. "Putney, indeed! where you couldn't go half ayard off a road without trespassing. Oh, nurse, you can't understandit, " I cried enthusiastically; "if you were to get up in the dark onemorning and go with Jimmy--"

"Me go with Jimmy!" cried the old lady with a snort. 

"And get right out towards the mountain and see the sunrise, and theparrots in flocks, and the fish glancing like arrows down the silverriver--"

"There's just how your poor dear pa used to talk, and nearly broke yourpoor ma's heart. "

"No, he didn't; he was too fond of her, " I said; "only he felt it hisduty to continue his researches, the same that brought him out here, and--oh, I shall find him and bring him back. "

"Don't, don't, don't! there's a good boy; don't talk to me like that. You're sixteen now, and you ought to know better. "

"I don't want to know any better than that, nurse. I know it's my dutyto go, and I shall go. "

"You'll kill your poor ma, sir. "

"No, I sha'n't, " I said. "She won't like my going at first, because itwill seem lonely for her out here; but she'll be as pleased as can beafterwards. Look here: my mother--"

"Say _ma_, Master Joe, dear. Doey, please; it's so much more genteel. "

"Stuff! it's Frenchy; mother's old English. Mother don't believefather's dead, does she?"

"Well, no, my dear; she's as obstinate as you are about that. "

"And she's right. Why, he's only been away four years, and that isn'tso very long in a country where you have to cut every step of the way. "

"Cooey--cooey--woo--woo--woo--woo--why yup!"

"Cooey--cooey!" I echoed back, and nurse held he hands to her ears. 

"Now don't you go to him, Master Joseph; now please don't, " said the oldlady. 

"Mass Joe! hi Mass Joe! Jimmy fine wallaby. Tick fass in big hole bigtree. "

Just then my first-lieutenant and Nurse Brown's great object of dislike, Jimmy, thrust his shiny black face and curly head in at the door. 

"Go away, sir, " cried nurse. 

"Heap fis--come kedge fis--million tousand all up a creek. Jimmy goway?"

He stood grinning and nodding, with his hands in the pocket holes of hisonly garment, a pair of trousers with legs cut off to about mid-thigh. 

"If you don't take that nasty black fellow away, Master Joseph, I shallbe obliged to complain to your poor ma, " said nurse. 

"Get out!" I said; "Jimmy won't hurt you; and though it don't show, he's as clean as a new pin. "

"He isn't clean; he can't be, dear. How can any one be clean who don'twear clothes, Master Joseph? and look at his toes. "

Nurse Brown always fell foul of Jimmy's toes. They fidgeted her, forthey were never still. In fact Jimmy's toes, which had never probed therecesses of a pair of boots, were more like fingers and thumbs, and hada way of twiddling about when he was supposed to be standing still--stand perfectly still he never did--and these toes belonged to feet thatin climbing he could use like hands. More than once I've seen him pickstones off the ground--just like a monkey, nurse said--or stand talkingto any one and keep his attention while he helped himself to somethinghe wanted with his feet. 

"There, be off Jimmy, " I said, for I wanted to stop indoors. 

"Come kedge fis. "

"No, not to-day. "

"Hi--wup--wup--wup!"

Jimmy threw himself into an attitude, snatching a small hatchet from thewaistband of his trousers, and made believe to climb a tree, chop a holelarger, and draw out an animal, which he seemed to be swinging round byits tail. 

"No, not to-day, Jimmy, " I cried. 

"Sleep, sleep, " said Jimmy, imitating a kangaroo by giving a couple ofhops into the verandah, where he chose a sunny place, well haunted byflies, curled up, and went to sleep. 

"Good morning!" cried a hearty voice, and I ran out to welcome ourneighbour the doctor, whose horse's hoofs had not been heard, and whowas now fastening the rein to the hook in one of the verandah posts. 

"Well, Joe, " he said as I shook hands and looked up admiringly in hisbold well-bearded face. 

"Well, doctor, I'm so glad you've come; walk in. "

"Ah! nurse, " he cried; "how well you look!"

"Yes, yes; but I am glad you're come, " she said. "I want you to look atMaster Joseph. "

"I did look at him. "

"Isn't he feverish or something, sir? He's that restless as never was. "

"Sign he's growing, " cried the doctor. "How's mamma?"

"Oh, she's pretty well, " I said. "Gone to lie down. "

"That's right, " said the doctor. "I had to come and look at Bowman'sbroken arm, so I came on here to beg a bit of dinner. "

"I'm so glad!" I said: for Jimmy, the half-wild black, was my onlycompanion, there being no boys within miles of our run; "stop a week andhave some fishing. "

"And what's to become of my patients?"

"You haven't got any, " I said. "You told me so last time. "

"True, O King Joseph! I've come to the wrong place; you don't want manydoctors in Australia. Why, nurse, how this fellow grows!"

"I wish he'd grow good, " cried the old lady. "He's always doingsomething to worry away his poor ma's and my life. "

"Why, what's the matter now, nurse?"

"Matter, sir! Why, he's took it into his head to go looking for hispoor dear dead-and-gone pa. Do, do please tell him he mustn't think ofsuch things. "

"Why, Joe!" cried the doctor, turning sharply round to me, and ceasingto beat his high boots with his long-thonged whip. 

"I don't care what anybody says, " I cried, stamping my foot. "I've madeup my mind, and mean to go to New Guinea to find my father. "

"There, doctor, did you ever hear any one so wickedly obstinate before?"cried nurse. "Isn't it shocking? and his ma that delicate and worriedliving all alone, like, here out in these strange parts, and him asought to be a comfort to her doing nothing but hanker after running awayto find him as is dead and gone. "

"He's not dead, nurse; he's only gone, " I cried; "and I mean to findhim, as sure as I live. There, that I will. "

"There, doctor, did you ever hear such a boy?" cried nurse. 

"Never, " said the doctor. "Why, Joe, my boy, " he cried as I stoodshrinking from him, ready to defend myself from his remonstrances, "yourideas do you credit. I didn't think you had it in you. "

"Then you don't think it is wrong of me, doctor?" I said, catching hishand. 

"No, my boy, I do not, " he said gravely; "but it is a task for strongand earnest men. "

"But I am strong, " I said; "and if I'm not a man I'm in real earnest. "

"I can see that, my lad, " said the doctor, with his brown foreheadfilling with thoughtful wrinkles; "but have you counted the cost?"

"Cost!" I said. "No. I should get a passage in a coaster and walk allthe rest of the way. "

"I mean cost of energy: the risks, the arduous labours?"

"Oh, yes, " I said; "and I sha'n't mind. Father would have done the sameif I was lost. "

"Of course he would, my lad; but would you go alone?"

"Oh, no, " I replied, "I should take a guide. "

"Ah, yes; a good guide and companion. "

"There, Master Joseph, you hear, " said nurse. "Doctor Grant means thatsarcastical. "

"No, I do not, nurse, " said the doctor quietly; "for I think it a verybrave and noble resolve on the part of our young friend. "

"Doctor!"

"It has troubled me this year past that no effort has been made to findthe professor, who, I have no doubt, is somewhere in the interior of theisland, and I have been for some time making plans to go after himmyself. "

Nurse Brown's jaw dropped, and she stared in speechless amazement. 

"Hurray, doctor!" I cried. 

"And I say hurray too, Joe, " he cried. "I'll go with you, my lad, andwe'll bring him back, with God's help, safe and sound. "

The shout I gave woke Jimmy, who sprang to his feet, dragged a boomerangfrom his waistband, and dashed to the door to throw it at somebody, andthen stopped. 

"You'll break his mother's heart, doctor, " sobbed nurse. "Oh! if shewas to hear what you've said!"

"I did hear every word, " said my mother, entering from the next room, and looking very white. 

"There, there, " cried nurse, "you wicked boy, see what you've done. "

"Mother!" I cried, as I ran to her and caught her--poor, little, light, delicate thing that she was--in my arms. 

"My boy!" she whispered back, as she clung to me. 

"I must go. I will find him. I'm sure he is not dead. "

"And so am I, " she cried, with her eyes lighting up and a couple of redspots appearing in her cheeks. "I could not feel as I do if he weredead. "

Here she broke down and began to sob, while I, with old nurse's eyesglaring at me, began to feel as if I had done some horribly wicked act, and that nothing was left for me to do but try to soothe her whose heartI seemed to have broken. 

"Oh, mother! dear mother, " I whispered, with my lips close to her littlepink ear, "I don't want to give you pain, but I feel as if I must--Imust go. "

To my utter astonishment she laid her hands upon my temples, thrust mefrom her, and gazing passionately in my great sun-browned face she bentforward, kissed me, and said:

"Yes, yes. You've grown a great fellow now. Go? Yes, you must go. God will help you, and bring you both safely back. "

"Aw--ugh! Aw--ugh! Aw--ugh!" came from the verandah, three hideousyells, indicative of the fact that Jimmy--the half-wild black who hadattached himself to me ever since the day I had met him spear-armed, andbearing that as his only garment over the shoulder, and I shared withhim the bread and mutton I had taken for my expedition--was in a stateof the utmost grief. In fact, he had thrown himself down on the sand, and was wallowing and twisting himself about, beating up the dust withhis boomerang, and generally exciting poor old nurse's disgust. 

"Mother!" I cried; and making an effort she stood up erect and proud. 

"Mr Grant, " she exclaimed, "do you mean what you say?"

"Most decidedly, my dear madam, " said the doctor. "I should be unworthyof the professor's friendship, and the charge he gave me to watch overyou in his absence, if I did not go. "

"But your practice?"

"What is that, trifling as it is, to going to the help of him who gaveme his when I came out to the colony a poor and friendless man?"

"Thank you, doctor, " she said, laying her hand in his. 

"And I go the more willingly, " he said smiling, "because I know it willbe the best prescription for your case. It will bring you back yourhealth. "

"But, doctor--"

"Don't say another word, " he cried. "Why, my dear Mrs Carstairs, it isfive years since I have had anything even approaching a holiday. Thiswill be a splendid opportunity; and I can take care of Joe here, and hecan take care of me. "

"That I will--if I can, " I cried. 

"I know you will, Joe, " he said. "And we'll bring back the professorwith all his collection of new plants for that London firm, on conditionthat something fresh with a big red and yellow blossom is named afterme--lay the Scarlet Grantii, or the Yellow Unluckii in honour of mynon-success. "

"You're never going to let him start, Miss Eleanor?" cried nurse. 

"Would you have me stand between my son and his duty, nurse?" cried mymother, flushing. 

"Dearie me, no, " sighed the old lady; "only it do seem such a wild-goosechase. There'll be no one to take care of us, and that dreadful black, Jimmy"--nurse always said his name with a sort of disrelish--"will behanging about here all the time. "

"Iss, dat's him, Jimmy, Jimmy, here Jimmy go. Hi--wup--wup--wup, Jimmygo too. "

"Nonsense, Jimmy!" I said; "I'm going to New Guinea to seek my father. "

"Iss. Hi--wup--wup--wup, Jimmy going to look for his fader. "

"Why, you said he was dead, " I cried. 

"Iss, Jimmy fader dead, little pickaninny boy; Jimmy go look for him, find him dere. "

"Be quiet, " I said, for the black was indulging in a kind of war-dance;"you don't understand. I'm going across the sea to find my father. "

"Dat him. Jimmy want go 'cross sea find him fader bad. Hi! want gothere long time. "

"Why, you never heard of the place before, " I said. 

"No, never heard him fore; want to go long time. Jimmy go too. "

"Why, what for?" I said. 

"Hunt wallaby--kedge fis--kill black fellow--take care Mass Joe--find umfader. Hi--wup--wup--wup!"

"He would be very useful to us, Joe, " said the doctor. 

"And I should like to take him, " I said eagerly. 

"Iss, Jimmy go, " cried the black, who contrived, in spite of his badmanagement of our language, to understand nearly everything that wassaid, and who was keenly watching us all in turn. 

"He would be just the fellow to take, " said the doctor. 

"Hi--wup--wup! Jimmy juss a fellow to take. "

"Then he shall go, " I said; and the black bounded nearly to the ceiling, making nurse utter a shriek, whereupon he thrust his boomerang into hiswaistband, and dragged a waddy from the back, where it had hung downlike a stumpy tail, and showing his white teeth in a savage grin, hebegan to caper about as if preparing to attack the old lady, till Icaught him by the arm, and he crouched at my feet like a dog. 

"Come long, " he said, pointing out at the sun, "walk five six hour--allblack dark; go sleep a morning. "

"All in good time, Jimmy, " I said. "Go out and wait. " The black ranout, and crouched down upon his heels in the verandah, evidently underthe impression that we were about to start at once; but Europeans boundon an expedition want something besides a waddy, boomerang, and spear;and with nurse shaking her head mournfully the while, my mother, thedoctor, and I held a council of war, which, after a time, wasinterrupted by a curious noise between a grunt and a groan, which provedto be from Jimmy's throat, for he was preparing himself for his journeyby having a nap. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

HOW WE PREPARED TO START, AND STARTED. 

You will have gathered from all this that my father had been missing forpretty well three years, and that he, a well-known botanist, hadaccepted a commission from a well-known florist in the neighbourhood ofLondon to collect new plants for him, and in his quest he had made hislast unfortunate trip--which had followed one to Carpentaria--to NewGuinea. 

We had heard from him twice, each time with a package of seeds andplants, which we had forwarded to London. Then there was an uttercessation of news; one year had become two--then three--and it wouldsoon be four. 

Quite a little fellow when he started, I had cried with disappointmentat being left behind. Now I had grown into a big fellow for my age; Ihad dreamed incessantly of making the attempt to find my father, and nowat last the time had come. 

I believe I was quite as excited over the proposed journey as Jimmy, butI did not go about throwing a spear at gum-trees, neither did I climbthe tallest eucalyptus to try if I could see New Guinea from the topmostbranches. Moreover I did not show my delight on coming down, certain ofhaving seen this promised land, by picking out a low horizontal branchand hanging from it by my toes. 

All of these antics Jimmy did do, and many more, besides worrying meevery half-hour with--

"Come long--time a go find him fader. "

Of course now I know that it would have been impossible for me to havecarried out my plans without the doctor, who was indefatigable, bringingto bear as he did the ripe experience of a man who had been all over theworld pretty well before he came to Australia to make a practice; andevery day I had from him some useful hint. 

He was quite as eager as I, but he met all my impatient words with--

"Let's do everything necessary first, Joe. Recollect we are going to afar more savage land than this, and where we can renew nothing but ourstore of food. Don't let's fail through being too hasty. All in goodtime. "

But the time did seem so long, for there was a great deal to do. 

Jimmy--who by the way really bore some peculiar native name that soundedlike Wulla Gurra--was fitted out with a serviceable sailor's suit, ofwhich he was very proud, and never prouder than when he could see it toits best advantage. 

This was in the wool barn, where, upon every opportunity, the black usedto retreat to relieve himself of the unwonted garb, and hang it upagainst the shingle wall. Then he would show his teeth to the gums andsquat down, embrace his knees, and gaze at the clothes. 

When satisfied with the front he would rise deliberately, go to thewall, turn every article, and have a good look at the other side. 

We ran some risks at this time, for our henchman was given his firstlessons in the use of a rifle, and for a long time, no matter how thedoctor tried, it seemed as if it was impossible for the black to holdthe piece in any other direction than pointed straight at one of hisfriends. By slow degrees, though, he got over it, and wanted lessons inloading and firing more often than his master was prepared to give them. 

Jimmy had heard the report of a gun hundreds of times, but hisexperience had never gone so far as holding the piece when it was fired;and when, after being carefully shown how to take aim, he was treated toa blank charge and pulled the trigger, the result was that I threwmyself on the ground and shrieked with laughter, while the doctor seatedhimself upon a stump and held his sides, with the tears rolling down hischeeks. 

For at the flash and report Jimmy uttered a yell, dropped the rifle, andturned and ran as hard as he could for the barn, never once lookingbehind him. 

A couple of minutes were, however, sufficient to let his fear evaporate, and he came back waddy in fist, half shamefaced, half angry, and rubbinghis right shoulder the while. 

"Don't do dat, " he cried fiercely. "Don't do dat. Play trick, MassJoe. Play trick, Jimmy. "

"I didn't, " I cried, laughing. "Here; see me. "

I took the rifle, put in a charge, and fired. 

"There, " I said, reloading. "Now, try again. "

Jimmy had on only his curtailed trousers, into whose waistband hecautiously stuck the waddy, the knob at the end stopping it from fallingthrough, and gingerly taking the rifle once more to show that he was notafraid, he held it loosely against his shoulder and fired again. 

The gun kicked more than ever, for it was growing foul, and, uttering ayell, Jimmy dashed it down, snatched the waddy from his waistband, andbegan belabouring the butt of the piece before we could stop him, afterwhich he stood sulkily rubbing his right shoulder, and scowling at theinanimate enemy that had given him a couple of blows. 

One or two more experiments with the piece, however, taught the blackits merits and demerits to such an extent that he was never so happy aswhen he was allowed to shoulder the formidable weapon, with which hewould have liked to go and fight some native tribe; and his constantdemand to me was for me to put in an extra charge so that he might havewhat he called "big-bang. "

The doctor took care that we should both be well furnished with everynecessary in arms, ammunition, and camp equipments, such as were lightand would go into a small space. He got down from Sydney, too, aquantity of showy electro-gilt jewellery and fancy beads, with commonknives, pistols, guns, and hatchets for presents, saying to me that ashowy present would work our way better with a savage chief than a greatdeal of fighting, and he proved to be quite right in all he said. 

Taken altogether we had an excellent outfit for the journey, my mothereagerly placing funds at the doctor's disposal. And then came thequestion of how we were to get to the great northern island, for as arule facilities for touching there were not very great; but somehow thisproved to be no difficulty, all that we undertook being easily mastered, every obstacle melting away at the first attack. In fact the journey toNew Guinea was like a walk into a trap--wonderfully easy. Thedifficulty was how to get out again. 

Perhaps had I known of the dangers we were to encounter I might haveshrunk from the task--I say might, but I hope I should not. Still itwas better that I was in ignorance when, with the doctor, I set aboutmaking inquiries at the harbour, and soon found a captain who was in thehabit of trading to the island for shells and trepang, which heafterwards took on to Hongkong. 

For a fairly liberal consideration he expressed himself willing to goout of his way and land us where we liked, but he shook his head all thesame. 

"You've cut out your work, youngster, " he said; "and I doubt whetheryou're going to sew it together so as to make a job. "

"I'm going to try, captain, " I said. 

"That's your style, " he said heartily, as he gave me a slap on theshoulder. "That's the word that moves everything, my boy--that word`try. ' My brains and butter! what a lot `try' has done, and will alwayskeep doing. Lor', it's enough to make a man wish he was lost, and hisson coming to look after him. "

"Then you have a son, captain?" I said, looking at him wistfully. 

"Me? Not a bit of it. My wife never had no little 'uns, for we alwaysbuys the boats, they arn't young ships. I married my schooner, my lad;she's my wife. But there, I'm talking away with a tongue like an oldwoman. Send your traps aboard whenever you like, and--there, I likeyou--you're a good lad, and I'll help you as much as ever I can. Shakehands. "

It was like a fierce order, and he quite hurt me when we did shakehands, even the doctor saying it was like putting your fist in ascrew-wrench. 

Then we parted, the doctor and I to complete our preparations; thevarious things we meant to take were placed on board, and now at lastthe time had come when we must say _Good-bye_!

For the first time in my life I began to think very seriously of moneymatters. Up to this money had not been an object of much desire withme. A few shillings to send into Sydney for some special object now andthen was all I had required; but now I had to think about my motherduring my absence, and what she would do, and for the first time Ilearned that there was no need for anxiety on that score; that myfather's private income was ample to place us beyond thought for thefuture. I found, too, that our nearest neighbour had undertaken towatch over my mother's safety, not that there was much occasion forwatchfulness, the days gliding by at our place in the most perfectpeace, but it was satisfactory to feel that there were friends near athand. 

I was for saying _good-bye_ at the little farm, but my mother insistedupon accompanying us to Sydney, where I noticed that in spite of herweakness and delicate looks, she was full of energy and excitement, talking to me of my journey, begging me to be prudent and careful, andon no account to expose myself to danger. 

"And tell your father how anxiously I am looking forward to his return, "she said to me on the last evening together; words that seemed to giveme confidence, for they showed me how thoroughly satisfied she was thatwe would bring my father back. 

We were too busy making preparations to the very last for there to bemuch time for sadness, till the hour when the old skipper came, and wasshown up to our room. 

He came stamping and blundering up in a pair of heavy sea-boots, andbegan to salute me with a rough shout, when he caught sight of my paledelicate-looking mother, and his whole manner changed. 

"Lor', I didn't know as there were a lady here, " he said in a huskywhisper, and snatching off his battered Panama hat, sticking out a legbehind, and making a bow like a school-boy. I beg your pardon forintruding like, mum, but I only come to say that the schooner's warpedout, and that youngster here and Mr Grant must come aboard first thingin the morning. 

He sat down after a good deal of persuasion, and partook ofrefreshment--liquid, and copiously. But when, on leaving, my motherfollowed him to the door, and I saw her try to make him a present, heshook his head sturdily. 

"No, no, " he growled; "I asked my price for the trip, and the doctorthere paid me like a man. Don't you be afeared for young chap therewhile he's aboard my craft. While he's with me I'll look after him asif he was gold. I don't like boys as a rule, for they're a worrit andwants so much kicking before you can make 'em work, but I've kind oftook to youngster there, and I'll see him through. Good night. "

The captain went clumping down the stairs, and we could hear himclearing his throat very loudly down the street. Then the doctor, withgreat delicacy, rose and left us alone, and I tried to look cheerful asI sat for an hour with my mother before going to bed. 

Did any of you who tried to look cheerful when you were going to leavehome for the first time ever succeed, especially with those wistful, longing eyes watching you so earnestly all the time? I'm not ashamed tosay that I did not, and that I almost repented of my decision, seeing asI did what pain I was causing. 

But I knew directly after that it was pain mingled with pleasure, andthat I was about to do my duty as a son. 

Twice over, as I lay half sleeping, I fancied I saw, or really did see, somebody gliding away from my bedside, and then all at once I found thatit was morning, and I got up, had a miserable breakfast, which seemed tochoke me, and soon after--how I don't know, for it all seemed verydream-like--found myself on the wharf with my mother, waiting for theboat that was to take us three travellers to the ship. 

Jimmy was there, looking rather uncomfortable in his sailor's suit, which was not constructed for the use of a man who always sat down uponhis heels. The doctor was there, too, quiet and cheerful as could be, and I made an effort to swallow something that troubled me, and which Ithought must be somehow connected with my breakfast. But it would notgo down, and I could do nothing but gaze hard as through a mist at thelittle delicate woman who was holding so tightly to my hands. There wasa dimness and an unreality about everything. Things seemed to be goingon in a way I did not understand, and I quite started at last assomebody seemed to say, "Good-bye, " and I found myself in the littleboat and on the way to the schooner. 

Then all in the same dim, misty way I found myself aboard, watching thewharf where my mother was standing with a lady friend, both waving theirhandkerchiefs. Then the wharf seemed to be slowly gliding away andgetting more and more distant, and then mixed up with it all came thesound of the bluff captain's voice, shouting orders to the men, who werehurrying about the deck. 

Suddenly I started, for the doctor had laid his hand upon my shoulder. 

"We're off, Joe, " he said heartily; "the campaign has begun. Now, then, how do you feel for your work?"

His words electrified me, and I exclaimed excitedly:

"Ready, doctor, ready. We'll find him and bring him back. "

CHAPTER THREE. 

HOW I MADE MY FIRST CHARGE WITH A LANCE. 

We had not been a day at sea before our black follower was in trouble. As a matter of course the men began joking and teasing him about theawkward manner in which he wore his sailor's suit, asking him if itwouldn't be better to have a coat of white paint over him instead, asbeing cooler and less trouble, and the like. 

All this Jimmy took with the greatest of equanimity, grasping the men'smeaning very well, and very often throwing himself flat on the deck andsquirming about, which was his way of showing his delight. But it wasabsolutely necessary that all this banter should come from theEnglishmen. If one of the Malay sailors attempted such a familiarity, Jimmy was furious. 

"Hi--wup--wup!" he exclaimed to me after one of these bouts; "dirtyfellow, brown fellow no good. Not white fellow, not black fellow. Badfor nothing. "

One afternoon the doctor and I were sitting forward watching thebeautiful heaving waves, and talking over the plans we intended tofollow when we landed, and we had agreed that a small party was far morelikely to succeed than a large one, being more suitable for passingunnoticed through the country. We had just arrived at the point ofdetermining that we would engage six natives at a friendly shore villageto carry our baggage and act as guides, when the noise of some troubleaft arose, and we turned to see a Malay sailor lying upon the deck, andJimmy showing his teeth fiercely, waddy in hand, after having given theman what he afterwards called "a topper on de headums. "

We ran up, fearing more mischief, for Jimmy could fight fiercely whenroused; and we were just in time, for as the doctor reached the Malaythe man had scrambled up, drawn his knife, and rushed at the black. Butbefore he could strike, the doctor showed me what wonderful strength ofarm he possessed, by seizing the Malay by the waistband and arm andliterally swinging him over the low bulwark into the sea. 

"That will cool his passion, " said the doctor, smiling. "I'm sorry Idid it though, captain, " he said the next minute; "these men are veryrevengeful. "

"Too late to say that, " cried the captain roughly. "Here, hi! manoverboard! Never mind the boat: he swims like a fish. "

This was plain enough, for the Malay was making his way swiftly throughthe water, and the captain ran aft with a coil of rope to throw to himfrom the stern. 

I ran too, and could see that as the man struck the water in a peculiarfashion, he held his knife open in his hand, and was thinking whether hewould use it when the captain threw the rope, the light rings uncoilingas they flew through the air and splashed the water. 

"Here, look out!" cried the captain; but the man did not heed, but beganto beat the water furiously, uttering a strange gasping cry. 

"Look, doctor!" I cried, pointing, and leaning forward. 

A low hiss escaped his lips as he, too, saw a dull, indistinct somethingrising through the transparent sea. 

"Yah, hi! Bunyip debble fis!" shouted Jimmy excitedly. "Bite sailor, brown fellow. Hoo. Bite!"

The black gave a snap and a shake of the head, and then taking the longsharp knife the doctor had given him from his belt, he tore off hisshirt and, it seemed to me, jumped out of his trousers. Then the sunseemed to flash from his shiny black skin for an instant, and he plungedinto the sea. 

The exciting incidents of that scene are as plain before me now I writeas if they had taken place yesterday. I saw the body of the blackstrike up a foam of white water, and then glide down in a curve in thesunlit sea, plainly crossing the course of the great fish, which hadaltered its course on becoming aware of the second splash. 

The Malay knew what he was doing, for ignoring the help of the rope heallowed himself to drift astern, seeing as he did that the shark'sattention had been drawn to the black. 

"He knows what he's about, " said the captain. "If he laid hold of thatthere rope, and we tried to draw him aboard, that snipperjack would takehim like a perch does a worm in the old ponds at home. Here, lower awaythat boat, and I'll go and get the whale lance. "

Away went the skipper, while the men lowered the boat; and I was sointent upon the movements of the great fish that I started as the boatkissed the water with a splash. 

The shark was about ten feet long and unusually thick; and as it keptjust below the surface the doctor and I could watch its every movement, guided by the strange but slow wave of the long, curiously-lobed tail. 

"Now, you brown fellow, you come on. Knife, knife!"

As Jimmy shouted out these words he raised himself in the water andcurved over like a porpoise, diving right down, and at the same momentthe shark gave a sweep with its tail, the combined disturbance making sogreat an eddy that it was impossible to see what took place beneath thesurface. Then all at once there was a horrible discoloration in thesea, and I drew back, holding on by the bulwarks with both hands to keepmyself from falling. For, as the water grew discoloured, so did the airseem to glow before my eyes. I was sick and dizzy; the deck seemed torise in waves, and a curious kind of singing noise in my ears madeeverything sound distant and strange. There was a strange despairingfeeling, too, in my heart, and my breath came thick and short, till Iwas brought partly to myself by hearing a voice shouting for a rope, andthen the mist gradually cleared away, and I became aware of the factthat the boat was moving before me, and that the round, shiny black faceof Jimmy was close at hand. 

A few minutes later both Jimmy and the Malay were aboard, the formerthrowing himself flat on his back to rest, for he was panting heavilyafter his exertions. 

"Big bunyip debble, Mass Joe, " he sputtered; "swim more stronger Jimmy, but no got knife. Tick black fellow knife in um lot o' time. Tick itin him frontums, tick it in ums back ums tight, and make um dibe downand take Jimmy much long ways. "

"Why didn't you leave go of the knife, my man?" said the doctor. 

"Leave go dat big noo knife?" cried Jimmy sharply. "Let bunyip fis havedat noo knife?"

Jimmy did not finish, but shook his head from side to side, so thatfirst one black ear went into the puddle of water on the deck, then theother, while his lips parted in a tremendously long grin, which seemedto say, "Black fellow knows better than to do such a stupid thing asthat. "

Then, as if made of india-rubber, Jimmy drew his heels in, gave aspring, and leaped to his feet, running to the side, and then throwingup his arms with delight. 

"Dere um is, Mass Joe; turn up him under frontums like fis on hook an'line. "

For there was the monster making an effort to keep in its normalposition, as it swam slowly round and round, but always rolling back, and rising helplessly every time it tried to dive. 

"Jimmy sorry for you, " cried the black. "Plenty good to eat like muchmuttons. Go down boat bring him board. "

"Well, I don't know about good meat, blackee, but we may as well havehis head to boil out his jaws, " said the captain, who was standinglooking on, whale lance in hand. 

"Go down and put him out of his misery, captain, " I said, "and take metoo. "

"Oh! all right, my lad, " he said, laughing. "You may do the job if youlike. "

"May I?"

"To be sure, " he said; and I jumped down into the boat, after he hadlowered himself, bear fashion, on to one of the thwarts. 

"Here, send out one of the sailors, " said the doctor. "I'll go too. "

One of the men returned to the deck, looking rather glum, and the doctortook his place, while I sympathised with that sailor and wished that thedoctor had not spoken, for I felt sure that he had come down into theboat to take care of me, and it made me feel young and childish. 

But I did not show my annoyance, I am glad to say; and a minute laterthe men gave way, and the boat glided slowly towards where the shark haddrifted--I all the while standing up in the bows, lance in hand, full ofthe desire to make use of it, and feeling a cruel, half savage sensationthat it would be exceedingly pleasant to drive that lance right home. 

"Now my water Saint George the Second, " cried the doctor banteringly;"mind you slay the sea-dragon. "

"Mind what you're after, youngster, " said the captain. "Give it himclose below the gills; a good dig and then draw back sharp. "

"All right!" I cried back to the captain, for I was offended by thedoctor's chaff; it made me feel small before the men. Then, recallingwhat I had read that a harpooner would do under such circumstances, Ishouted: "Give way, boys!"

I'd have given something to have been back on board the schooner justthen, for a roar of laughter greeted my command, and I felt that I wasvery young, and had made myself rather ridiculous, while to add to mydiscomfiture the men obeyed my order with such energy that the boat gavea jerk, and I was nearly sent back in a sitting position on the foremostman. 

There was another laugh at this, and the doctor said drily:

"No, no, my lad; the lance is for the shark, not for us. "

I recovered my balance without a word, and planting my feet firmly wideapart, remained silent and looking very red, while I held my weaponready. 

It was an old rusty affair, with a stiff pole about eight feet long, andwas used by the captain for killing those curious creatures which nodoubt gave rise to the idea of there being such things as tritons ormermen--I mean the manatees or dugongs that in those days used to swarmin the warmer waters of the Eastern Australian coast. 

"Keep it up, my lads; pull!" said the captain, who had an oar over thestern to steer. "We must get back soon. "

I thought this was because the shark, which had ceased to swim round andround, was now laboriously making its way with the current at the rateof pretty well two miles an hour; but as the captain spoke I could seethat he was scanning the horizon, and I heard the doctor ask if anythingwas wrong. 

"Looks dirty, " he growled; and I remember wondering half-laughinglywhether a good shower would not wash it clean, when the skipper went on:"Gets one o' them storms now and then 'bout here. Now, my lads; with awill!"

The water surged and rattled beneath my feet, and I was forgetting myannoyance and beginning to enjoy the excitement of my ride; and all themore that the shark had once more stopped in its steady flight, and wasshowing its white under parts some fifty yards away. 

"Ready, my lad!" cried the captain. "I'll steer you close in. Give ithim deep, and draw back sharp. "

I nodded, and held the lance ready poised as we drew nearer and nearer, and I was ready with set teeth and every nerve tingling to deliver thethrust, when _whish_! _splash_! the brute gave its tail a tremendouslash, and darted away, swimming along with its back fin ploughing thewater, and apparently as strong as ever. 

"Only his flurry, my lad. Pull away, boys; we'll soon have him now. "

The men rowed hard, and the boat danced over the swell, rising up oneslope, gliding down another, or so it seemed to me. 

"He'll turn up the white directly, " cried the captain. "Take it coollyand you'll have him. I'll put you close alongside, and don't you miss. "

"Not I, sir, " I shouted without turning my head, for it seemed such avery easy task; and away we went once more, getting nearer and nearer, till the back fin went out of sight, came up again, went out of sightthe other way, and then there was the shining white skin glistening inthe sun. 

There was another swirl and the shark made a fresh effort, but this timeit was weaker and the boat gained upon it fast. 

"Now, boys, pull hard, and when I say `In oars, ' stop, and we'll runclose up without scaring the beggar. Pull--pull--pull--pull! Now! Inoars!"

The men ceased rowing, the boat glided on from the impetus previouslygiven, and I was just about to deliver a thrust when the woundedcreature saw its enemy, and as if its strength had been renewed, wentoff again with a dart. 

"Look at that, " cried the captain. "Never mind, he's not going to getaway. We'll have him yet. "

"We seem to be getting a long way from the schooner, " I heard the doctorsay, and I turned round upon him quite angrily. 

"Oh!" I cried, "don't stop. We nearly had him that time. "

"Well, you shall have another try, my boy, " said the captain. "Pullaway. "

We were going pretty fast all the time, and again and again we drewnear, but always to be disappointed, and I stamped my foot with anger, as, every time, the brute darted off, leaving us easily behind. 

"Better let me have the lance, Joe, " said the doctor smiling. 

"No, no, " I cried. "I must have a try now. "

"Let him be, " growled the captain; "nobody couldn't have lanced him ifhe'd tried. Now look out, lad! Steady, boys! In oars! Let's go upmore softly. That's the style. We shall have him this time. Now youhave him, lad; give it him--deep. "

All these words came in a low tone of voice as the boat glided nearerand nearer to where the shark was swimming slowly and wavering to andfro, and in my excitement I drew back, raising the lance high, and justas the monster was about to dash off in a fresh direction I threw myselfforward, driving the point of the lance right into the soft flesh, forgetful of my instructions about a sharp thrust and return, for thekeen lance point must have gone right through, and before I realisedwhat was the matter I was snatched out of the boat; there was a splash, the noise of water thundering, a strangling sensation in my nostrils andthroat, and I was being carried down with a fierce rush into the depthsof the sea. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

HOW I WAS NOT DROWNED, AND HOW WE CHASED THAT SCHOONER. 

I don't remember much about that dive, except that the water made agreat deal of noise in my ears, for the next thing that occurred seemedto be that I was lying on my back, with the back of my neck aching, while the doctor was pumping my arms up and down in a remarkably curiousmanner. 

"What's the matter?" I said quickly; and then again in a sharp angryvoice, "Be quiet, will you? Don't!"

"Are you better, young 'un?" said the captain, who seemed to be swollenand clumsy looking. 

"Better? Here!" I cried as a flash of recollection came back, "where'sthe shark?"

"Floating alongside, " said the doctor, wiping the great drops ofperspiration from his forehead. 

I pulled myself up and looked over the side, where the great fish wasfloating quite dead, with one of the sailors making fast a line roundthe thin part of the tail. 

"Why, I know, " I cried; "he dragged me down. "

It was all plain enough now. The captain had fitted a lanyard to theshaft of the lance, so that it should not be lost, and I had got thistwisted round one of my wrists in such a way that I was literallysnatched out of the boat when it tightened; and I felt a strange kind ofshudder run through me as the doctor went on to say softly:

"I had begun to give you up, Joe, my boy. "

"Only the shark give it up as a bad job, my lad. That stroke of yoursfinished him, and he come up just in time for us to get you into theboat and pump the wind into you again--leastwise the doctor did. "

"The best way to restore respiration, captain. "

"When you've tried my plan first, my lad, " replied the captain. "Whatis it drowns folks, eh? Why, water. Too much water, eh? Well, my planis to hold up head down'ards and feet in the air till all the salt-waterhas runned out. "

"The surest way to kill a half-drowned person, captain, " said the doctorauthoritatively. 

"Mebbe it is, mebbe it isn't, " said the captain surlily. "All I know isthat I've brought lots back to life that way, and rolling 'em onbarrels. "

I shuddered and shivered, and the men laughed at my drenched aspect, abreach of good manners that the captain immediately resented. 

"There, make fast that shark to the ring-bolt, and lay hold of your oarsagain. Pull away, there's a hurricane coming afore long. "

As he spoke he looked long at a dull yellow haze that seemed to becreeping towards the sun. 

"Had we not better let the fish go?" said the doctor anxiously. 

"No, I want the oil, " said the captain. "We've had trouble enough toget him, and I don't mean to throw him away. Now, my lads, pull. "

The men tugged steadily at their oars, but the dead fish hung behindlike a log, and our progress was very slow. Every now and then it gavea slight quiver, but that soon ceased, and it hung quite passively fromthe cord. 

I was leaning over the stem, feeling rather dizzy and headachy when, allat once, the captain shouted to me to "cut shark adrift; we're makingtoo little way. That schooner's too far-off for my liking. " I drew myknife, and after hauling the fish as closely as I could to the side Idivided the thin line, and as I did so the boat seemed to dart away fromits burden. 

It was none too soon, for the yellow haze seemed to be increasingrapidly, and the wind, which at one minute was oppressively calm, camethe next in ominous hot puffs. 

"Why, the schooner's sailing away from us, " cried the captain suddenly. "Hang me if I don't believe that scoundrel of a Malay has got to thehelm, and is taking her right away out of spite. "

"Don't begin prophesying evil like that, captain, " cried the doctorsharply. "Here, man, I can pull; let's take an oar apiece and help. "

"I wasn't croaking, " growled the captain; "but whether or no, that'sgood advice. No, no, youngster, you're not strong enough to pull. "

"I can row, " I said quickly; and the captain making no fartherobjection, we three pulled for the next half-hour, giving the men a goodrest, when they took their turn, and we could see that while the hazeseemed nearer the schooner was quite as far-off as ever. There was acurious coppery look, too, about the sun that made everything now lookweird and unnatural, even to the doctor's face, which in addition lookedserious to a degree I had never seen before. 

"There'll be somebody pitched overboard--once I get back on deck, and noboat ready to pick him up. Here, what does he mean?"

He stood up in the boat waving his hat to those on board the littlevessel; but no heed was paid, and the captain ground his teeth withrage. 

"I'll let him have something for this, " growled the captain. "There, pull away, men. What are you stopping for?"

The men tugged at their oars once more, after glancing uneasily at eachother and then at the sky. 

"If I don't give him--"

"Let's get on board first, captain, " said the doctor, firmly. 

"Ay, so we will, " he growled. "The brown-skinned scoundrel!"

"That's land, isn't it, captain?" I said, pointing to a low line on ourleft. 

"Ay, worse luck, " he said. 

"Worse luck, captain? Why, we could get ashore if we did not overtakethe schooner. "

"Get ashore! Who wants to get ashore, boy? That's where my schoonerwill be. He'll run her on the reefs, as sure as I'm longing fortwo-foot of rope's-end and a brown back afore me. "

"A crown apiece for you, my lads, as soon as you get us aboard, " criedthe doctor, who had been looking uneasily at the men. 

His words acted like magic, and the oars bent, while the water rattledand pattered under our bows. 

"That's the sort o' fire to get up steam, doctor, " said the captain;"but we shall never overtake my vessel, unless something happens. I'dno business to leave her, and bring away my men. "

"I'm sorry, captain, " I said deprecatingly. "It seems as if it were myfault. "

"Not it, " he said kindly. "It was my fault, lad--mine. "

All this while the mist was steadily moving down upon us, and thecaptain was watching it with gloomy looks when his eyes were not fixedupon the schooner, which kept on gliding away. The doctor's face, too, wore a very serious look, which impressed me more perhaps than thethreatenings of the storm. For, though I knew how terrible thehurricanes were at times, my experience had always been of them ashore, and I was profoundly ignorant of what a typhoon might be at sea. 

"There, " cried the captain at last, after a weary chase, "it's of nouse, my lads, easy it is. I shall make for the land and try to getinside one of the reefs, doctor, before the storm bursts. "

"The schooner is not sailing away now, " I said eagerly. 

"Not sailing, boy? Why she's slipping away from us like--No, no: you'reright, lad, she's--Pull, my lads, pull; let's get aboard. That Malayscoundrel has run her on the reef. "

CHAPTER FIVE. 

HOW WE FOUND JACK PENNY. 

The captain's ideas were not quite correct. Certainly the littletrading vessel had been run upon one of the many reefs that spread inall directions along the dangerous coast; but it was not the Malay whowas the guilty party. 

As far as I was concerned it seemed to me a good job, for it brought theschooner to a stand-still, so that we could overtake it. No thoughtoccurred to me that the rocks might have knocked a hole in her bottom, and that if a storm came on she would most likely go to pieces. 

Very little was said now, for every one's attention was taken up by thethreatened hurricane, and our efforts to reach the schooner before itshould come on. 

It was a long severe race, in which we all took a turn at the oars, literally rowing as it seemed to me for our lives. At times it was asif we must be overtaken by the fierce black clouds in the distance, beneath which there was a long misty white line. The sea-birds keptdashing by us, uttering wild cries, and there was overhead an intensesilence, while in the distance we could hear a low dull murmuring roar, that told of the coming mischief. 

Every now and then it seemed to me that we must be overtaken by the longsurging line, that it was now plain to see was pursuing us, and Iwondered whether we should be able to swim and save our lives when itcame upon us with a hiss and a roar, such as I had often heard when onthe beach. 

"We shall never do it, " said one of the men, who half-jumped from hisseat the next moment as the captain leaned forward from where he wasrowing and gave him a sound box on the ears. 

"Pull, you cowardly humbug!" he cried. "Not do it? A set of furrinerswouldn't do it; but we're Englishmen, and we're going to do it. If wedon't, it won't be our fault. Pull!"

This trifling incident had its effect, for the men pulled harder thanever, exhausted though they were. It was a struggle for life now, and Iknew it; but somehow I did not feel frightened in the least, but stunnedand confused, and at the same time interested, as I saw the great lineof haze and foam coming on. Then I was listening to the dull roar, which was rapidly increasing into what seemed a harsh yell louder thanthunder. 

"Pull, my lads!" shouted the captain, with his voice sounding strangeand harsh in the awful silence around us, for, loud as was the roar ofthe storm, it seemed still afar off. 

The men pulled, and then we relieved them again, with the great dropsgathering on our faces in the intense heat; and my breath came thick andshort, till I felt as it were a sense of burning in my chest. Then Igrew half-blind with my eyes staring back at the wall of haze; and then, as I felt that I should die if I strained much longer at that oar, Iheard the captain shout:

"In oars!" and I found that we were alongside the schooner, and closeunder her lee. 

There was just time to get on board, and we were in the act of haulingup the boat, when, with an awful whistle and shriek, the storm was uponus, and we were all clinging for life to that which was nearest at hand. 

Now, I daresay you would like me to give you a faithful account of myimpressions of that storm, and those of one who went through it from thetime that the hurricane struck us till it passed over, leaving the skyclear, the sun shining, and the sea heaving slowly and without a singlecrest. 

I feel that I can do justice to the theme, so here is my faithfuldescription of that storm. 

_A horrid wet, stifling, flogging row_. 

That's all I can recollect. That's all I'm sure that the doctor couldrecollect, or the captain or anybody else. We were just about drownedand stunned, and when we came to ourselves it was because the storm hadpassed over. 

"What cheer, ho!" shouted the captain, and we poor flogged and drenchedobjects sat up and looked about us, to find that the waves had liftedthe schooner off the rocks, and driven her a long way out of her course;that the sails that had been set were blown to ribbons; and finally thatthe schooner, with the last exception, was very little the worse for theadventure. 

"She ain't made no water much, " said the captain, after going below;"and--here, I say, where's that Malay scoundrel?"

"Down in the cabin--locked in, " said an ill-used voice; and I rubbed thesalt-water out of my eyes, and stared at the tall thin figure before me, leaning up against the bulwark as if his long thin legs were too weak tosupport his long body, though his head was so small that it could nothave added very much weight. 

"Why, hallo! Who the blue jingo are you?" roared the skipper. 

The tall thin boy wrinkled up his forehead, and did not answer. 

"Here, I say, where did you spring from?" roared the captain. 

The tall thin boy took one hand out of his trousers' pocket with somedifficulty, for it was so wet that it clung, and pointed down below. 

The skipper scratched his head furiously, and stared again. 

"Here, can't you speak, you long-legged thing?" he cried. "Who areyou?"

"Why, it's Jack Penny!" I exclaimed. 

"Jack who?" cried the captain. 

"Jack Penny, sir. His father is a squatter about ten miles from ourplace. "

"Well, but how came _he_--I mean that tall thin chap, not his father--tobe squatting aboard my schooner?"

"Why, Jack, " I said, "when did you come aboard?"

"Come aboard?" he said slowly, as if it took him some time to understandwhat I said. "Oh, the night before you did. "

"But where have you been all the time?"

"Oh, down below there, " said Jack slowly. 

"But what did you come for?"

"Wanted to, " he said coolly. "If I had said so, they wouldn't--youwouldn't have let me come. "

"But why did you come, Jack?" I said. 

"'Cause I wanted, " he replied surlily. "Who are you that you're to haveall the fun and me get none!"

"Fun!" I said. 

"Yes, fun. Ain't you goin' to find your father?"

"Of course I am; but what's that got to do with fun?"

"Never you mind; I've come, and that's all about it, " he said slowly;and thrusting his hands back into his trousers' pockets as fast as thewet clinging stuff would let him, he began to whistle. 

"But it arn't all about it, " cried the captain; "and so you'll find. You arn't paid no passage, and I arn't going to have no liberties tookwith my ship. Here, where's that Malay chap?"

"I told you where he was, didn't I?" snarled Jack Penny. "Are you deaf?In the cabin, locked in. "

"What's he doing locked in my cabin?" roared the captain. "I say, areyou skipper here, or am I? What's he doing in my cabin locked in?"

"Rubbing his sore head, I s'pose, " drawled Jack Penny. "I hit him ashard as I could with one o' them fence rails. "

"Fence rails!" cried the captain, who looked astounded at the big thinboy's coolness, and then glanced in the direction he pointed beneath thebulwarks. "Fence rails! What do you mean--one of them capstan bars?"

"I don't know what you call 'em, " said Jack. "I give him a regularwunner on the head. "

"What for, you dog?"

"Here, don't you call me a dog or there'll be a row, " cried Jack, risingerect and standing rather shakily about five feet eleven, looking like abig boy stretched to the bursting point and then made fast. "He wasgoing to kill the black fellow with his knife after knocking him down. I wasn't going to stand by and see him do that, was I?"

"Well, I s'pose not, " said the captain, who looked puzzled. "Where isthe black fellow? Here, where's Jimmy?"

"Down that square hole there, that wooden well-place, " said Jack, pointing to the forecastle hatch. "He slipped down there when theyaller chap hit him. "

"Look here--" said the captain as I made for the hatch to look afterJimmy. "But stop a minute, let's have the black up. "

Two of the men went below and dragged up poor Jimmy, who was quitestunned, and bleeding freely from a wound on the head. 

"Well, that's some proof of what you say, my fine fellow, " continued thecaptain, as the doctor knelt down to examine poor Jimmy's head and Ifetched some water to bathe his face. "What did you do next?"

"Next? Let me see, " drawled Jack Penny; "what did I do next? Oh! Iknow. That chap was running away with the ship, and I took hold of thatwheel thing and turned her round, so as to come back to you when youkept waving your cap. "

"Hah! yes. Well, what then?"

"Oh, the thing wanted oiling or greasing; it wouldn't go properly. Itgot stuck fast, and the ship wouldn't move; and then the storm came. Iwish you wouldn't bother so. "

"Well, I _am_ blessed, " cried the captain staring. "I should have beenproud to have been your father, my young hopeful. 'Pon my soul Ishould. You are a cool one, you are. You go and run the prettiestlittle schooner there is along the coast upon the rocks, and then youhave the confounded impudence to look me in the face and tell me therudder wants greasing and it stuck. "

"So it did!" cried Jack Penny indignantly. "Think I don't know? Iheard it squeak. You weren't on board. The ship wouldn't moveafterwards. "

"Here, I say; which are you?" cried the captain; "a rogue or a fool?"

"I d'know, " said Jack coolly. "Father used to say I was a foolsometimes. P'r'aps I am. I say, though, if I were you I'd go and tiedown that yaller Malay chap in the cabin. He's as vicious as an old mankangaroo in a water-hole. "

"Your father's wrong, my fine fellow, " said the captain with a grimsmile; "you ar'n't a fool, for a fool couldn't give such good advice asthat. Here, doctor, p'r'aps you'll lend me one of your shooting things. You can get into your cabin; I can't get into mine. "

The doctor nodded, and in the excitement of the time we forgot all aboutour drenched clothes as he went down and returned directly with hisrevolver, and another for the captain's use. 

"Thank'ye, doctor, " said the captain grimly, cocking the piece. "Idon't want to use it, and I daresay the sight of it will cool our yallerfriend; but it's just as well to be prepared. What! are you coming too?Thought your trade was to mend holes and not make 'em. "

"My trade is to save life, captain, " said the doctor quietly. "PerhapsI shall be helping to save life by coming down with you. "

"P'r'aps you will, doctor. Here, we don't want you two boys. "

"We only want to come and see, " I said in an ill-used tone; and beforethe doctor could speak the captain laughingly said, "Come on, " and wefollowed them down below, the men bringing up the rear, armed with barsand hatchets. 

The captain did not hesitate for a moment, but went straight down to thecabin door, turned the key, and threw it open, though all the while heknew that there was a man inside fiercer than some savage beast. Buthad he been a little more cautious it would have saved trouble, for theMalay had evidently been waiting as he heard steps, and as the door wasopened he made a spring, dashed the doctor and captain aside, oversetme, and, as the men gave way, reached the deck, where he ran rightforward and then close up to the foremast, stood with his long knife orkris in his hand, rolling his opal eyeballs, and evidently prepared tostrike at the first who approached. 

"The dog! he has been at the spirits, " growled the captain fiercely. "Confound him! I could shoot him where he stands as easy as could be;but I arn't like you, doctor, I don't like killing a man. Never didyet, and don't want to try. "

"Don't fire at him, " said the doctor excitedly; "a bullet might befatal. Let us all rush at him and beat him down. "

"That's all very fine, doctor, " said the captain; "but if we do someone's sure to get an ugly dig or two from that skewer. Two or three ofus p'r'aps. You want to get a few surgery jobs, but I'd rather youdidn't. "

All this while the Malay stood brandishing his kris and showing histeeth at us in a mocking smile, as if we were a set of the greatestcowards under the sun. 

"Look here, Harriet, " cried the captain; "you'd better give in; we'resix to one, and must win. Give in, and you shall have fair play. "

"Cowards! come on, cowards!" shouted the Malay fiercely, and he made ashort rush from the mast, and two of the hatchet men retreated; but theMalay only laughed fiercely, and shrank back to get in shelter by themast. 

"We shall have to rush him or shoot him, " said the captain, rubbing hisnose with pistol barrel. "Now then, you dog; surrender!" he roared; andlowering the pistol he fired at the Malay's feet, the bullet splinteringup the deck; but the fellow only laughed mockingly. 

"We shall have to rush him, " growled the captain; "unless you can givehim a dose of stuff, doctor, to keep him quiet. "

"Oh, yes; I can give him a dose that will quiet him for a couple ofhours or so, but who's to make him take it?"

"When we treed the big old man kangaroo who ripped up Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus, " drawled Jack Penny, who was looking on with his hands inhis pockets, "I got up the tree and dropped a rope with a noose in itover his head. Seems to me that's what you ought to do now. "

"Look'ye here, " cried the captain, "don't you let your father call youfool again, youngster, because it's letting perhaps a respectable oldman tell lies. Tell you what, if you'll shin up the shrouds, and drop abit of a noose over his head while we keep him in play, I won't sayanother word about your coming on board without leave. "

"Oh, all right! I don't mind trying to oblige you, but you must mind hedon't cut it if I do. "

"You leave that to me, " cried the captain. "I'll see to that. There, take that thin coil there, hanging on a belaying-pin. "

The tall thin fellow walked straight to the coil of thin rope, shook itout, and made a running noose at the end, and then, with an activitythat surprised me, who began to feel jealous that this thin weak-lookingfellow should have proved himself more clever and thoughtful than I was, he sprang into the shrouds, the Malay hardly noticing, evidentlybelieving that the boy was going aloft to be safe. He looked up at himonce, as Jack Penny settled himself at the masthead, but turned hisattention fiercely towards us as the captain arranged his men as if fora rush, forming them into a semicircle. 

"When I say ready, " cried the captain, "all at him together. "

The Malay heard all this, and his eyes flashed and his teeth glistenedas he threw himself into an attitude ready to receive his foes, his bodybent forward, his right and left arms close to his sides, and his wholeframe well balanced on his legs. 

"Ready?" cried the captain. 

"All ready!" was the reply; and I was so intent upon the fierce lithesavage that I forgot all about Jack Penny till I heard the men answer. 

There was the whizzing noise of a rope thrown swiftly, and in an instanta ring had passed over the Malay's body, which was snatched tight, pinioning his arms to his side, and Jack Penny came down with a rush onthe other side of the fore-yard, drawing the savage a few feet from thedeck, where he swung helplessly, and before he could recover himself hehad been seized, disarmed, and was lying bound upon the deck. 

"I didn't mean to come down so fast as that, " drawled Jack, rubbing hisback. "I've hurt myself a bit. "

"Then we'll rub you, " cried the captain joyously. "By George, my boy, you're a regular two yards of trump. "

The excitement of the encounter with the Malay being over, there wastime to see to poor Jimmy, who was found to be suffering from a verysevere cut on the head, one of so serious a nature that for some timethe poor fellow lay insensible; but the effect of bathing and bandaginghis wound was to make him open his eyes at last, and stare round forsome moments before he seemed to understand where he was. Thenrecollection came back, and he grinned at me and the doctor. 

The next moment a grim look of rage came over his countenance, andspringing up he rushed to where the Malay was lying upon the deck underthe bulwarks, and gave him a furious kick. 

"Bad brown fellow!" he shouted. "Good for nothing! Hi--wup--wup--wup!"

Every utterance of the word _wup_ was accompanied by a kick, and theresult was that the Malay sprang up, snatched his kris from where it hadbeen thrown on the head of a cask, and striking right and left made hisway aft, master of the deck once more. 

"Well, that's nice, " growled the captain. 

"I thought them knots wouldn't hold, " drawled Jack Penny. "He's beenwriggling and twisting his arms and legs about ever since he lay there. I thought he'd get away. "

"Then why didn't you say so, you great, long-jointed two-foot rule?"roared the captain. "Here, now then, all together. I'm skipper here. Rush him, my lads; never mind his skewer. "

The captain's words seemed to electrify his little crew, and, I ventureto say, his passengers as well. Every one seized some weapon, and, headed by the skipper, we charged down upon the savage as he stoodbrandishing his weapon. 

He stood fast, watchful as a tiger, for some moments, and then made adash at our extreme left, where Jack Penny and I were standing; and Ihave no doubt that he would have cut his way through to our cost, butfor a quick motion of the captain, who struck out with his left hand, hitting the Malay full in the cheek. 

The man made a convulsive spring, and fell back on the edge of thebulwarks, where he seemed to give a writhe, and then, before a handcould reach him, there was a loud splash, and he had disappeared in thesea. 

We all rushed to the side, but the water was thick from the effects ofthe storm, and we could not for a few moments make out anything. Thenall at once the swarthy, convulsed face of the man appeared above thewave, and he began to swim towards the side, yelling for help. 

"Ah!" said the skipper, smiling, "that's about put him out. Nothinglike cold water for squenching fire. "

"Hi--wup! hi--wup!" shouted Jimmy, who forgot his wound, and danced upand down, holding on by the bulwarks, his shining black face lookingexceedingly comic with a broad bandage of white linen across his brow. "Hi--wup! hi--wup!" he shouted; "bunyip debble shark coming--bite umlegs. "

"Help!" shrieked the Malay in piteous tones, as he swam on, clutching atthe slippery sides of the schooner. 

"Help!" growled the captain; "what for? Here, you, let me have thatthere kris. Hitch it on that cord. "

As he spoke the captain threw down the thin line with which the Malayhad been bound, the poor wretch snatching at it frantically; but as hedid so it was pulled away from his despairing clutch. 

"I could noose him, " drawled Jack Penny coolly. "I've often caughtfather's rams like that. "

"Yes, but your father's rams hadn't got knives, " said the captaingrimly. 

"No, but they'd got horns, " said Jack quietly. "Ain't going to drownhim, are you?"

"Not I, boy; he'll drown himself if we leave him alone. "

"I don't like to see fellows drown, " said Jack; and he left the bulwarksand sat down on the hatchway edge. "Tell a fellow when it's all over, Joe Carstairs. "

"Help, help!" came hoarsely from the poor wretch; and my hands grew wetinside, and a horrible sensation seemed to be attacking my chest, as Iwatched the struggles of the drowning man with starting eyes. Forthough he swam like a fish, the horror of his situation seemed to haveunnerved him, and while he kept on swimming, it was with quick wearyingeffort, and he was sinking minute by minute lower in the water. 

"For Heaven's sake, throw the poor wretch a rope, captain, " said thedoctor. 

"What! to come aboard and knife some of us?" growled the captain. "Better let him drown. Plenty of better ones than him to be had for apound a month. "

"Oh, captain!" I cried indignantly, for my feelings were too much forme; and I seized a rope just as the Malay went down, after uttering adespairing shriek. 

"Let that rope alone, boy, " said the skipper with a grim smile. "There, he's come up again. Ketch hold!" he cried, and he threw his line sothat the Malay could seize it, which he did, winding it round and roundone arm, while the slowly-sailing schooner dragged him along through thesea. "I'm only giving him a reg'lar good squencher, doctor. I don'twant him aboard with a spark left in him to break out again: we've hadenough of that. Haul him aboard, lads, and shove him in the chainlocker to get dry. We'll set him ashore first chance. "

The Malay was hauled aboard with no very gentle hands by the whitesailors, and as soon as he reached the deck he began crawling to thecaptain's feet, to which he clung, with gesture after gesture full ofhumility, as ha talked excitedly in a jargon of broken English andMalay. 

"That's what I don't like in these fellows, " said Jack Penny quietly;"they're either all bubble or else all squeak. "

"Yes; he's about squenched now, squire, " said the captain. "Here, shovehim under hatches, and it's lucky for you I'm not in a hanging humourto-day. You'd better behave yourself, or you may be brought up againsome day when I am. "

As the captain spoke to the streaming, shivering wretch he made a noosein the rope he held, manipulating it as if he were really going to hangthe abject creature, in whom the fire of rage had quite become extinct. Then the sailors took hold of him, and he uttered a despairing shriek;but he cooled down as he found that he was only to be made a prisoner, and was thrust below, with Jimmy dancing a war-dance round him as hewent, the said dance consisting of bounds from the deck and wavings ofhis waddy about his head. 

As the Malay was secured, Jack Penny rose from his seat and walked tothe side of the vessel, to spit into the water with every sign ofdisgust upon his face. 

"Yah!" he said; "I wouldn't squeak like that, not if they hung me. "

"Well, let's see, " cried the captain, catching him by the collar;"hanging is the punishment for stowaways, my fine fellow. "

"Get out!" said Jack, giving himself a sort of squirm and shakinghimself free. "You ain't going to scare me; and, besides, you know whatyou said. I say, though, when are we going to have something to eat?"

The captain stared at Jack's serious face for a few moments, and then hejoined with the doctor and me in a hearty laugh. 

"I don't well understand you yet, my fine fellow, " he said; "perhaps Ishall, though, afore I've done. Here, come down; you do look as if alittle wholesome vittles would do you good. Are you hungry then?"

"Hungry!" said Jack, without a drawl, and he gave his teeth a gnash;"why, I ain't had nothing but some damper and a bottle o' water since Icame on board. "

CHAPTER SIX. 

HOW JIMMY WAS FRIGHTENED BY THE BUNYIP. 

"Oh, I don't know that I've got any more to say about it, " said JackPenny to me as we sat next day in the bows of the schooner, with ourlegs dangling over the side. "I heard all about your going, and therewas nothing to do at home now, so I said to myself that I'd go, and hereI am. "

"Yes, here you are, " I said; "but you don't mean to tell me that youintended to go up the country with us?"

"Yes, I do, " he said. 

"Nonsense, Jack! it is impossible!" I said warmly. 

"I say!"

"Well?"

"New Guinea don't belong to you, does it?"

"Why, of course not. "

"Oh, I thought p'r'aps you'd bought it. "

"Don't talk nonsense, Jack. "

"Don't you talk nonsense then, and don't you be so crusty. If I like toland in New Guinea, and take a walk through the country, it's as freefor me as it is for you, isn't it?"

"Of course it is. "

"Then just you hold your tongue, Mister Joe Carstairs; and if you don'tlike to walk along with me, why you can walk by yourself. "

"And what provisions have you made for the journey?" I said. 

"Oh, I'm all right, my lad!" he drawled. "Father lent me his revolver, and I've got my double gun, and two pound o' powder and a lot o' shot. "

"Anything else?"

"Oh, I've got my knife, and a bit o' string, and two fishing-lines and alot of hooks, and I brought my pipe and my Jew's-harp, and I thinkthat's all. "

"I'm glad you brought your Jew's-harp, " I said ironically. 

"So am I, " he said drily. "Yah! I know: you're grinning at me, but aJew's-harp ain't a bad thing when you're lonely like, all by yourself, keeping sheep and nobody to speak to for a week together but Gyp. Isay, Joe, I brought Gyp, " he added with a smile that made his face lookquite pleasant. 

"What! your dog?" I cried. 

"Yes; he's all snug down below, and he hasn't made a sound. He don'tlike it, but if I tell him to do a thing he knows he's obliged to doit. "

"I say, I wonder what the captain will say if he knows you've got a dogon board?"

"I sha'n't tell him, and if he don't find it out I shall pay him forGyp's passage just the same as I shall pay him for mine. I've got lotsof money, and I hid on board to save trouble. I ain't a cheat. "

"No, I never thought you were, Jack, " I said, for I had known him forsome years, and once or twice I had been fishing with him, though wewere never companions. "But it's all nonsense about your going with us. The doctor said this morning that the notion was absurd. "

"Let him mind his salts-and-senna and jollop, " said Jack sharply. "Who's he, I should like to know? I knowed your father as much as hedid. He's given me many a sixpence for birds' eggs and beetles andsnakes I've got for him. Soon as I heard you were going to find him, Isays to father, `I'm going too. '"

"And what did your father say?"

"Said I was a fool. "

"Ah! of course, " I exclaimed. 

"No, it ain't `ah, of course, ' Mr Clever, " he cried. "Father alwayssays that to me whatever I do, but he's very fond of me all the same. "

Just then the captain came forward with his glass under his arm, and hishands deep down in his pockets. He walked with his legs very wideapart, and stopped short before us, his straw hat tilted right over hisnose, and see-sawing himself backwards and forwards on his toes andheels. 

"You're a nice young man, arn't you now?" he said to Jack. 

"No, I'm only a boy yet, " said Jack quietly. 

"Well, you're tall enough to be a man, anyhow. What's your height?"

"Five foot 'leven, " said Jack. 

"And how old are you?"

"Seventeen next 'vember, " said Jack. 

"Humph!" said the captain. 

"Here, how much is it?" said Jack, thrusting his hand in his pocket. "I'll pay now and ha' done with it. "

"Pay what?"

"My passage-money. "

"Oh!" said the captain quietly, "I see. Well, I think we'd bettersettle that by-and-by when you bring in claim for salvage. "

The captain pronounced it "sarvidge, " and Jack stared. 

"What savage?" he said. "Do you mean Joe Carstairs' black fellow?"

"Do I mean Joe Carstairs' grandmother, boy? I didn't say savage; I saidsalvage--saving of the ship from pirates. "

"Oh, I see what you mean, " replied Jack. "I sha'n't bring in any claim. I knew that Malay chap wasn't doing right, and stopped him, that'sall. "

"Well, we won't say any more about stowing away, then, " said thecaptain. "Had plenty to eat this morning?"

"Oh yes, I'm better now, " drawled Jack. "I was real bad yesterday, andnever felt so hollow before. "

The captain nodded and went back, while Jack turned to me, and noddinghis head said slowly:

"I like the captain. Now let's go and see how your black fellow's headis. "

Jimmy was lying under a bit of awning rigged up with a scrap of thestorm-torn sail; and as soon as he saw us his white teeth flashed out inthe light. 

"Well, Jimmy, how are you?" I said, as Jack Penny stood bending downover him, and swaying gently to and fro as if he had hinges in his back. 

"Jimmy better--much better. Got big fly in um head--big bunyip fly. All buzz--buzz--round and round--buzz in um head. Fedge doctor take umout. "

"Here, doctor, " I shouted; and he came up. "Jimmy has got a fly in hishead. "

"A bee in his bonnet, you mean, " he said, bending down and laying hishand on the black's temples. 

"Take um out, " said Jimmy excitedly. "Buzz--buzz--bunyip fly. "

"Yes, I'll take it out, Jimmy, " said the doctor quietly; "but notto-day. "

"When take um out?" cried the black eagerly; "buzz--buzz. Keep buzz. "

"To-morrow or next day. Here, lie still, and I'll get your head readyfor the operation. "

The preparation consisted in applying a thick cloth soaked in spiritsand water to the feverish head, the evaporation in the hot climateproducing a delicious sense of coolness, which made Jimmy say softly:

"Fly gone--sleep now, " and he closed his eyes, seeming to be asleep tillthe doctor had gone back to his seat on the deck, where he was studyinga chart of the great island we were running for. But as soon as he wasout of hearing Jimmy opened first one eye and then another. Then in awhisper, as he gently took up his waddy:

"No tell doctor; no tell captain fellow. Jimmy go knock brown fellowhead flap to-night. "

"What?" I cried. 

"He no good brown fellow. Knock head off. Overboard: fis eat up. "

"What does he say; he's going to knock that Malay chap's head off?"drawled Jack. 

"Yes, Jimmy knock um head flap. "

"You dare to touch him, Jimmy, " I said, "and I'll send you back home. "

"Jimmy not knock um head flap?" he said staring. 

"No. You're not to touch him. "

"Mass Joe gone mad. Brown fellow kill all a man. Jimmy kill um. "

"You are not to touch him, " I said. "And now go to sleep or I shall goand tell the captain. "

Jimmy lifted up his head and looked at me. Then he banged it down uponhis pillow, which was one of those gooseberry-shaped rope nets, stuffedfull of oakum, and called a fender, while we went forward once more totalk to the doctor about his chart, for Jack Penny was comportinghimself exactly as if he had become one of the party, though I had madeup my mind that he was to go back with the captain when we were setashore. 

All the same, at Jack Penny's urgent request I joined him in the act ofkeeping the presence of the other passenger a secret--I mean Gyp thedog, to whom I was stealthily introduced by Jack, down in a veryevil-smelling part of the hold, and for whom I saved scraps of meat andbits of fish from my dinner every day. 

The introduction was as follows on the part of Jack:

"Gyp, old man, this is Joe Carstairs. Give him your paw. "

It was very dark, but I was just able to make out a pair of fiery eyes, and an exceedingly shaggy curly head--I found afterwards that Gyp's papahad been an Irish water spaniel, and his mamma some large kind of hound;and Jack informed me that Gyp was a much bigger dog than his mamma--thena rough scratchy paw was dabbed on my hand, and directly after myfingers were wiped by a hot moist tongue. At the same time there was awhimpering noise, and though I did not know it then, I had made one ofthe ugliest but most faithful friends I ever had. 

The days glided by, and we progressed very slowly, for the weather fellcalm after the typhoon, and often for twenty-four hours together we didnothing but drift about with the current, the weather being so hot thatwe were glad to sit under the shade of a sail. 

The doctor quite took to Jack Penny, saying that he was an oddity, butnot a bad fellow. I began to like him better myself, though he didnothing to try and win my liking, being very quiet and distant with usboth, and watching us suspiciously, as if he thought we were alwaysmaking plots to get rid of him, and thwart his plans. 

Gyp had remained undiscovered, the poor brute lying as quiet as a mouse, except when Jack Penny and I went down to feed him, when he expressedhis emotion by rapping the planks hard with his tail. 

At last the captain, who had been taking observations, tapped me on theshoulder one hot mid-day, and said:

"There, squire, we shall see the coast to-morrow before this time, and Ihope the first thing you set eyes on will be your father, waving his oldhat to us to take him off. "

Just then Jimmy, whose wound had healed rapidly, and who had forgottenall about the big bunyip fly buzzing in his head, suddenly popped hisface above the hatchway with his eyes starting, his hair looking moreshaggy than usual, and his teeth chattering with horror. 

He leaped up on the deck, and began striking it with the great knob atthe end of his waddy, shouting out after every blow. 

"Debble, debble--big bunyip debble. Jimmy, Jimmy see big bunyip downslow!"

"Here, youngster, fetch my revolver, " shouted the captain to me. "Here, doctor, get out your gun, that Malay chap's loose again. "

"A no--a no--a no, " yelled Jimmy, banging at the deck. "Big bunyip--nobrown fellow--big black bunyip debble, debble!"

"Get out, you black idiot; it's the Malay. "

"A no--a no--a no; big black bunyip. 'Gin eat black fellow down slow. "

To my astonishment, long quiet Jack Penny went up to Jimmy and gave hima tremendous kick, to which the black would have responded by a blowwith his war-club had I not interposed. 

"What did you kick him for, Jack?" I cried. 

"A great scuffle-headed black fool! he'll let it out now about Gyp. Make him be quiet. "

It was too late, for the captain and the doctor were at the hatchway, descending in spite of Jimmy's shouts and cries that the big bunyip--thegreat typical demon of the Australian aborigine--would eat them. 

"Shoot um--shoot um--bing, bang!" _whop_ went Jimmy's waddy on the deck;and in dread lest they should fire at the unfortunate dog in the dark, Iwent up and told the captain, the result being that Gyp was called up ondeck, and the great beast nearly went mad with delight, racing about, fawning on his master and on me, and ending by crouching down at my feetwith his tongue lolling out, panting and blinking his eyes, unaccustomedto the glare of daylight. 

"You're in this game, then, eh, Master Carstairs?" said the captain. 

"Well, yes, sir; Penny here took me into his confidence about havingbrought the dog, and of course I could not say a word. "

"Humph! Nice game to have with me, 'pon my word. You're a prettypenny, you are, young man, " he added, turning to Jack. "I ought to tossyou--overboard. "

"I'll pay for Gyp's passage, " said Jack coolly. "I wish you wouldn'tmake such a fuss. "

The captain muttered something about double-jointed yard measures, andwent forward without another word, while Gyp selected a nice warm placeon the deck, and lay down to bask on his side, but not until he hadfollowed Jimmy up the port-side and back along the starboard, sniffinghis black legs, while that worthy backed from him, holding his waddyready to strike, coming to me afterwards with a look of contempt uponhis noble savage brow, and with an extra twist to his broad nose, tosay:

"Jimmy know all a time only big ugly dog. Not bunyip 'tall. "

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

HOW WE STOPPED THE BLACKBIRD CATCHERS. 

The captain was right, for we made the south coast of New Guinea the_very_ next morning, and as I caught sight of the land that I believedto be holding my father as in a prison, a strange mingling of pain andpleasure filled my breast I looked excitedly and long through thedoctor's double glass, and he shook hands with me afterwards, as if hethoroughly appreciated my feelings in the matter. 

It was a lovely morning, with a pleasant breeze blowing, and as we drewnearer we made out a vessel very similar in build to our own going inthe same direction. 

"Why, they are for the same port, I should think!"

"I don't know, " said the skipper rather oddly. "We're for a littleplace I know, where the savages are pretty friendly, and I've beentalking it over with the doctor as to its being a good starting-placefor you, and he thinks it will be. There it lies, " he said, pointingnorth-east. "We can soon make it now. "

"Looks a nicer place than our land, " said Jack Penny, as I stood withhim gazing wonderingly at the forest and mountain scenery that hour byhour grew more clear. "I think I shall like Noo Guinea. "

The day glided on with the look-out growing more and more interesting;and at last, when we were pretty near, we could see the other schoonerhad outsailed us, and was within a short distance of a scatteredcollection of huts; while a little crowd of the natives was on the sandybeach busily launching their canoes, in which they paddled out towardsthe other vessel. 

"I don't like that, " said the skipper suddenly, as he was using hisglass. "That's bad for us. "

"What is?" I said eagerly. 

"That there schooner going before us. They're blackbird catchers, orI'm a Dutchman. "

"Blackbird catchers?" I said. "Why, I thought there were no blackbirdsout of Europe. "

"Just hark at him, " said the captain, turning to the doctor. "Blackbirds, boy, why, there's thousands; and it's them varmint who goin for the trade of catching 'em as makes the coast unsafe for honestmen. "

"What do you mean?" I cried, and I became aware of the fact that JackPenny was bending over me like a bamboo. 

"Mean, boy? just you take the doctor's little double-barrelled telescopeand watch and see. "

I took the glass and looked intently, watching through it the scene ofthe blacks paddling up to the schooner, and holding up what seemed to befruit and birds for sale. 

All at once I saw something fall into one of the canoes, whichimmediately sank, and eight of its occupants were left struggling in thewater. 

To my great relief I saw a small boat rowed round from the other side ofthe little vessel, evidently, as I thought, to go to the help of thepoor creatures; but, to my horror, I saw that two men stood up in theboat, and, as it was rowed, they struck at the swimming men with heavybars, and dragged them one by one into the boat. 

I saw four saved like this, and then the boat was rowed rapidly inpursuit of the other four, who were swimming as hard as they could, asthey tried to overtake the canoes, whose occupants were making for theshore. 

The noise of the shouts reached our ears faintly, and I saw one of themen picked up by the last canoe, and the other three were literallyhunted by the schooner's boat, diving like ducks and trying every featthey could think of to avoid capture; but oars beat hands in the water, and I saw two of the fugitives struck on the head by a fellow in thebows of the boat, and then they were dragged over the side. 

There was one more savage in the water, and he swam rapidly and well, besides which, he had gained some distance during the time taken up incapturing his fellows. As he had changed his direction somewhat I had abetter view of the chase, and I felt horrified to see how rapidly theboat gained upon him till it was so near that it could be only a matterof minutes before he would be worn out and treated in the same way ashis unfortunate fellows. 

At last the boat overtook the poor wretch, but he dived down and itpassed over him, the blow struck at his head merely making a splash inthe water, when up he came, his black head just showing above thesurface, and he struggled in another direction for his liberty. 

To add to the excitement of the scene the sandy shore about the huts waslined with savages, who were rushing about in a tremendous state ofexcitement, shaking their spears and yelling, but showing plainly thatthey were a very cowardly race, for not one of them made an effort tolaunch a canoe and try to save his brother in distress. 

There could be but one end to this cruel tragedy, so I thought; but Iwas wrong. Again and again the boat overtook the poor fellow, but hedived and escaped even though blows were struck at him with a boat-hook;but it was evident that he was growing weaker, and that he stayed belowa shorter time. 

All at once, as if the men had become furious at the length of thechase, I saw the boat rowed rapidly down upon him; but the savage divedonce more, evidently went right under the boat, and came up full thirtyyards astern, swimming now straight for the shore. 

Then all at once I saw him throw up his arms and disappear, as if he hadbeen snatched under. 

"Out of his misery, " said a deep voice beside me; and turning I foundthat the captain had been watching the scene through his long glass. 

"What do you mean?" I said. 

"Sharks took him down, poor chap, " said the captain. "Sharks isignorant, or they would have grabbed the white fellows instead. "

As I still watched the scene, with my brow wet with perspiration, I sawthe boat make now for the schooner, and quite a dozen canoes put offfrom the shore. 

"Lor', what a thing ignorance is, and how far niggers are behind whitemen in pluck! Why, if these fellows knew what they were about, theymight easily overhaul that little schooner, take their brothers out ofher, and give the blackbird catchers such a lesson as they'd neverremember and never forget, for they'd kill the lot. There ain't abreath o' wind. "

"But they will take them, won't they, captain?" I cried. 

"No, my lad, not they. They'll go and shout and throw a few spears, andthen go back again; but they'll bear malice, my lad. All white folkswho come in ships will be the same to them, and most likely some poorinnocent boat's crew will be speared, and all on account of the doingsof these blackbird catchers. "

"But what do they do with the poor fellows?" I cried. 

"Reg'larly sell 'em for slaves, though slavery's done away with, myboy. "

"But will not the blacks rescue their friends?" I said. 

"No, my lad. "

"Then we must, " I cried excitedly; and Jack Penny threw up his cap andcried "Hooray!" Gyp started to his feet and barked furiously, and Jimmyleaped in the air, came down in a squatting position, striking the decka tremendous blow with his waddy, and shouting "Hi--wup, wup--wup, " inan increasing yell. 

The captain, hardened by familiarity with such scenes, laid his handupon my shoulder, and smiled at me kindly as he shook his head. 

"No, no, my lad, that would not do. "

"Not do!" I cried, burning with indignation. "Are we to stand by andsee such cruelties practised?"

"Yes, my lad; law says we musn't interfere. It's the law's job to putit down; but it's very slow sometimes. "

"But very sure, captain, " said the doctor quietly. "And when it doesmove it is crushing to evil-doers. The captain is quite right, Joe, myboy, " he continued, turning to me. "We must not stir in this case. I've heard of such atrocities before, but did not know that they were socommon. "

"Common as blackguards, " said the captain, "It's regular slavery. There, what did I tell you, my lad?" he continued, as he pointed to thecanoes, which were returning after making a demonstration. "These poorblacks are afraid of the guns. It's all over--unless--"

He stopped short, scratching his head, and staring first at the schoonerand then at us in turn. 

"Unless what, captain?" I said excitedly. 

"Here, let's do a bit o' bounce for once in our lives, " said the bluffold fellow. "Get out your revolvers and shooting-tackle, and let's seeif we can't frighten the beggars. Only mind, doctor, and you too, myyoung bantam, our weapons is only for show. No firing, mind; but if wecan bully those chaps into giving up their blackbirds, why we will. "

The boat was lowered, and with a goodly display of what Jack Pennycalled dangerous ironmongery, we started with three men, but not untilthe captain had seen that the Malay was safely secured. Then westarted, and the people aboard the other schooner were so busy withtheir captives that we got alongside, and the captain, Doctor Grant, andI had climbed on deck before a red-faced fellow with a violentlyinflamed nose came up to us, and, with an oath, asked what we wantedthere. 

"Here, you speak, " whispered the captain to Doctor Grant. "I'm riled, and I shall be only using more bad language than is good for theseyoungsters to hear. Give it to him pretty warm, though, all the same, doctor. "

"D'yer hear?" said the red-faced fellow again. "What do you want here?"

"Those poor wretches, you slave-dealing ruffian, " cried the doctor, wholooked quite white as he drew himself up and seemed to tower over thecaptain of the other schooner, who took a step back in astonishment, butrecovered himself directly and advanced menacingly. 

"Come for them, have you, eh?" he roared; "then you'll go without 'em. Here, over you go; off my ship, you--"

The scoundrel did not finish his speech, for as he spoke he clapped agreat rough hairy paw on the doctor's shoulder, and then our friendseemed to shrink back at the contact; but it was only to gather force, like a wave, for, somehow, just then his fist seemed to dart out, andthe ruffianly captain staggered back and then fell heavily on the deck. 

Half a dozen men sprang forward at this, but Doctor Grant did notflinch, he merely took out his revolver and examined its lock, saying:

"Will you have these poor fellows got into our boat, captain?"

"Ay, ay, doctor, " cried our skipper; and the slave-dealing crew shrankback and stared as we busily handed down the blackbirds, as the captainkept on calling them. 

Poor creatures, they were still half-stunned and two of them werebleeding, and it must have seemed to then? that they were being tossedout of the frying-pan into the fire, and that we were going to carry onthe villainy that our ruffianly countrymen had commenced. In fact hadwe not taken care, and even used force, they would have jumped overboardwhen we had them packed closely in. 

"Here, shove off!" the captain said, as we were once more in our boat;and just then the leader of the ruffians staggered to his feet andleaned over the side. 

"I'll have the law of you for this, " he yelled. "This is piracy. "

"To be sure it is, " said our captain; "we're going to hyste the blackflag as soon as we get back, and run out our guns. Come on, myred-nosed old cocky-wax, and we'll have a naval engagement, and sinkyou. "

He nudged me horribly hard with his elbow at this point, and turning hisback on the schooner winked at me, and chuckled and rumbled as if hewere laughing heartily to himself in secret; but he spoke again directlyquite seriously. 

"I haven't got no boys of my own, " he said, "but if I had, I should saythis was a sort o' lesson to you to always have right on your side. It's again' the law, but it's right all the same. See how we carriedall before us, eh, my lads! The doctor's fist was as good as half adozen guns, and regularly settled the matter at once. "

"Then we may set these poor fellows free now?" I said. 

"Well, I shouldn't like to be one of them as did it, " said the captaindrily. "Look at the shore. "

I glanced in that direction and saw that it was crowded with blacks, allarmed with spears and war-clubs, which they were brandishing excitedly. 

"They wouldn't know friends from foes, " said the doctor quietly. "No;we must wait. "

I saw the reason for these remarks; and as soon as we had reached theside of the schooner and got our captives on board I attended the doctorwhile he busied himself bandaging and strapping cuts, the blacks staringat him wondering, and then at Jimmy, who looked the reverse of friendly, gazing down at the prisoners scornfully, and telling Jack Penny inconfidence that he did not think much of common sort black fellow. 

"Jimmy xiv all o' men waddy spear if try to kedge Jimmy, " he said, drawing himself up and showing his teeth. "No kedge Jimmy. Killer umall. "

It was hard work to get the poor prisoners to understand that we meantwell by them. 

"You see they think you're having 'em patched up, " said Jack Penny, "soas they'll sell better. I say, Joe Carstairs, give your black fellow atopper with his waddy; he's making faces at that chap, and pretending tocut off his legs. "

"Here, you be quiet, Jimmy, or I'll send you below, " I said sharply; andas I went to the breaker to get a pannikin of water for one of the men, Jimmy stuck his hands behind him, pointed his nose in the air, andwalked forward with such a display of offended dignity that Jack Pennydoubled up, putting his head between his knees and pinning it firm, while he laughed in throes, each of which sent a spasm through hisloose-jointed body. 

The black to whom I took the water looked at me in a frightened way, andshook his head. 

"He thinks it is poisoned, Joe, " said the doctor quietly; and Iimmediately drank some, when the prisoner took the pannikin and drankwith avidity, his companions then turning their eager eyes on me. 

"It is the feverish thirst produced by injuries, " said the doctor; andas I filled the pannikin again and again, the poor wretches uttered alow sigh of satisfaction. 

The schooner lay where we had left it, and all seemed to be very quieton board, but no movement was made of an offensive nature; and the dayglided by till towards sundown, when there was less excitement visibleon the shore. Then the captain ordered the boat to be lowered on theside away from the land, while he proceeded to sweep the shore with hisglass. 

"I think we might land 'em now, doctor, " he said, "and get back withoutany jobs for you. "

"Yes, they seem pretty quiet now, " said the doctor, who had also beenscanning the shore; "but there are a great many people about. "

"They won't see us, " said the captain. "Now, my blackbirds, I'm notgoing to clip your wings or pull out your tails. Into the boat withyou. I'll set you ashore. "

For the first time the poor fellows seemed to comprehend that they wereto be set at liberty, and for a few minutes their joy knew no bounds;and it was only by running off that I was able to escape from some oftheir demonstrations of gratitude. 

"No, my lad, " said the captain in response to my demand to go with him. "I'll set the poor chaps ashore, and we shall be quite heavy enoughgoing through the surf. You can take command while I'm gone, " he added, laughing; "and mind no one steals the anchor. "

I felt annoyed at the captain's bantering tone, but I said nothing; andjust at sunset the boat pushed off quietly with its black freight, thepoor fellows looking beside themselves with joy. 

"I say, skipper, " said the captain laughingly to me, "mind that Malaychap don't get out; and look here, it will be dark directly, hyste alight for me to find my way back. "

I nodded shortly, and stood with Jack Penny and the doctor watching theboat till it seemed to be swallowed up in the thick darkness that wasgathering round, and the doctor left Jack Penny and me alone. 

"I say, " said Jack, who was leaning on the bulwarks, with his body atright angles; "I say, Joe Carstairs, I've been thinking what a game itwould be if the captain never came back. "

"What!" I cried. 

"You and I could take the ship and go where we like. "

"And how about the doctor?" I said scornfully. 

"Ah!" he drawled, "I forgot about the doctor. That's a pity. I wishhe'd gone ashore too. "

I did not answer, for it did not suit my ideas at all. The adventure Ihad on hand filled my mind, and I felt annoyed by my companion's foolishremark. 

We had tea, and were sitting with the doctor chatting on deck, aftervainly trying to pierce the darkness with our eyes or to hear somesound, when all at once the doctor spoke:

"Time they were back, " he said. "I say, Skipper Carstairs, have youhoisted your light?"

"Light!" I said excitedly. "What's that?" for just then a bright redglow arose to our right in the direction of the shore. 

"They're a making a bonfire, " said Jack Penny slowly. 

"Or burning a village, " said the doctor. 

"No, no, " I cried; "it's that schooner on fire!"

"You're right, Joe, " said the doctor excitedly. "Why, the savages musthave gone off and done this, and--yes, look, you can see the canoes. "

"Here, I say, don't!" cried Jack Penny then, his voice sounding curiousfrom out of the darkness; and the same moment there was a rush, atremendous scuffle, Jimmy yelled out something in his own tongue, andthen lastly there were two or three heavy falls; and in a misty, stupefied way I knew that we had been boarded by the savages and madeprisoners, on account of the outrage committed by the other captain. 

What followed seems quite dream-like; but I have some recollection ofbeing bundled down into a boat, and then afterwards dragged out over thesand and hurried somewhere, with savages yelling and shouting about me, after which I was thrown down, and lay on the ground in great pain, halfsleeping, half waking, and in a confused muddle of thought in which Iseemed to see my father looking at me reproachfully for not coming tohis help, while all the time I was so bound that I could not move astep. 

At last I must have dropped into a heavy sleep, for the next thing I sawwas the bright sunshine streaming into the hut where I lay, and a crowdof blacks with large frizzed heads of hair chattering about me, everyman being armed with spear and club, while the buzz of voices plainlytold that there was a throng waiting outside. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

HOW I RAN FROM THE WHITEBIRD CATCHERS. 

Yes, I may as well own to it: I was terribly frightened, but my firstthoughts were as to what had become of my companions. Jack Penny andthe doctor must have been seized at the same time as I. Jimmy mighthave managed to escape. Perhaps his black skin would make him be lookedupon as a friend. But the old captain, what about him? He would returnto the schooner with his men and be seized, and knocked on the head forcertain. The fierce resistance he would make certainly would cause hisdeath, and I shuddered at the thought. 

Then I began to think of my mother and father, how I should have failedin helping them; and I remember thinking what a good job it was that mymother would never know exactly what had happened to me. Better thelong anxiety, I thought, of watching and waiting for my return than toknow I had been killed like this. 

"But I'm not killed yet, " I thought, as the blood flushed to my face. "I'll have a run for it, if I can. "

I had not much time given me to think, for I was dragged to my feet, andout into a large open place where there were huts and trees, and therebefore me lay the sea with our schooner, but the other was gone; and asI recalled the fire of the previous night I knew that she must have beenburned to the water's edge and then sunk. 

I began wondering about what must have been the fate of the otherschooner's crew, and somehow it seemed that they deserved it. Then Ibegan thinking of my own friends, and then, very selfishly no doubt, about myself. 

But I had little time for thought, being hurried along and placed in themiddle of a crowd of the savages, all of whom seemed to be rolling theireyes and looking at me as if enjoying my position. 

"Well, " I thought to myself, "it is enough to scare anybody; but I'lltry and let them see that I belong to a superior race, and will not showwhat I feel. "

My eyes kept wandering about eagerly, first to look where my companionswere placed, but as I saw no sign of them I began to hope that theymight have escaped; secondly, to see which would be the best course totake if I ran for my life. For I could run, and pretty swiftly, then. The hardy life I had led out in the bush, with Jimmy for my companion, had made me light of foot and tolerably enduring. 

But for some little time I saw not the slightest chance of escape. There were too many savages close about me, and they must have divinedmy ideas, for they kept a watchful eye upon every act. 

At first I had felt numbed and cold. My legs and arms ached, and whenthe blacks took off the rope that they had bound about my limbs everynerve seemed to throb and burn; but by degrees this passed off, and tomy great joy I felt more myself. 

At last, after a great deal of incomprehensible chatter, it seemed thata decision had been come to about me, and a tall black armed with awar-club came dancing up to me, swinging his weapon about, chatteringwildly, and after a few feints he made a blow at my head. 

If that blow had taken effect I should not have been able to tell thisstory. But I had been too much with my friend Jimmy not to be well uponthe alert. We had often played together--he like a big boy--in mimicfight, when he had pretended to spear me, and taught me how to catch thespear on a shield, and to avoid blows made with waddies. Jimmy'slessons were not thrown away. I could avoid a thrown spear, thoughhelpless, like the black, against bullets, which he said came "too muchfaster faster to top. " And as the savage made the blow at me I followedout Jimmy's tactics, threw myself forward, striking the wretch right inthe chest with my head, driving him backward, and leaping over him I ranfor my life, making straight for the forest. 

"It's all because of those wretches in the other schooner yesterday, " Ithought, as I ran swiftly on with a pack of the enemy shouting in myrear; and though I could run very fast, I found, to my horror, that mypursuers were as swift of foot, and that though I was close upon theforest it was all so open that they would be able to see me easily, andonce caught I knew now what was to be my fate. 

I began thinking of the hunted hare, as I ran on, casting glances behindme from time to time, and seeing that though some of my pursuers lagged, there were four who were pretty close upon my heels, one of whom hurledhis spear at me, which came whizzing past my ear so closely that itlightly touched my shoulder, making me leap forward as if struck by theweapon. 

I was panting heavily, and a choking sensation came upon me, but I racedon, since it was for life. 

How long the pursuit lasted I cannot tell. Perhaps a minute. It seemedhalf an hour. Twice I leaped aside to avoid blows aimed at me, and eachtime ran blindly in a fresh direction; but all at once the idea occurredto me in a flash that in my unnerved stupefied position I must have beengoing backward and struck my head violently against a tree, for itseemed as if there was a violent shock like thunder with a flash oflightning to dazzle my eyes, and then there was nothing at all. 

CHAPTER NINE. 

HOW I WAS NOT MADE INTO PIE. 

When I came to, it was as if all the past was a dream, for I heardvoices I knew, and lay listening to them talking in a low tone, till, opening my eyes, I found I was close to the doctor, the captain, Jimmy, and the sailors, while Jack Penny was sitting holding my hand. 

"What cheer, my hearty?" said the captain, making an effort to come tome; but I then became aware of the fact that we were surrounded bysavages, for one great fellow struck the captain on the arm with hisclub, and in retort the skipper gave him a kick which sent him on hisback. 

There was a loud yell at this, and what seemed to threaten to be ageneral onslaught. My friends all prepared for their defence, and Jimmytook the initiative by striking out wildly, when half a dozen blacksdashed at him, got him down, and one was foolish enough to sit upon hishead, but only to bound up directly with a shriek, for poor Jimmy, beingheld down as to arms and legs, made use of the very sharp teeth withwhich nature had endowed him. 

We should have been killed at once, no doubt, had not one tall blackshouted out something, and then begun talking loudly to the excited mob, who listened to him angrily, it seemed to me; but I was so dull andconfused from the blow I had received upon my head that all seemed mistyand strange, and once I found myself thinking, as my head achedfrightfully, that they might just as well kill us at once, and nottorture us by keeping us in suspense. 

The talking went on, and whenever the tall chief stopped for a momentthe blacks all set up a yell, and danced about brandishing their spearsand clubs, showing their teeth, rolling their eyes, and behaving--justlike savages. But still we were not harmed, only watched carefully, Jimmy alone being held, though I could see that at a movement on ourpart we should have been beaten to death or thrust through. 

At last, after an interminable speech, the big chief seemed to growhoarse, and the blacks' yells were quicker and louder. 

Then there was a terrible pause, and a dozen sturdy blacks sprangtowards us as regularly as if they had been drilled, each man holding aspear, and I felt that the end had come. 

I was too stupid with my hurt to do more than stare helplessly round, seeing the bright sunshine, the glittering sea, and the beautiful wavingtrees. Then my head began to throb, and felt as if hot irons were beingthrust through it. 

I closed my eyes, the agony was so great; and then I opened them again, for all the savages were yelling and clapping their hands. Two men hadseized me, and one of them had his head bandaged, and in a misty way Irecognised him as one of the poor wretches to whom I had given water. He and the others, who were easily known by the doctor's patches ofsticking-plaster, were talking with all their might; and then all theblacks began yelling and dancing about, brandishing their spears andclubs, frantic apparently with the effect of the injured men's words. 

"They ar'n't going to kill us, my lad, " said the captain then; "and lookye there, they are going to feast the doctor. "

For the latter was regularly hustled off from among us by a party ofblacks, led by two of the sticking-plastered fellows, while two otherssquatted down smiling at us and rubbing their chests. 

"Are we to be spared, then?" I said. 

"Spared? Well, I don't know, my lad, " said the captain. "They won't beso ungrateful as to kill us, now these blacks set ashore have turned upand told 'em what sort of chaps we are; but I don't think they'll freeus. They'll keep us here and make the doctor a physic chief. Eh! gothere? All right; I can understand your fingers better than yourtongue, my lad. Come on, all of you. "

This last was in response to the gesticulations of the injured men whowere with us, and soon after, we were all settled down in a very largeopen hut, eating fruit and drinking water, every drop of which seemed tome more delicious than anything I had ever tasted before. 

A curious kind of drink was also given to us, but I did not care for it, and turned to the water again; while the doctor set to work to dress andstrap up my injury as well as he could for the pressure of the people, who were wonderfully interested in it all, and then gathered round thedoctor's other patients, examining their injuries, and listening to theaccount of the surgical treatment, which was evidently related to themagain and again. 

"Well, this is different to what you expected; isn't it, squire?" saidthe captain to me the first time he could find an opportunity to speak. "I was beginning to feel precious glad that I shouldn't have a chance toget back and meet your mother after what she said to me. "

"Then you think we are safe now?" said the doctor. 

"Safe!" said the captain; "more than safe, unless some of 'em, being abit cannibal like, should be tempted by the pleasant plumpness of MrJack Penny here, and want to cook and eat him. "

"Get out!" drawled Jack. "I know what you mean. I can't help beingtall and thin. "

"Not you, my lad, " said the captain good-humouredly. "Never mind yourlooks so long as your 'art's in the right place. We're safe enough, doctor, and I should say that nothing better could have happened. Niggers is only niggers; but treat 'em well and they ain't so very bad. You let young Squire Carstairs here ask the chief, and he'll go withyou, and take half his people, to try and find the professor; ah, andfight for you too, like trumps. "

"Do you think so?" I said. 

"Think! I'm sure of it; and I'm all right now. They'll be glad to seeme and trade with me. I'm glad you made me set those chaps free. "

"And what has become of the crew of the other schooner?" I saidanxiously. 

"Nobbled, " said the captain; "and sarve 'em right. Tit for tat; that'sall. Men who plays at those games must expect to lose sometimes. They've lost--heavy. Change the subject; it's making young Six-footRule stare, and you look as white as if you were going to be served thesame. Where's the doctor?"

"He said he was going to see to the injured men, " I replied. 

"Come and let's look how he's getting on, " said the captain. "It's allright now; no one will interfere with us more than mobbing a bit, because we're curiosities. Come on. "

I followed the captain, the blacks giving way, but following us closely, and then crowding close up to the door of the great tent where thedoctor was very busy repairing damages, as he called it, clipping awaywoolly locks, strapping up again and finishing off dressings that he hadroughly commenced on board. 

During the next few days we were the honoured guests of the savages, going where we pleased, and having everything that the place produced. The captain moored his vessel in a snug anchorage, and drove a roaringtrade bartering the stores he had brought for shells, feathers, bird-skins, and other productions of the island. 

Gyp was brought on shore, and went suspiciously about the place with hishead close up to his master's long thin legs, for though he hadtolerated and was very good friends with Jimmy, he would not have anydealings with the New Guinea folk. It did not seem to be the blackskins or their general habits; but Jack Penny declared that it was theirgummed-out moppy heads, these seeming to irritate the dog, so that, being a particularly well-taught animal, he seemed to find it necessaryto control his feelings and keep away from the savages, lest he shouldfind himself constrained to bite. The consequence was that, as I havesaid, he used to go about with his head close to his master's legs, often turning his back on the people about him; while I have known himsometimes take refuge with me, and thrust his nose right into my hand, as if he wished to make it a muzzle to keep him from dashing at somechief. 

"I hope he won't grab hold of any of 'em, " Jack Penny said to me one dayin his deliberate fashion; "because if he does take hold it's such ahard job to make him let go again. And I say, Joe Carstairs, if everhe's by you and these niggers begin to jump about, you lay hold of himand get him away. "

"Why?" I said. 

"Well, you see, " drawled Jack, "Gyp ain't a human being. "

"I know that, " I replied. 

"Yes, I s'pose so, " said Jack. "Gyp's wonderfully clever, and he thinksa deal; but just now, I know as well as can be, he's in a sort of doubt. He thinks these blacks are a kind of kangaroos, but he isn't sure. Ifthey begin to jump about, that will settle it, and he'll go at 'em andget speared; and if any one sticks a spear into Gyp, there's going to beabout the biggest row there ever was. That one the other day won't beanything to it. "

"Then I shall do all I can to keep Gyp quiet, " I said, smiling at Jack'sserious way of speaking what he must have known was nonsense. Afterthat I went out of the hut, where Jack Penny was doing what the captaincalled straightening his back--that is to say, lying down gazing up atthe palm-thatched rafters, a very favourite position of his--and joinedsome of the blacks, employing my time in trying to pick up bits andscraps of their language, so as to be able to make my way about amongthe people when we were left alone. 

I found the doctor was also trying hard to master the tongue; and at thesame time we attempted to make the chiefs understand the object of ourvisit, but it was labour in vain. The blacks were thoroughly puzzled, and I think our way of pointing at ourselves and then away into the bushonly made them think that we wanted fruit or birds. 

The time sped on, while the captain was carrying on his trade, theblacks daily returning from the ship with common knives, and hatchets, and brass wire, the latter being a favourite thing for which theyeagerly gave valuable skins. My wound rapidly healed, and I was eagerto proceed up the country, our intention being to go from village tovillage searching until we discovered the lost man. 

"And I don't know what to say to it, " said the captain just beforeparting. "I'm afraid you'll get to some village and then stop, for theblacks won't let you go on; but I tell you what: I shall be alwaystrading backwards and forwards for the next two years, and I shall coastabout looking up fresh places so as to be handy if you want a bit ofhelp; and I can't say fairer than that, can I, doctor?"

"If you will keep about the coast all you can, " said the doctor, "and beready, should we want them, to supply us with powder and odds and endsto replenish our stores, you will be doing us inestimable service. Whenever we go to a coast village we shall leave some sign of our havingbeen there--a few words chalked on a tree, or a hut, something to tellyou that English people have passed that way. "

"All right, and I shall do something of the kind, " said the captain. "And, look here, I should make this village a sort of randy-voo if I wasyou, for you'll always be safe with these people. "

"Yes; this shall be headquarters, " said the doctor. "Eh, Joe?"

I nodded. 

"And now there's one more thing, " said the captain. "Six-foot Rule; Isuppose I'm to take him back?"

"If you mean me, " drawled Jack Penny, entering the hut with Gyp, "no, you mustn't take him back, for I ain't going. If Joe Carstairs don'twant me, I don't want him. The country's as free for one as t'other, and I'm going to have a look round along with Gyp. "

"But really, my dear fellow, " said the doctor, "I think you had bettergive up this idea. "

"Didn't know you could tell what's best here, " said Jack stoutly. "'Tain't a physicky thing. "

"But it will be dangerous, Jack. You see we have run great risksalready, " I said, for now the time for the captain's departure hadarrived, and it seemed a suitable occasion for bringing Jack to hissenses. 

"Well, who said it wouldn't be dangerous?" he said sulkily. "Gyp and meain't no more afraid than you are. "

"Of course not, " I said. 

"'Tain't no more dangerous for me and a big dog than it is for you andyour black fellow. I don't want to come along with you, I tell you, ifyou don't want me. "

"My dear Jack, " I said, "I should be glad of your company, only I'mhorrified at the idea of your running risks for your own sake. Supposeanything should happen to you, what then?"

Jack straightened up his long loppetty body, and looked himself all overin a curious depreciatory fashion, and then said in a half melancholy, half laughing manner:

"Well, if something did happen, it wouldn't spoil me; and if I waskilled nobody wouldn't care. Anyhow I sha'n't go back with thecaptain. "

"Nonsense, my lad!" said the latter kindly. "I was a bit rough when Ifound you'd stowed yourself on board, but that was only my way. Youcome back along with me: you're welcome as welcome, and we sha'n't neverbe bad friends again. "

"Would you take Gyp too?" said Jack. 

"What! the dog? Ay, that I would; wouldn't I, old fellow?" said thecaptain; and Gyp got up slowly, gave his tail a couple of wags slowlyand deliberately, as his master might have moved, and ended by layinghis head upon the captain's knee. 

"Thank'ye, captain, " said Jack, nodding in a satisfied way, "and someday I'll ask you to take me back, but I'm going to find Joe Carstairs'father first; and if they won't have me along with them, I dessay Ishall go without 'em, and do it myself. "

The end of it all was that we shook hands most heartily with the captainnext day; and that evening as the doctor, Jack Penny, Jimmy, Gyp, and Istood on the beach, we could see the schooner rounding a point of thegreat island, with the great red ball of fire--the sun--turning hersails into gold, till the darkness came down suddenly, as it does inthese parts; and then, though there was the loud buzzing of hundreds ofvoices about the huts, we English folk seemed to feel that we were aloneas it were, and cut off from all the world, while for the first time, asI lay down to sleep that night listening to the low boom of the water, the immensity, so to speak, of my venture seemed to strike me, giving mea chill of dread. This had not passed off when I woke up at daybreaknext morning, to find it raining heavily, and everything looking asdoleful and depressing as a strange place will look at such a time asthis. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

HOW WE SAW STRANGE THINGS. 

"You rascal!" I exclaimed; "how dare you! Here, doctor, what is to bedone? How am I to punish him?"

"Send him back, " said the doctor; "or, no: we'll leave him here at thevillage. "

Jimmy leaped up from where he had been squirming, as Jack Penny calledit, on the ground, and began to bound about, brandishing his waddy, andkilling nothing with blows on the head. 

"No, no, " he shouted, "no send Jimmy back. Mass Joe leave Jimmy--Jimmykill all a black fellow dead. "

"Now look here, sir, " I said, seizing him by the ear and bringing him tohis knees, proceedings which, big strong fellow as he was, he submittedto with the greatest of humility, "I'm not going to have you spoil ourjourney by any of your wild pranks; if ever you touch one of the peopleagain, back you go to the station to eat damper and mutton and mindsheep. "

"Jimmy no go back mind sheep; set gin mind sheep. Jimmy go long MassJoe. "

"Then behave yourself, " I cried, letting him rise; and he jumped to hisfeet with the satisfaction of a forgiven child. In fact it alwaysseemed to me that the black fellows of Australia, when they had grownup, were about as old in brains as an English boy of nine or ten. 

That morning we had made our start after days of preparation, and thechiefs of the village with a party of warriors came to see us part ofthe way, those who stayed behind with the women and children joining ina kind of yell to show their sorrow at our departure. The chief hadoffered half-a-dozen of his people for guides, and we might have hadfifty; but six seemed plenty for our purpose, since, as the doctor said, we must work by diplomacy and not by force. 

So this bright morning we had started in high spirits and full ofexcitement, the great band of glistening-skinned blacks had parted fromus, and our journey seemed now to have fairly begun, as we plungeddirectly into the forest, the six men with us acting as bearers. 

We had not gone far before our difficulties began, through the behaviourof Jimmy, who, on the strength of his knowledge of English, hisconnection with the white men, and above all the possession of clothes, which, for comfort's sake, he had once more confined to a pair of oldtrousers whose legs were cut off at mid-thigh, had begun to display hisconceit and superiority, in his own estimation, over the black bearersby strutting along beside them, frowning and poking at them with hisspear. At last he went so far as to strike one fine tall fellow overthe shoulders, with the result that the New Guinea man threw down hisload, the others followed suit, and all made rapid preparations for afight. 

Humble as he was with me, I must do Jimmy the credit of saying that hedid not turn tail, but threw himself into an attitude as if about tohurl his spear; and blood would undoubtedly have been shed had I nottaken it upon myself to interfere, to the great satisfaction of ourbearers. 

Order then was restored, the loads were resumed, and Jimmy, who did notseem in the slightest degree abashed by being degraded before the men hehad ill-treated, strutted on, and the journey was continued, everyone onthe look-out for dangerous beast or savage man. 

The doctor and I carried revolvers and double-barrelled guns, one barrelbeing charged with ball. Jack Penny was delighted by being similarlyfurnished; and in addition he asked for an axe, which he carried stuckin his belt. 

We were each provided with a similar weapon, ready to hand at times tothe blacks, who were always ready to set down their burdens and makeshort work of the wild vines and growth that often impeded our path. 

We had determined--I say we, for from the moment of starting the doctorhad begun to treat me as his equal in every sense, and consulted me onevery step we took; all of which was very pleasant and flattering to me;but I often felt as if I would rather be dependent upon him--we had thendetermined to strike into the country until we reached the banks of agreat river, whose course we meant to follow right up to the sources inthe mountains. 

There were good reasons for this, as a moment's thought will show. 

To begin with, we were in a land of no roads, and most of our journeywould be through dense forest, whereas there was likely to be a certainamount of open country about the river banks. 

Then we were always sure of a supply of water; game is always mostabundant, both birds and beasts, near a river, and, of course, there isalways a chance of getting fish; fruit might also be found, and what wasmore, the villages of the natives not upon the coast are nearly alwaysupon the rivers. 

Of course, on the other hand, there were plenty of dangers to be riskedby following a river's course: fever, noxious beast and insect, inimicalnatives, and the like; but if we had paused to think of the dangers, wemight very well have shrunk from our task, so we put thoughts of thatkind behind us and journeyed on. 

At first, after getting through a dense patch of forest, we came uponopen plains, and a part of the country that looked like a park; and as Itrudged on with fresh objects of interest springing up at every turn, Ifound myself wondering whether my poor father had passed this way, andas I grew weary I began to take the most desponding views of theventure, and to think that, after all, perhaps he was dead. 

That we were in a part not much troubled by human beings we soon foundby the tameness of the birds and the number of deer that dashedfrightened away from time to time, hardly giving us a glimpse of theirdappled skins before they were lost in the jungly growth. 

The walking had grown more difficult as the day wore on, and at last thegreat trees began to give place to vegetation of a different kind. Instead of timber we were walking amongst palm-like growth and plantswith enormous succulent leaves. Great climbers twined and twisted onewith another, unless they found some tree up which they seemed to forcetheir way to reach the open sunshine, forming a splendid shelter fromthe ardent rays when we wished to rest. 

There was no attempt during the morning to make use of our guns, for atfirst we moved watchfully, always on the look-out for enemies, seeingdanger in every moving leaf, and starting at every rustling dash made bysome frightened animal that crossed our path. 

By degrees, though, we grew more confident, but still kept up ourwatchfulness, halting at mid-day beside a little clear stream in a spotso lovely that it struck me as being a shame that no one had a homethere to revel in its beauties. 

The water ran bubbling along amongst mossy rocks, and overhung bygigantic ferns. There were patches of the greenest grass, and close by, offering us shade, was a clump of large trees whose branches strewedbrightly coloured flowers to the earth. A flock of gorgeously plumagedbirds were noisily chattering and shrieking in the branches, and thoughthey fled on our first coming, they came back directly and beganclimbing and swinging about so near that I could see that they were asmall kind of parrot, full of strange antics, and apparently playing atsearching for their food. 

"We'll have two hours' rest here, " said the doctor, "a good meal, andperhaps a nap, and our feet bathed in the cool water, and the rest ofthe day's journey will come easier. "

"But hadn't we better get on?" I said anxiously. 

"`Slow and sure' must be our motto, Joe, " said the doctor. "We havehundreds of miles to tramp, so we must not begin by knocking ourselvesup. Patience, my boy, patience and we shall win. "

As soon as he saw that we were going to stop for rest and refreshment, Jimmy began to rub the centre of his person and make a rush for thenative basket that contained our food, from which he had to be driven;for though generally, quite unlike many of his fellow-countrymen, Jimmywas scrupulously honest, he could not be trusted near food. 

There was no stopping to lay the cloth and arrange knives and forks. Weeach drew our heavy knife, and filled the cup of our little canteen fromthe stream before setting to at a large cold bird that we had broughtwith us, one shot by the doctor the day before, and cooked ready for theexpedition. I cannot give you its name, only tell you that it was asbig as a turkey, and had a beautiful crest of purple and green. 

We had brought plenty of damper too, a preparation of flour that, I daresay, I need not stop to describe, as every one now must know that inAustralia it takes the place of ordinary bread. 

The native carriers were well provided for, and my depression passed offas the restful contented feeling induced by a good meal came over me. As for Jack Penny, he spread himself out along the ground, resting histhin body, and went on eating with his eyes half shut; while Gyp, hisdog, came close alongside him, and sat respectfully waiting till hismaster balanced a bone across his nose, which Gyp tossed in the air, caught between his jaws, and then there was a loud crunching noise for afew minutes, and the dog was waiting again. 

Jimmy was eating away steadily and well, as if he felt it to be hisbounden duty to carry as much of the store of food neatly packed awayinside him as it was possible to stow, when he suddenly caught sight ofGyp, and stopped short with his mouth open and a serious investigatinglook in his eyes. 

He saw the dog supplied twice with what he evidently looked upon asdainty bits, and a broad smile came over his countenance. Then helooked annoyed and disappointed, and as if jealous of the favour shownto the beast. 

The result was that he left the spot where he had been lying half-waybetween us and the carriers, went to the stream, where he lay flat downwith his lips in the water, and drank, and then came quietly up to myside, where he squatted down in as near an imitation of Gyp as he couldassume, pouting out his lips and nose and waiting for a bone. 

The doctor burst out laughing, while I could not tell whether to set itdown to artfulness or to simple animal nature on the poor fellow's part. 

However, I was too English at heart to lower my follower, so I did nottreat him like a dog, but hacked off a good bone and sent him to hisplace. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and, as the doctor said, somewhatlightened our loads, when all at once it seemed to me that a spasm ranthrough Jack Penny where he lay. Then, as I watched him, I saw his handstealing towards his gun, and he looked at me and pointed towards wherea dense patch of big trees formed a sort of buttress to the great greenwall of the forest. 

For a few moments I could see nothing; then I started, and my hand alsowent towards my piece, for peering round the trunk of one of the trees, and evidently watching us, was one of the most hideous-looking faces Ihad ever seen. The eyes were bright and overhung by dark wrinkledbrows, and, seen in the half light, the head seemed as large as that ofa man. In fact I was convinced that it was some fierce savage playingthe spy upon our actions. 

I felt better when I had fast hold of my gun--not that I meant to fire, only to protect myself--and I was reaching out a foot to awaken thedoctor, who had thrown himself back with his hat over his face, when Ifound that Gyp had caught sight of the hideous countenance, and, with afierce bay, he dashed at the creature. 

Jack Penny and I started to our feet, Jimmy went after the dog, waddy inhand, and his yell awakened the doctor, who also sprang to his feet justin time to see the creature leap up at a pendent branch, swing itself upin the tree, and disappear amongst the thick leafage, while Gyp barkedfuriously below. 

"Big monkey that, my lads, " said the doctor. "I did not know we shouldsee anything so large. "

Jack Penny was all eagerness to follow and get a shot at the animal; butthough he looked in all directions, and Gyp kept baying first at thefoot of one tree then at the foot of another, he did not see it again. Where it went it was impossible to say; perhaps it travelled along theupper branches, swinging itself from bough to bough by its long arms;but if it did, it was all so silently that not so much as a leafrustled, and we were all at fault. 

I was not sorry, for the idea of shooting anything so like a humanbeing, and for no reason whatever, was rather repugnant to my feelings, so that I did not share in my companion's disappointment. 

"Depend upon it, he has not gone far, " said the doctor, when Jack Pennystood staring at the tree where we saw the ape first. "There, lie down, my lad, and rest, and--hallo! what's the matter with Jimmy?"

I turned to see the black standing close by, his waddy in one hand, hisboomerang in the other, head bent, knees relaxed, an expression of thegreatest horror in his face, as he shivered from head to foot, and shookhis head. 

"Why, what's the matter, Jimmy?" I cried. 

"Bunyip, " he whispered, "big bunyip debble--debble--eat all a man up. Bunyip up a tree. "

"Get out!" I said; "it was a big monkey. "

"Yes: big bunyip monkey. Come 'way. "

For the sudden disappearance of the ape had impressed Jimmy with theidea that it was what the Scottish peasants call "no canny, " and as itwas his first interview with one of these curious creatures, there wassome excuse for his apparent fear, though I am not certain that it wasnot assumed. 

For Jimmy was no coward so long as he was not called upon to encounterthe familiar demons of his people, the word bunyip being perhaps toooften in his mouth. 

The black's dread went off as quickly as it came, when he found that hewas not noticed, and for the next two hours we lay resting, Jack Pennyand I seeing too many objects of interest to care for sleep. Now itwould be a great beetle glistening in green and gold, giving vent to adeep-toned buzzing hum as it swept by; then a great butterfly, eight ornine inches across, would come flitting through the trees, to besucceeded by something so swift of flight and so rapid in the flutter ofits wings that we were in doubt whether it was a butterfly or one of thebeautiful sunbirds that we saw flashing in the sunshine from time totime. 

It proved afterwards to be a butterfly or day-moth, for we saw severalof them afterwards in the course of our journey. 

Over the birds Jack Penny and I had several disputes, for once he tookanything into his head, even if he was wrong, he would not give way. 

"These are humming-birds, " he said, as we lay watching some of thelovely little creatures that were hovering before the flowers of a greatcreeper, and seemed to be thrusting in their long beaks. 

"No, " I said, "they are not humming-birds;" and I spoke upon my mother'sauthority, she in turn resting on my father's teaching. "There are nohumming-birds here: they are found in America and the islands. "

"And out here, " said Jack, dictatorially. "There they are; can't yousee 'em?"

"No, " I said, "those are sunbirds; and they take the place of thehumming-birds out here in the East. "

"Nonsense! Think I don't know a humming-bird when I see one. Why, Isaw one at Sydney, stuffed. "

"When you two have done disputing, " said the doctor, "we'll start. "

"Look here, doctor; ain't those humming-birds?" said Jack. 

"No, no, doctor, " I cried; "they are sunbirds, are they not?"

"I don't know, " said the doctor; "let's make haste on and ask theprofessor. "

I sprang to my feet as if stung by a reproach, for it seemed to me as ifI had been thinking of trifles instead of the great object of mymission. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

HOW JACK PENNY WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH HIMSELF. 

It was intensely hot when we started again, the heat seeming to besteamy, and not a breath of air to fan our cheeks; but we trudged on fora time without adventure, till all at once a butterfly of such lovelycolours flashed across our path, that it proved too much for Jack Penny, who laid down his gun, snatched off his hat, and went in pursuit. 

We could not go on and leave him; so we stopped to rest, and watch himas he was hopping and bounding along through a tolerably open sunlitpart, full of growth of the most dazzling green. Now he neared theinsect; now it dashed off again, and led him a tremendous chase, till, just as the doctor shouted to him to return, we saw him make a dab downwith his hat and then disappear. 

"He has got it, " I said; for I could not help feeling interested in thechase; but I felt annoyed again directly, as the doctor said coldly:

"Yes: he seems to have caught his prize, Joe; but we must defer thesesports till our work is done. "

Just then we saw Jack Penny rise up and turn towards us. To hide myvexation I shouted to him to make haste, and he began to trot towardsus, his long body bending and swaying about as he ran. 

Then he jumped and jumped again, and the doctor shaded his eyes with hishands. 

"He has got into a swampy patch, " he said. "Of course. There's a bitof a stream runs along there, and--"

"Ow!" came in a dismal yell, followed by a furious barking, as we sawJack make a tremendous jump, and then disappear. 

"Help, help!" came from among some dense green growth, and hurryingforward we at last came in sight of our companion, at least in sight ofhis head and shoulders, and we could not approach him, for the groundgave way beneath our feet, the bright green moss almost floating upon atreacherous bog. 

"Hold on!" shouted the doctor; "we'll help you directly;" and taking outhis big knife he began to hack at some small bamboos which grew in thickclumps about us. 

"Make haste, " moaned Jack, "I'm sinking;" and we could see Gyp, who washowling furiously, tearing at the soft moss as if to dig his master out. 

"Give Jimmy knife, " said the black, who was grinning and enjoying JackPenny's predicament. 

I handed him mine, and he too cut down armfuls of the young greenbamboo, the carriers coming up now and helping, when, taking a bundle ata time, Jimmy laid them down, dancing lightly over them with his barefeet, and troubling himself very little about danger, as he made a sortof green path right up to Jack. 

"His black fellow pull up, " shouted Jimmy; but I ran up to where he was, and each taking one of Jack's hands he gave a wriggle, floundered a bit, and then we had him out covered with black mud; and though we werestanding up, he would not trust himself just then erect, but crept afterus on hands and knees, the soft bog beneath us going up and down like awave. 

As soon as he was quite safe there was a hearty laugh at Jack Penny'sexpense; and the doctor drily asked for the butterfly. 

"Oh, I caught him, " said Jack; "but I lost him when I trod on that greatbeast. "

"What great beast?" I said. 

"Crocodile fifty foot long, " drawled Jack. 

"Say sixty, " said the doctor. 

"Well, I hadn't time to measure him, " drawled Jack. "I trod upon one, and he heaved up, and that made me jump into a soft place, and--ugh!what's that?"

I was very doubtful about Jack's crocodile, but there was no mistakeabout the object that had made him utter this last cry of disgust. 

"They're pricking me horrid, " he shouted; and we found that he had atleast twenty large leeches busily at work banquetting upon his blood. 

The blacks set to work picking them off, and scraping him clear of thethick vegetable mud that adhered to him; and with the promise that hewas to have a good bathe in the first clear water we encountered, weonce more started, Jack looking anything but cheerful, but stubbornlyprotesting that it was wonderful how comfortable his wet clothes madehim feel. 

Master Jack had to listen to a lecture from the doctor, in which thelatter pointed out that if success was to attend our expedition, itwould not do for the various members to be darting off at their goodpleasure in search of butterflies, and at first Jack looked very grim, and frowned as if about to resent it all. To my surprise, however, hereplied:

"I see, doctor; we must be like soldiers and mind the captain. Well, all right. I won't do so any more. "

"I'm sure you will not, " said the doctor, holding out his hand. "Yousee we must have discipline in our little corps, so as to be able fullyto confide in each other in cases of emergency. We must be men. "

Jack scratched his head and looked ruefully from one to the other. 

"That's just what I want to be, doctor, " he drawled; "but I'm alwaysdoing something that makes me seem like a small boy. I'm grown up adeal, but somehow I don't feel a bit older than I used to be years ago. "

"Ah, well, wait a bit, Penny, " replied the doctor; "and we will not sayany more about the butterfly hunt. "

Jack's brow seemed to grow as wrinkled as that of an old man, and he wasvery solemn for the rest of the day, during which we tramped on throughthe forest, its beauties seeming less attractive than in the freshnessof the early morning, and the only striking thing we saw was a pack ofsmall monkeys, which seemed to have taken a special dislike to Jimmy, following him from tree to tree, chattering and shrieking the while, andat last putting the black in a passion, and making him throw hisboomerang savagely up in return for the nuts that were showered down. 

"Bad black fellow, " he said to me indignantly. "Come down, Jimmy fighttwenty forty all a once. "

He flourished his club and showed me how he would clear the ground, butthe monkeys did not accept the challenge, and that night we halted undera great tree covered with a scarlet plum-like fruit, and proceeded toset up our tent as a shelter to keep off the heavy dew. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

HOW WATCH WAS KEPT BY NIGHT. 

The sheet which I have called our tent was stretched over a low bough, and secured to pegs at the four corners, being all open at the sides, sothat as I lay I could gaze right away in any direction. 

On one side there was gloom, with the tall pillar-like tree trunksstanding up grey and indistinct; on the other side there was the brightfire, which was as dangerous, I thought, as it was useful, for though itserved to keep off wild beasts it was likely to attract savage men, justas moths fly to a flame. 

As I lay there I could see the doctor keeping watch, and beside him oneof the natives, whose black face looked curious and ghastly with thebandage he wore round his head, for this was one of the men who had beenseized by the captain of the other schooner, and who had eagerlyvolunteered to be of our party. 

This man was gazing intently at the doctor, as if eager to catch theslightest indication of a wish, and so still and misty did he look inthe weird light that but for the flaming of the fire from his eyes itwould have been hard to tell that he was a living being. 

Though it was not cold our black followers all slept close about thefire, Jimmy the nearest--so close, in fact, that he seemed as if he werebeing prepared for a feast on the morrow; and this idea of roasting camethe more strongly from the fact that we were in a land whose inhabitantswere said to have certain weaknesses towards a taste for human joints. 

Jack Penny was sleeping heavily close to me, and at regular intervalsseeming to announce that he was dreaming of eating, for his lips gavevent over and over again to the word _pork_!

Sometimes this regular snoring sound annoyed me, but I forgot it againdirectly as I lay sleepless there, now watching the gloom of the forest, now the flickering and dancing light of the fire as the wood crackledand burned and the sparks and smoke went straight up, till they werelost on high amid the densely thick branches overhead. 

It was a curious sensation to be there in that awful solitude, thinkingof my past adventures, and wondering what the next day might bringforth. I wanted to sleep and rest, so as to rise refreshed when thedoctor called me two hours after midnight, when I was to relieve guard;but sleep would not come, and I lay fidgeting about, wondering how itwas possible that such a small twig could set up so much irritationbeneath my back. 

Then, just as I thought I was going off there would be the sensation asof some creeping insect crawling about over my face and in amongst theroots of my hair. Then after impatiently knocking it away, somethingseemed to be making its way up my sleeve, to be succeeded by somethingelse in the leg of my trousers, while I had hardly got rid of thissensation when a peculiarly clammy cold touch taught me that either alizard or a snake was crawling over my feet. 

This last I felt constrained to bear, for a movement might result in thebite of some poisonous creature, while by lying still I might escape. 

At last I really was dropping off into a sound sleep, when all at once Istarted into wakefulness, fascinated as it were by the sight ofsomething shining in the black darkness to the left of our fire. 

With a shudder running through me I rose to my elbow, at the same momentseizing my gun, when a single intent glance convinced me that I wasright, for certainly some creature was watching the doctor, and probablycrouching before making a deadly bound. 

I cocked the piece softly, holding the trigger the while, so that thereshould be no sharp click, and in another moment I should have fired, after careful aim, between the two bright glaring eyes, when the doctormade a movement, and the animal darted aside and went bounding off, justgiving me a glimpse of its form, which was that of a small deer. 

I saw the doctor shade his eyes and stand watching the flying creature. Then stooping down he picked up a few branches that had been gatheredready, and made the fire blaze more brightly. 

As the glow increased I saw something which there was no mistaking for aharmless deer, for not ten yards away there was a large cat-likecreature crouching close to the ground, while, to make assurance doublysure, there came from between its bared and glistening white teeth a lowangry snarl. 

I took aim, and tried to get a good sight at its head, but hesitated todraw trigger, for the glow from the fire made appearances deceptive, thebody of the cat-like beast seeming to waver up and down; and directlyafter the creature moved, and its head was covered by a low bush. 

But the doctor and his companion had both seen the animal, which uttereda menacing roar as the former stepped forward, snatched a piece ofburning wood from the fire, and hurled it towards the beast, his examplebeing followed by the New Guinea man. 

The result was a furious roar, and the great cat bounded away towardsthe forest. 

This brought Gyp to his feet with a fierce volley of barking, and hewould have been off in pursuit but for his master, who woke up and ranout exclaiming:

"Dingoes after the sheep! dingoes after the sheep! Here, Gyp, boy!here, Gyp--here--eh! I say, is anything the matter?"

"No, no; all right!" cried the doctor. 

"I--I thought I was at home, " said Jack, rubbing his eyes; "and--oh! howsleepy I am. "

"Lie down again, then, " said the doctor; and Jack obeyed, Gyp followingand curling up close by his master, who very soon resumed his heavybreathing, in so objectionable a manner that I felt over and over againas if I should like to kick him and wake him up. 

For there is nothing on earth so annoying as to be unable to sleep whensome one close by is snoring away in happy oblivion. 

As I lay there with my face turned from the fire, so that it should notkeep me awake, I felt more and more the sensation of awe produced bybeing there in the midst of that wild place. While I was perfectlystill my eyes were directed upwards in amongst the branches of the greattree, now illumined by the bright flame of our fire, and by degrees Imade out that these boughs were peopled by birds and what seemed to besquirrels, and all more or less excited by the unaccustomed light. 

I lay gazing up at them, seeing the different objects very indistinctlyin the dancing light, and then all at once it seemed to me that oneparticular branch was rising and falling slowly with a peculiarmovement. It was a strange wavy motion, which was the more remarkablefrom the fact that there was no wind; but after a moment or two'sthought I fancied I had found the cause in the heated air produced bythe fire. 

But that did not explain what next took place in the smoky obscurityabove the fire, for the branch seemed to wave about more and more, andto lengthen; and then I made sure that it was the shadow I saw; butdirectly after, a thrill ran through me as I recalled that thesecreatures were fond of nestling high up in branches, where they capturedbirds and monkeys, and I said in a low hoarse whisper:

"Why, it's a snake!"

There was no doubt about the matter, for as it swung lower, holding onby its tail, I could see that it was indeed a snake, evidently ofconsiderable length, and about as thick as my arm. It had been arousedfrom probably a torpid state by the fumes of the fire, and was nowdescending from bough to bough to reach the earth, and I paused for atime, asking myself what I had better do. 

The result was that I overcame the unwillingness I felt to move, andcrept so softly towards the doctor that I was able to lay my hand uponhis shoulder before he heard me approach. 

"Why, Joe!" he exclaimed, starting, "I thought it was an enemy. "

"Yes; there he is!" I said with a shudder, and I pointed up among thebranches. 

The black who was the doctor's fellow-watcher had seen me approach, andfollowing with his eyes the direction pointed to by my hand, he toolooked up into the tree, where, glistening in the fire-light, there wasthe reptile swinging slowly to and fro with a pendulum-like motion. 

In spite of the horror inspired by such a creature, free and within afew yards of where I was standing, I could not help noticing the beautyof the scales, which shone in the fire-light as if of burnished bronze. But I had little time for examination; one moment I was noting the headand curved neck of the reptile, the next there was a sharp twangingnoise, and I saw the serpent's head jerk upwards, and then what seemedto be a mass of thick rope fell near the fire; there was a tremendouslashing and tossing about, and when the doctor and I approached the spotcautiously with our guns, it was to find that the reptile had glided offinto the forest depths. 

"A good shot for a bow and arrow, " said the doctor, turning to our blackcompanion, who smiled complacently, our manner plainly showing him thatwe were admiring his skill. 

"You are getting a poor night's rest, Joe, " said the doctor smiling. "Now go and lie down again. "

"It is of no use, " I said fretfully. "I can't sleep, and I only liethinking about home and him. I shall stay and watch. "

The doctor protested, but finding at last that I was unwilling to liedown again, he said:

"Well, I am quite different, for I am so tired that I cannot keep awake. I will go and lie down then, if you promise to come and wake me as soonas you are drowsy. Mind and keep up a good blaze. "

I replied that he might be sure of that. 

"Don't fire unnecessarily, " he continued. "If any wild animal comesnear, a piece of burning wood will scare it away at once. "

"As it did that great cat!" I said. 

"Did you see, then?" he said. 

"I have not been asleep for a single minute, " I replied. "What was it--a tiger?"

"Tiger! No, my lad, " he said, laughing; "I don't think we shall see anytigers here. There, I shall yawn my head off if I stop here talking. Good night!"

He walked to the shelter, and I went and sat down next our blackcompanion, who smiled a welcome; and thinking this a favourableopportunity, I set to work to try and increase my knowledge of thelanguage, by lifting up different objects and making the black give themtheir native name, which I tried to imitate as well as I could. 

He was very intelligent, grasping my meaning at once, and repeating thewords again and again, till I was nearly perfect, when he laughed withchildlike pleasure. 

The time passed so quickly in this occupation that I was quite startledby hearing a wild resonant cry that seemed to echo through the forestarcades. Then there was a succession of piercing screams, followed byloud whistling and muttering. A monkey started a chattering noise, which was answered from a distance with a hundredfold power; and lookingabout me I found that the day was breaking and the night-watch at anend. 

The change from night to morning is very rapid near the equator, andsoon the sun was making bright and attractive places that had lookedawful and full of hidden dangers in the night; while, in place of thedepression produced by the darkness, I felt eager sensations and desiresspringing up within my heart, and a strong inclination to get forwardonce more upon our journey. 

We made a very hearty meal before the sun was much above the horizon;our simple packing was soon done, and we were not long before we werewell on the road of discovery. 

I expected to be very tired and sleepy, but to my surprise I did notfeel in the least the worse for my restless night, and we trudged alongpretty swiftly when the land was open, slowly and toilsomely whentangled growth obstructed our way. 

I was too much occupied with thoughts of my father to pay much heed tothe fruits and flowers that we came upon in many spots; besides, I wason before with Jack Penny, and Gyp in front of us very intelligentlyleading the way. There was, I knew, always the chance of meeting somedanger, and on this account we kept a very sharp look-out ahead, tillsuddenly we were stopped by a strange noise as of water being struck asuccession of heavy blows; and as Gyp set up his ears, threw up hisnose, and uttered a low whimper, there was the click, click ofgun-locks, and every one prepared for some coming danger, the blacksremaining quiet, and looking wonderingly at our strange proceedings. 

The sound ceased as suddenly as it had begun, and though we listenedintently we heard it no more for that time, so we continued our journeywith every one thoroughly on the alert. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

HOW JACK PENNY PUT HIS FOOT IN A TRAP. 

We had made our plans, but they were very elastic, for it was impossiblefor us to keep to any hard-and-fast line. 

"No, Joe, " the doctor said, "we cannot say that we will do this or that;we must be governed by circumstances. We have one object in view--tofind your father, and so far we have determined to follow the course ofthe first big river; when we shall be diverted from it time must prove. "

We slept that night under the shade of another tree, and as the mistrolled off the next morning we started once again. 

It was so glorious a morning that, in spite of the serious nature of ourposition, it was impossible not to feel in the highest of spirits. Theway lay through dense forest, but we had fallen into a track which I atfirst thought was a regular pathway, and so it proved to be, but not ofthe kind I imagined as I eagerly called the doctor's attention to it, and the ease with which we were now getting along. 

"No, Joe, " he said; "this is not a path used by human beings. Look downat the footprints. "

I looked down to see the hoof-marks of innumerable wild creatures, andsaid so. 

"Yes, " replied the doctor, "it is a track down to the river, followed bythe animals that go to drink, and we shall not be long before we get tothe water side. "

Our way did not seem wearisome, for there was so much to see, the birdsin particular taking my attention greatly. One moment a flock of blackcockatoos would fly screaming by, then a cloud of brilliantly-colouredparroquets, and in one opening we came upon what looked at first like agigantic beech-tree completely alive with tiny blue-and-green parrotsabout the size of sparrows, climbing, fluttering, chattering, andchirping, now with their heads up, now heads down, and forming one ofthe prettiest sights I had ever seen. 

I could have shot twenty or thirty together as they sat in rows upon thebare branches, so little did they heed our presence; but it wasunnecessary to destroy their little lives, and we passed on. 

I was less merciful an hour later, for food was a necessity, and I wasfortunate enough to bring down at the first shot a beautiful little deerthat started up in our very path. 

My shot seemed to alarm the whole forest and set it in an uproar: birdsshrieked, monkeys chattered, and to right and left there was a rushingcrackling noise, as of big creatures seeking flight. There was adeep-mouthed howl, too, away on our right that made me look anxiously atthe doctor. 

"I don't know, Joe, " he replied, as if in answer to a spoken question. "There may be tigers here, and leopards, and old men of the woods, bigas ourselves. It is new land, my lad, so don't look to me forinformation. "

"Dat big bunyip, " said Jimmy in a scared whisper. "Take black fellow--kill um, eatum. "

Just then we heard the same beating noise that had fallen upon our earsthe previous day. 

"Dat big bunyip beat um gin, " whispered Jimmy, with a curiousawe-stricken look in his countenance. 

"'Taint, " said Jack Penny slowly. "I don't believe in bunyips. If itwas a bunyip beating his gin, she'd holloa out like hooray, and squeakthe leaves off the trees. "

"'Fraid squeak, " said Jimmy eagerly, as he caught Jack's meaning. 

"Well, perhaps Jimmy's right, " said the doctor slowly; "and as I'venever seen a bunyip the present is a favourable opportunity, and we caninterfere to stop him from too severely castigating his wife. Come, Jimmy, lead on. "

Jimmy's jaw dropped, but his hand stole to his waistband, from which hedrew his waddy, talking slowly the while, till, seeing the doctor make amovement towards him, he turned round and darted into the bush. 

"He won't stop till he gets back to the village, " drawled Jack. 

"He won't go farther than the first big tree, " I said, laughing. "He'swatching us now, I'll be bound. "

"Then you and I will have to meet the bunyip, Joe, " said the doctor. "Are you coming, Penny?"

"Yes, I'll come, " said Jack quietly. "I should like to see a bunyip. Come along. "

Jack went on--not first, for Gyp started before him and, guided by thenoise, we pushed on amongst the dense growth, finding the earth growmoister beneath our feet; and then all at once it seemed as if the bigtrees had come to an end and we were in a lighter place. 

"There's the water, " I cried, as I caught sight of a flash. 

"You'll be in it here directly, same as I was, " drawled Jack. "I say, doctor, ain't this the sort of place big snakes like?"

"Hush!" whispered the doctor; and pressing back the thick growth weadvanced cautiously, and following his example I, too, stepped from tuftto tuft, listening to the beating noise and to the other sounds thatarose. 

First there was the loud rustle of wings as some water birds flew up, long-legged creatures with far-stretching necks. Then on my left therewas an ominous noise, as of something crawling amongst the reeds, and Ishuddered as I saw that Jack Penny was holding his gun ready, and thatGyp's hair was bristling all about his neck, while his teeth were bared. 

The doctor was some distance before us now, and I could see him peeringbetween some bushes and waving his hand to me to come forward; so, forgetting the danger, if danger there was, I went cautiously to mycompanion's side, to gaze with astonishment at the scene before me. 

There was no bunyip or native Australian demon there, but a greatshallow, muddy pond or lake, which seemed as if it must be swarming withfish and crocodiles, for every here and there, as the great rugged backsof the horrible lizards were seen pushing towards the shore, shoals ofsilvery fish leaped out, flashing in the sunshine before they splashedback into the water. 

Here, then, was the secret of the mysterious noise which was beingproduced before my eyes. For the crocodiles were driving the shoals offish into the little bays and creeks, and then stunning them by beatingthe water heavily with their tails, the result being that the paralysedfish were easily devoured. 

I felt as if I could never tire of gazing at the monsters so busy beforeus. There must have been at least five-and-twenty, and all of largesize; and it was not a pleasant thought to consider what would have beenthe consequences if we had attempted to wade across the lagoon. 

Before leaving, however, the doctor took out his glass and swept theshore of the great pond, to nod with satisfaction. 

"This is only a sort of bay belonging to the river we are seeking, Joe, "he said. "Look there to the left, and you can see the entrance chokedup with reeds. "

We crept back cautiously, to find Jimmy awaiting our return; and thenmaking a detour towards the lake, we soon reached the river, along whosebank was a well-trodden path, in whose softer parts, besides those ofdeer, it was plain to see the ugly toes of crocodiles, and the longtrail they made as they dragged themselves along. 

We did not halt until we had left the crocodile pond a long way behind;but a fine dry, open spot, close to the flashing water of the swiftriver, was so tempting that we did not go so far as we had intended. 

Here a fire was soon lit, and Jimmy sat watching the roasting of thebuck with an indescribable look of satisfaction in his countenance;while, eager to try whether it would be possible to add to our provisionstore at any time from the river, I went on down to the water's edge. For if there were fish in such abundance in the lagoon, I felt sure thatif they would bite there must be plenty in the stream. 

My first idea had been to have a bathe in the cool-looking water, but, seeing my intention, the black who had been my companion in the watch, took my hand, led me cautiously along for a short distance, and thenpointed to where there was lying, dimly outlined in the thickened water, one of the hideous creatures such as I had seen in the lagoon. 

The black then put his wrists together, spread wide his hands, andclosed them sharply upon my arm like a pair of jaws, and snatched mesidewise with a good tug. 

I was quite satisfied, and nodding and shuddering I joined the doctor, who was ready enough to help me fish. 

We soon had our lines ready, and baiting the hooks with pieces of rawmeat, we threw out and waited, after the manner of fishermen at home, for a bite. 

After a time I examined my bait and threw in again. Then the doctorexamined his and threw in again, but neither of us had the slightesttouch, and growing weary we went back to the fire to find the bucksufficiently roasted and Jimmy's eyes standing out of his head withhunger; so we made a hasty meal, left the blacks to finish it, and JackPenny to rest his long body, while we had another try at the fishing. 

But Jack Penny did not care to rest when anything was going on, andafter we had been fishing without result for about half an hour hejoined us. 

"Caught anything?" he said; and on our replying in the negative, "Here, let me try, " he said. 

I handed him my line, and he twisted it well round his hand. 

"Fish run big, sometimes, " he said, nodding his head sagaciously. "Don't leave your line like that, doctor, " he added; "make it fast tothat bough. "

The doctor obeyed, and leaving Jack looking very drowsy and dreamy wetwo took our guns and started along the river bank, thinking thatperhaps we might find something useful for the larder, the heat of theclimate rendering it necessary for a supply to be obtained from day today. 

It was a glorious walk past quiet bends of the river that were as stillas ponds, and full of red and white lotus plants which shot up theirlovely blossoms from amidst their floating liliaceous leaves. Trees inplaces overhung the water, and great wreaths of blossom or leaves ofdazzling green were reflected on the surface. Insect life was abundant:burnished beetles and lovely coloured butterflies flitting from flowerto flower. Birds, too, especially waders and great creatures that Itook to be pelicans, were busy in the shallows, where now and then agreat crocodile wallowed through the mud, evidently roused by ourapproach, for though we saw several of these creatures, not one gave theslightest sign of a disposition to attack. 

"There, we are not likely to see deer before evening when they come downto drink, " said the doctor. "Let's get back, Joe, my lad, the sun isnot so powerful as it was, and we may as well make a fresh start. "

We were about three parts of the way back, finding some fresh object ofinterest at every turn, when I suddenly caught hold of my companion'sarm, for a peculiar cry fell upon my ear. 

"Something wrong!" exclaimed the doctor, and we set off at a sharp runwhere the undergrowth would allow. 

A curious sensation of dread came over me, and a cold damp feeling wason my brow and in the palms of my hands as the cry rose once more--asingularly doleful cry, as of some one in great peril. 

"Are you loaded?" said the doctor, as we ran on, and his voice soundedhoarse with emotion. 

I nodded, for I could not speak, and, full of the idea that our littlecamp had been attacked by savages and that some of our followers werebeing killed, I ran on. 

It was hard work and like running in a nightmare to get back to ourstarting-place, for there was always some thorn or tangle that we hadnot noticed in our careful advance seeming to stop us on our way; but atlast we came within sight of the spot where we had left Jack Penny, buthe was not there. 

"There's something wrong at the camp, " I panted. 

"Be cool, " replied the doctor, "we may have to fire. Try and keep yournerve. Ah!"

This ejaculation was consequent upon our simultaneously catching sightof Jack Penny, up to the armpits in the river, holding on by the branchof a tree. 

As he saw us he shouted lustily for help. It was no drawl now, but asharp quick shout. 

I ran down the bank and the doctor following, we joined hands, when, catching at Jack's wrist, I held on tightly. 

"Now, then, " I said, as I gazed wonderingly in his ghastly face andstaring eyes, "let go, and we'll draw you ashore. "

"No, no, " he cried hoarsely. "Got hold of me--drag me in. "

"Got hold? Of course, " I said, "we'll drag you in. "

"One of those brutes has got him, Joe, " cried the doctor excitedly, andhis words sent such a thrill through me that I nearly loosed my hold. "Here, pull both together, " he said, as he got down by my side andseized Jack Penny by the other arm. 

We gave a fierce drag, to find that it was answered from below, Jackbeing nearly drawn out of our hands, his head going down nearly to theeyes, and for the moment it seemed as if we were to be drawn in as well. 

But fortunately Jack still had tight hold of the branch, to which heclung in the agony of desperation, and he uttered such a piercing crythat it served to arouse the sleeping blacks, the result being that, aswe were holding on, and just maintaining our ground, Jimmy and Ti-hi, the black who had attached himself to me, came running down. 

They saw what was wrong, and Jimmy seized me, the black doing the sameby Jimmy, with the effect of dragging poor Jack Penny farther andfarther from the water in spite of the struggles of the reptile that wastrying to haul him back. First we had him out to the chest, then to thehips, then nearly to the knees, and I never till then thoroughlyrealised what a lot there was of him, for it seemed as if he would neverend. 

"Hold on!" cried the doctor suddenly. "I'm going to loose him. "

"No, no!" panted Jack, with a horrified look; but the doctor did loosehis hold and caught up his gun. 

"Now, then, " he cried. "All together. Haul with all your might. "

We obeyed, and though we were for the moment mastered we gave a goodswing again, and it seemed as if Jack Penny must be dragged in two. 

It was like playing a game of French and English, and we were in dangerof getting the worst of it. We saw what the doctor wanted, and that wasto get the reptile so near the surface that he could fire; but as soonas we got poor Jack nearly ashore the creature gave a tremendous tug, making the water swirl and the mud and sand from the bottom rise inclouds. 

This went on for five minutes, during which we were striving with allour might, when I nearly loosed my hold, for Jack said in a lowdespairing tone of voice:

"Joe Carstairs, don't let him have me till you've shot me first. "

I held fast though, and the fight went on, till, just as we werebeginning to despair, the reptile came nearer to the surface, the uglyprotuberances over its eyes were level with the water, and, bendingdown, the doctor reached out with his gun in one hand, held the muzzleclose to the creature's eye, and fired. 

There was a tremendous sputter and we were nearly forced to leave go, but the next moment there was no resistance but weight, and we drew Jackand his aggressor, a crocodile about ten feet long, right up to thebank, the monster's jaws, which had closed over one of Jack's stoutlybooted feet, remaining fast, though the upper part of its head was allblown away. 

"Dat a big bunyip, " cried Jimmy, forcing the end of his spear throughthe reptile's jaws and trying to push them open, which he did with hiscompanion's help, and Jack Penny was free to limp feebly for a fewyards, and sink down amongst the reeds. 

Jimmy did not seem in the least afraid of the bunyip now, for hackingoff a long lithe cane he put it over the reptile's jaw, and, twisting ittightly rope-fashion, he and Ti-hi dragged it right away from the water, and, avoiding the frantic lashings of its tail, they turned it over withtheir spears, used like levers, and kept on stabbing it in its tenderunderparts until it ceased to struggle, when Jimmy turned it over againand began to perform a triumphant war-dance on its back. 

Meanwhile poor Jack Penny, who had been nearly speechless, began torevive. 

"That's better, " said the doctor. "Now let me look at your foot. "

"Has he bit it right off?" said Jack faintly. "I can't feel it. Justwhen I needed it so badly, too!"

"Bit it off! No!" I cried. "Is it much hurt, doctor?"

"I can't tell till I have unlaced his boot, " he replied. "Tell me if Ihurt you much, my lad. "

"It don't hurt, " said Jack faintly. "I can't feel at all. "

It was rather hard work to get the boot off; but at last it was free, and the doctor inspected a double row of red spots, two of which bled alittle, but not much. 

"I'm beginning to feel now, " said Jack dolefully. "Why, he ain't bit itoff!" he said, raising himself so that he could look down at the injuredmember. "I thought it was gone. "

"No; your foot has only had an ugly pinch; the stout boot saved it. Letit bleed a little, my lad; it will save you pain. "

"What! had he only got hold of my boot?" said Jack excitedly. 

"And the foot in it, " said the doctor. "See, here are the marks of theteeth. "

"I thought he'd bit it right off, Joe Carstairs, " said Jack dolefully. "An' I say, what a coward I am!"

"Coward!" I exclaimed. "Why?"

"To be so frightened as I was, " replied Jack, with a dismal sigh. 

"Well, I don't know about being a coward, Master Jack Penny, " said thedoctor quietly; "but I do know that if I had had my foot in thatreptile's mouth I should have been in a most horrible state of fear. There, my lad, " he continued kindly, "don't think any more about it, only to be thankful for your escape. "

"But he ought to tell us first how he was caught like that, " I said. 

"Oh, there ain't much to tell, " said Jack, sitting up and raising hisleg, and softly rubbing his injured foot. "I was fishing, and the fishwouldn't bite, and I got a little nearer to the river side and threw inagain and fished; and the sun seemed to get hotter, and I suppose I fellasleep, for I remember dreaming that the dingoes had got among father'ssheep again, and that he flicked his whip-lash round my wrist. Then Itried to start up, but a big fish had hold of the line, and it tuggedaway so hard that I was overbalanced, and took a header off the bankright into the river; and when I came up, pretty tidy astonished like, and began to swim for the bank, the fish on the line, which I hadtwisted round my wrist, began tugging me out into the stream. It tookme out ever so far before I could get the line off my wrist; and then Iswam easily back, feeling awful popped like at having lost the fish andthe line; and I was just wondering what you would say, when all at oncethere was a regular rush in the water, and something shut on my foot, giving me such an awful nip that I yelled out as I caught hold of thatbranch, and held on, shivering all the while with fear, for I forgotabout the crocodiles, and thought it must be a shark. "

"Well!" I said, excitedly; for he stopped. 

"Well, what?" said Jack. 

"What next? What did you do?" I said. 

"Hollered!" replied Jack laconically. "So would you if you had beenme. "

"Yes, " I said, "of course; but what took place next?"

"Oh, nothing; only that I held tight and he held tight, and as often ashe tugged at me it jumped the bough up and down like a see-saw, and itwas very horrid. "

"Most horrible!" said the doctor. 

"Then I hollered again, " said Jack. 

"Yes; go on!" I cried impatiently. 

"I did go on, " he replied. "I went on hollering, but them chaps at thecamp were asleep, and I began to feel that I should have to let go soon;only I wouldn't, because I wanted to find out first what had become ofthe professor. Then at last you came, and that's all; only I don't feelmuch like walking very far to-day, so I shall sit still and fish. "

"Fish! what, with things like that in the water?" I exclaimed. 

"Oh! they won't hurt me, " said Jack; "because I shall be on the look-outnow, and won't go in after the next fish that takes my line. I say, where's Gyp?"

"I don't know, " I said. "I have not seen him. "

"Crocodiles are very fond of dogs, " said Jack quietly. "I hope one of'em hasn't got Gyp. "

"Oh, no! he'd be too sharp for one of the reptiles, " said the doctorreassuringly. 

"I don't know, " said Jack in his quiet drawl. "I thought I was much tooclever for crocodiles; but they're sharp--precious sharp about theteeth. Perhaps he's gone hunting something. He often used at home. "

"Oh, yes; he'll come back, " I said. 

"Well, we shall see, " said Jack. "I'm better now. Lend me anotherline, Joe Carstairs. I want to see if I can't catch a fish. "

I looked about first to see if I could trace my line, but it washopelessly gone. To my surprise and pleasure, though, I found thedoctor's where he had left it, tied to a root and drawn out tight, evidently with a fish at the end. 

I imagined that I could easily draw this out, and I did get it close upto the bank, but as soon as it was in the shallow water it sprang rightout and darted away again, making the line rush through my hands sorapidly that it burned my skin. 

As it leaped out I had a good opportunity of seeing that a great silveryfellow, fully a yard long, had hooked itself, and meant to have someplaying before it turned over upon its side in token of submission. 

I kept on playing the fish, which seemed to grow stronger instead ofweaker as I went on at give and take with it, till I was almost tired. At least six times did I draw it in and try to bring it within reach ofTi-hi's fingers, but in vain, for it always darted off as if refreshed. 

At last, though, I drew it well in, and once more it was about to repeatits tactics; but this time it was too late, for the black pounced downupon it, thrust his hooked finger into its gills, and pulled it up on tothe bank. 

Just then Jimmy came trotting up, hauling away at a line, and to mygreat delight I found that he had hunted out the one we had left withJack Penny. 

"Fastum round big wood!" he cried; and then he tried to explain how thefish had entangled the line round what an American would call a snag;and the result was that we had two fine fish to carry back to the camp, Jimmy's being tired out and readily yielding as he hauled on the line. 

"I don't think I'll fish to-day, " said Jack Penny then. "I say, I feelas if that buck warn't good enough to eat. "

Hardly had he spoken before he softly sank down sidewise, and laylooking very white, and with his eyes shut. 

"Is it the venison?" I said in a whisper to the doctor. 

"No. He is a little faint, now the reaction has set in, " replied thedoctor; and we had to carry poor wet Jack Penny as well as the fish intocamp, and of course we got no farther on our journey that day. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

HOW A STRANGE VISITOR CAME TO CAMP. 

Jack seemed very little the worse after a good night's rest, that is tosay bodily. He was a little white, and his breakfast did not disappearso rapidly as usual, for, probably on account of his great length, andthe enormous amount of circulation and support to keep up, Jack Pennyused to eat about as much as two ordinary boys. He was, howeverevidently a little bit upset in his mind, and he laid this open to mejust before starting once more. 

"I say, " he said in a low tone, "did I seem such a very great cowardyes'day, Joe Carstairs?"

"Coward! No, " I said; "not you. Any one would have been frightened. "

"But I hollered so, " whispered Jack. "I don't think a young fellowought to holler like a great girl. "

"I know I should, " I replied. "There, never mind now. They're allready to start. Come on!"

Jack Penny shook his head rather thoughtfully, and then, in adissatisfied dreamy way, he walked on with me, shouldering his gun, andstooping more than ever, so that it seemed as if he were looking forsomething which he could not find. 

We had to pass pretty close to the crocodile, so close that Jack nearlystumbled over it, and a cry of horror involuntarily escaped him as hejumped aside. 

Then, turning scarlet with annoyance, he gave the monster a kick, anddarted back holding his nose, for it was exhaling a most offensive muskyodour. 

I looked at the creature closely and with some curiosity, thinking thewhile how much smaller it was than those we had seen in the lagoon. Allthe same, though, it was fully as big in body as a man, though doublethe length. 

It was not going to poison the air long, for already it was covered withsomething red, and a long red line extended from it right away into thejungle. Each tiny red object was an ant, and from experience I knewthat very soon every particle of flesh would be devoured. 

Keeping within easy reach of the river we journeyed steadily on, findingthe country grow more beautiful at every step. The trees were bigger, the bamboos taller and more feathery. In the sunny patches flowers werein abundance, and we had no want of opportunities for supplying ourlarder, large pheasant-like birds, with long tails and crests, andplumage of the most beautiful tints, being plentiful. 

It seemed a pity to shoot them, but it was a necessity, for our supplyof powder, shot, and ball was looked upon by us as so much condensedmeat, ready to be expanded when opportunity served. 

We encountered nothing particular that day except Gyp, who turned up allat once with a piece of furry skin in his mouth, all he had been able tocarry of some deer that he had run down; and at the sight of his friendJack Penny became more himself, throwing off a good deal of his gloom. In fact I saw the tears stand in his eyes as he saw him once more; butcatching sight of me looking at him he scowled, and, running to the dog, kicked him over and over again quite savagely. 

"Just you run away again, " he drawled angrily, "and I'll 'bout kill yer. That's what I'll do with you. "

Gyp closed his eyes and winced and crouched down close to the groundtill his master had ceased punishing him, and then he rose dejectedly, and followed quite in the rear of our party with drooping head and tail. 

I noticed at the time that Jimmy had watched all this with sparklingeyes, wonderfully intent, but I thought no more of it till I saw theblack glance at us all in turn, and then begin to slink back. 

"What is he after now?" I said to myself; and stepping aside among thethick leafage, I let our party go by and stopped to see what Jimmy wasabout to do. 

I had not long to wait, for the fact was that the black had snatched atthe opportunity to tyrannise over something. He had been summarilychecked when amusing himself by sticking his spear into the New Guineamen, and, as we have seen, one of them resented it; but here was achance. Gyp had been beaten, and had cowered down under his master'sblows, so Jimmy took out his waddy, and after glancing forward to seethat he was not observed, he waited until Gyp came up slowly, andcasting sidelong looks at the Australian, who gave him a heavy thump onthe ribs with the war-club. 

"Bad bunyip dog. Good for nothing, dirty dingo dog, " cried Jimmy. "Golong, bad for good dog. Get--yah!"

This last was a terrific yell of fear and pain, for instead of coweringdown and suffering himself to be beaten and kicked, Gyp knew that thiswas not his master. For one moment he had stood astonished at the blow, and then seemed puzzled by the strange broken English objurgations; thenwith a fierce snarl he darted at the black and tried to seize him by thelegs, an attack which Jimmy avoided by making a tremendous spring, catching at a horizontal branch above him, and swinging himself up intoa tree, where he crouched like a monkey, showering down angry epithetsupon the dog as it yelped and barked at him furiously. 

I came out of my hiding-place laughing till the tears ran down mycheeks; and the noise made by Gyp brought back the doctor and JackPenny, the latter taking in the situation at a glance and indulging in abroad grin. 

"Take away bunyip dog; take um way or Jimmy killum, " cried the black. 

"All right!" said Jack Penny; "come down and kill him then. "

But Jimmy showed no disposition to move, and it was not until Jack hadordered the dog away that the black dropped down, looking at me verysheepishly and acting like a shamefaced child. 

As we proceeded farther into the interior, wild creatures grew moreabundant, and we saw fewer traces of man having traversed these regions. As I noted the various objects I could not help feeling how my fathermust have revelled in exploring such a naturalist's paradise as this, and I grew more hopeful as the idea gained ground in my mind that verylikely he was busy in the interior still pursuing his researches. 

We travelled very little way now without catching glimpses of some ofthe occupants of these wilds. Perhaps it was but a glimpse, butgenerally we were able to distinguish what it was that darted throughbush, tree, or shadowy glade. Once or twice we caught sight of thespots of leopards; then a graceful deer would stand at gaze for a momentbefore going off like the wind. Once a herd of heavy buffaloes startedup before us and crashed through the undergrowth; and at last, as wedrew near a great tree, the doctor said, pointing upward:

"No fear of our wanting food, Joe, while there are such birds as these. "

As he spoke, with a noise like a whirlwind a flock of great pigeons tookflight--great fellows, three times as big as ordinary pigeons, and, aswe knew from those shot in Australia, splendid eating. 

The great tree offered so pleasant a camping place that we decided topass the night there, and after a look round to see if there was likelyto be danger lurking near, the fire was lit, the blacks setting to workat once to collect wood when they had put down their burdens. Then foodwas prepared and a hearty meal enjoyed, the restful sensation that cameover us after the day's exertion being most delicious. Then one by oneour followers dropped asleep, Jack Penny, who was still rather grumpy, last. 

The doctor and I were sitting together by the fire that night, talkingin a low voice about our plans, and agreeing that we could not do betterthan wander on and on through the wilds until we learned some tidings ofthe lost man, when suddenly my companion laid his finger on his lips andbent forward as if listening. 

I listened too, thinking the while how strange it all looked about us, with the fire casting weird shadows all around, while the silence nowwas almost appalling. 

"Nothing, Joe, " said the doctor, dropping his hand. "I thought I heardsomething. "

"I'm sure I did, " I whispered, with a strange feeling upon me that itwould be dangerous to speak aloud. 

"There are curious sounds heard sometimes in forests, " he saidthoughtfully. "There, go on--what were we talking about?"

As he spoke there was a strange rushing noise, then a peculiar whiningsound not far distant among the trees. 

"What can that be, doctor?" I whispered. 

"Can't say, Joe. Sounds as if some animal had been climbing along abranch, or had bent down a sapling and then let it fly up again with aloud whish among the trees. "

"That is just how it sounded to me, " I said, gazing full in his eyes. 

He remained silent for a few moments, not listening but thinking. 

"We must take a lesson from our friend Jack Penny, there, " he said, smiling in my face as he stroked his broad beard. "I must confess, Joe, to feeling a curious sensation of awe as we sit out here in thisprimeval forest, surrounded by teeming savage life; but Jack Pennycoolly sleeps through it all, and, as I say, we must take a lesson fromhim, and get used to these strange sounds. "

"There it is again!" I said, catching his arm, and unable to controlthe feeling that at any moment something might spring out of thedarkness upon my back. 

For the same curious rustling of leaves came whispering from among thetrees, and then there was a low expiration of breath, as if some greatbeast had yawned. 

Click-click, click-click sounded loudly on the night air, and I followedthe doctor's example, cocking both barrels of my piece. 

"It's coming nearer, whatever it is, " said the doctor in a low tone, "and that strange noise means, I think, that it is some great serpent. "

"But would serpents be out at night?" I said. 

"That one was the other night, Joe, and we must not reckon upon theregular habits of animals if we light great fires in their lairs. "

We sat listening again, and the rustling sound began once more. 

"It's just as if the thing were climbing along trees that are not strongenough to bear it, " I said in an excited whisper, "and they keep flyingup after it passes. "

"Hush!" said the doctor. 

We listened, and from out of the darkest part before us there arose aloud tearing noise as if bark was being scratched from a tree trunk. 

"Some kind of beast of the cat family, I should say, " whispered thedoctor. "Pst! be ready; but don't fire unless we are attacked. "

Just then there was a rush, a scramble, a dull thud, and some creatureuttered a sound that seemed like the word _Howl_ in a hollow echoingtone. 

Again and again there was the low rustling, and then that word _Howl_that seemed to come from some great throat; and in imagination I saw inthe darkness a pair of fiery eyes and a set of great sharp teeth. 

"Yes; some kind of cat, leopard, or panther, " said the doctor; but, lowas his utterance was, it seemed to irritate the creature in ourneighbourhood, as it kept on the rustling, for there was a harshexclamation and the earth seemed to be torn up. 

Then all at once the sound ceased, and it was perfectly still for quitea quarter of an hour, which seemed an endless time; and then, tired ofstaring intently into the darkness, and too much excited to be silent, Iwhispered:

"This night-watching is the hardest part of our work, doctor. "

"Oh! no, my boy. It makes you a little creepy at first, but as soon asyou feel your own power and how you must alarm these creatures, you willget used to it. "

"But the fire makes them see us, and we can't see them, " I said, in anill-used tone. 

Just then there arose from what seemed to be just the other side of thefire one of the most awful cries I ever heard, and my hair felt as if atiny cold hand were stirring it about the roots, while a curioussensation ran down my back. 

As the fearsome howl rang out the doctor levelled his piece, ready tofire, and as the fire shone full upon him in his half-kneeling positionthere was something terribly earnest in his face, and he looked so bravethat it seemed to give me a little courage just when I seemed to havenone. 

"Pick up some of those thin branches and throw them on the fire, " saidthe doctor; and I hurried to obey his command, when there was anotherawful howling roar, and the creature, whatever it was, charged at me;but I threw on the branches all the same, when the fire leaped up with atremendous blaze, lighting the forest all round. 

"See it, doctor?" I whispered. 

"No, " he answered; "it keeps in amongst the trees. "

The doctor's voice sounded so hoarse and strange that it added to mytrepidation. He stopped, and I wanted him to go on talking, but heremained silent, while once more the forest resounded with the hideouscry of the beast. 

The wood blazed well, so that I could see, as it were, a circle oflight, and behind us our black shadows were thrown upon the trees, quitestartling me as I looked round. 

"Keep up the fire, " whispered the doctor; "whatever it is it will notattack while there is this blaze. "

I obeyed him and kept on throwing twigs and boughs that had been laid ina heap ready, but with a curious sensation of dread the while, for itseemed to me that if the fire consumed all our wood we should be left atthe creature's mercy. 

All at once it seemed to me that the rustling and snuffling noise wascoming round to our left, and as if I had drawn his attention to thefact, the doctor exclaimed:

"Yes, it is coming on here; keep round this way. "

We edged round the fire so as to keep it between us and the animal thatseemed to be watching us, when all at once the sound came from closebehind us, and, as if moved by one impulse, we bounded past the fire, the pieces I had held in my hand making a crackling blaze and shower ofsparks. 

This seemed to excite our assailant, which uttered three hideous roarsat intervals, and each seemed nearer than the last, so that we weredriven to keep on edging round the fire so as to keep it as our shield. 

We walked slowly round the fire three times, fully aware of the factthat the creature was regularly stalking us, for it kept up thescratching rustling noise, and howled at intervals. 

This was trying enough to our nerves; but when, all at once, every soundceased, and we stood there by the ruddy blaze, it seemed terrible toknow that our enemy was close at hand, but not to know exactly where. At any moment we felt that it might spring upon us, and I turned awistful look upon the doctor, which he responded to by saying:

"Throw on more wood. "

I obeyed him, and the blaze flashed up higher once again, spreading acloud of sparks on high to rise among the leaves and tinge the broadbranches with a ruddy golden glow. 

I gazed in all directions for the danger, and started with nervoustrepidation every time the doctor spoke, his words beinggenerally--"Throw on more wood. " But at last, after a terrible periodof anxious silence, he whispered my name. 

"Yes, " I said. 

"This can't go on much longer. I'm afraid the beast is coming nearer. Can you see anything your side?"

"Yes--no--yes, I think so, " I whispered back. "There's a shadowysomething just at the edge of the light. I think it is some kind ofwild beast. "

"Is it the dog?" he whispered back. 

"No, " I said. "Gyp always sleeps close to his master. "

"Do you think you could take steady aim at it, my lad?" he said. 

"I don't know, " I replied, "but I will try. Shall I fire at it?"

"Let me think, " he answered. "I don't know whether it would be wise tofire, and perhaps only wound the creature. "

"But perhaps I shall kill it, " I said. 

"It is doubtful, Joe, " he replied, "and the noise of your piece wouldbring out our people, perhaps into danger. Let us wait. Here, " hesaid, "I have it! This beast has been cautiously following us round, always keeping out of our sight. I think now that the best way will befor you to continue the retreat round the fire while I stop here on oneknee. The beast will then follow you, and I shall get a good certainshot at him. "

I did not like the idea at all, for it seemed like setting a trap andmaking me the bait; but I said nothing beyond intimating that I would doas he wished, and he went on:

"I shall be certain to hit the brute, but I may not kill, so be ready tofire in turn; you will get a good chance for a sure hit, the animal willbe less cautious. "

"Stop a moment, " I said. "I thought at first that it would be verydangerous for me; now I see that it will be more dangerous for you. Let's keep together. "

"Do as I bid you, " he replied sternly. "Now go on round, as if tryingto keep the fire between you and danger. Fire quickly if you have agood chance, and don't miss. But first of all let's try the effect of afirebrand or two in the direction you think you saw the brute. "

He picked up a piece of blazing wood and gave it a whirl round his head. 

The result was to bring a fierce roar from the wood close behind us, andwe involuntarily sprang to the other side of our fire. 

"There's no knowing where to have the beast, " muttered the doctor, as herealised the cunning sneaking habits of our enemy. 

As he spoke he stooped and picked up another blazing piece of wood, forhe had dropped the first to bring his gun to bear. Now, holding the gunin his left hand, he gave the blazing wood a whirl round his head andthrew it in the direction from which the fierce roar had come. 

To my horror and consternation it was answered by a savage yell, andsomething charged out nearly to the fire but dashed back directly, soquickly, indeed, that we had no time to get more than a sharp shotapiece at the fierce creature. 

"Load again quickly, " whispered the doctor; and I obeyed him, listeningthe while to the rustling crackling noise at a little distance. 

"Do you think we hit it?" I said softly. I was afraid to speak aloudlest it should bring down a charge upon us. 

"I'm afraid not, " he replied, as he reloaded and then stood scanning theedge of the circle of light formed by the fire's glow. 

There was nothing visible but what seemed to be a dark opening amongstthe trees, through which it appeared to me that our enemy must havepassed. 

Then we waited, watching so excitedly for the next attack that the firewas for the moment forgotten. Then, seeing the glow it cast becomeless, we both seized upon armfuls of wood and threw them on, deadeningthe flame so that the space around was comparatively dark. 

That was the most anxious time of all, for, do what we would, the firesent forth huge volumes of smoke, but would not blaze. At any moment itseemed that the great beast might take advantage of the gloom and springupon us, and we shook the ends of the burning branches and half-consumedpieces of wood, but in vain. Instead of the light glow there wascomparative darkness, and in despair, as if again moved by the sameimpulse, we ceased troubling about the fire, and stood with hand ontrigger, ready to pull at the first chance. 

Then all at once there was a vivid tongue of flame cutting right throughthe thick smoke, another and another, and I uttered a sigh of relief asthe heap of smouldering boughs and leaves burst once more into a blaze. 

"Now while the light lasts let's have a good shot at the brute, " saidthe doctor, speaking as if nerved to desperation by the torture underwhich we both writhed. "I'm going to kneel here, Joe; you walk on, andthat will make the tiger, or whatever it is, show itself in watchingyou. "

"It isn't a tiger, " I whispered. "I caught sight of it, and it lookedmore like a man. "

The doctor gave me a quick look, and then said sharply, "Go on!"

I obeyed him, walking backwards round the fire, my piece ready, so as toget a shot if I saw the creature again; but this time all remainedperfectly still, and though I went right round the fire, no sound camefrom among the trees. 

"Take a piece of burning wood and throw it opposite to where you stand, Joe. "

I did so, and the blazing wood described an arc, fell in a tuft of dryundergrowth which burst out into a vivid column of light for a fewminutes and died out, but there was no charge, no roar from our enemy, not even the rustling of the bushes as it passed through. 

"It's very strange, Joe, " whispered the doctor. "Pile on more wood. "

I obeyed him, and this time it caught directly and there was atremendous blaze, but no attack followed; and we stood listening forsome sound of the enemy in vain. 

"You must have shot it, " I said, speaking with some confidence. 

"Or else you did, Joe, " said the doctor. 

I shook my head, and we remained listening for quite a quarter of anhour, but still in vain. The silence in the forest was now awful, andthough we strained our eyes till the fire across which we looked dazzledthem, we could see nothing to cause alarm. 

"Either it's dead or it has gone off, scared by our fire, " said thedoctor at last. And now that we found time to think, he continued, witha smile, "I hope we are not going to have many such night-watches asthis on our expedition. I say though, my lad, how some people cansleep! I should have thought that those howls would have wakenedanything. Why, hallo! Gyp, didn't you hear anything? Where's yourmaster?"

He stooped and patted the dog, which came trotting up to us, and thenyawned and stretched himself out. 

"Here I am, " said Jack Penny, involuntarily imitating his dog. "Here, where's that chap Jimmy? He was to watch with me, wasn't he? Is ittime?"

"Time! Yes, " I said impatiently. "You ought to have been here twohours ago. He'll have to look out, won't he, doctor, for that tiger orwild man. "

"Yah! stuff!" said Jack with a sneer. "I sha'n't see no--hullo! whathas Gyp found? Look, there's something there. "

We all turned to see the dog, which had picked up some scent abouthalf-way between the fire and the edge of the circle of light. He ranat once to the thick bushes, barked angrily, and then followed the scentround and round the fire at the distance of about twenty yards, endingby dashing right off into the forest depths, his bark growing fainter aswe listened. 

"I say, ought we to follow Gyp?" said Jack Penny. 

"If we wish to lose our lives, " replied the doctor. "You see, Joe, ithas gone right off. "

"But I don't like Gyp to go off after anything and not follow him, "cried Jack Penny. "He's a good dog, you know. What is it he's after?"

"Some savage beast that has been haunting us all night, " cried thedoctor. "I should like to follow Gyp, but it would be madness, my lads, and--hark, what's that?"

I felt cold as a most unearthly howl came from a long distance away. 

"Is--is that him?" said Jack, whose eyes looked round and large. 

"Dat big bunyip, " said a voice that made us start, for Jimmy had come upfrom the dark camp unperceived. "Eat black fellow, white man, anyfing. "

No one replied to Jimmy's piece of information, and we listened for someminutes till a faint rustling, heard first by the black, who stood readyto hurl his spear, made us all place a finger on the trigger. 

But it was only caused by the dog, who soon after came into sight, withhis tail between his legs, and his hair bristling with terror. 

He ran right to his master and stood behind him, shivering and whining, as he stared in the direction from which he had come. 

"Gyp see big bunyip!" cried Jimmy. "Gyp find a bunyip!"

"I say, " said Jack; "it's my watch now. I s'pose you two are going tolie down. "

"Frightened, Jack?" I said maliciously. 

"P'r'aps I am, and p'r'aps I ain't, " said Jack stoutly. "I should say Ifelt frightened if I was; but if you two were going to watch I wouldn'tgo away and leave you with a big beast like that about. He must be abig one or he wouldn't have frightened Gyp, who'll tackle old mankangaroos six-foot high. You can go if you like, though. "

This was a long speech for Jack Penny, who rubbed one of his ears in anill-used way. 

"Jimmy, black fellow 'fraid um bunyip; oh, yes!" said my follower; "butJimmy no run away. "

"We shall not leave you alone, Penny, " said the doctor, smiling. "Itwould not be fair. "

So we stayed with him till day broke, and not having heard the slightestsound to intimate the neighbourhood of danger, and the dog lying quitestill and content by his master, the doctor and I went to get a coupleof hours' rest, just as the forest glades were beginning to echo withthe screaming of birds of the parrot family, Jimmy bending over me andpoking me with the butt end of his spear, almost directly, so it seemedto me, that I had lain down. 

"Jimmy hungry, " he said; "gimmy damper--brackfass. Come long. "

"Did you hear the bunyip any more, Jimmy?" I said, yawning. 

"No. Bunyip go sleep all a morning--all a day! Come a night. How-wow!"

He put his head on one side and gave so marvellous an imitation of theterrible cries I had heard during the night that I felt sure he mustknow the creature. 

"What is it makes that noise, Jimmy?" I said eagerly. 

"Bunyip--big ugly fellow bunyip!" he exclaimed; and I felt so cross andannoyed with his eternal bunyip that I was ready to kick him; but Irefrained, and went instead to the fire, where the doctor was waitingbreakfast, after sending Jimmy to wake me up. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

HOW JACK PENNY WAS PERSECUTED BY PIGS. 

I have often thought since what a wild journey ours was, and howignorant we must have been to plunge recklessly and in such a haphazardway into a country that, though an island, is a long way on towardsbeing large enough to be called a continent. 

Still we made the venture, and somehow as soon as a peril was passed weall looked upon it as belonging to yesterday, and troubled ourselvesabout it no more. 

I had risen on the morning after our nocturnal adventure feelingdespondent and sleepy; but the bright sunshine and the tempting odour ofroasting bird stuck on a stick close to the flame, soon made me forgetthe troubles of the night, and an hour later, with every one in the bestof spirits, we made a fresh start, keeping near the river, but beneaththe shade of the trees, for the sun seemed to be showering down burningarrows, and wherever we had to journey across the open the heat wasintense. 

In the shady parts the green of the undergrowth looked delicate andpale, but in the sunshine it was of the most vivid green; and bathing init, as it were, flies and beetles hummed and buzzed, and beat theirgauzy wings, so that they seemed invisible, while wherever there was abare patch of stony or rocky earth lizards were hurrying in and out, andnow and then a drab-looking little serpent lay twisted up into a knot. 

The bearers stepped along lightly enough beneath their loads, and Iobserved that they never looked to right or left, or seemed to admireanything before them, their eyes being always fixed upon the earth wherethey were about to plant their feet. 

Ti-hi in particular tried to warn me to be on the look-out, pointingover and over again to the spade-headed little serpents we saw now andthen gliding in amongst the grass. 

"Killum, " said Jimmy upon one of these occasions, and he suited the wordto the action by striking one of these little reptiles with his spearand breaking its back. After this he spat viciously at the littlecreature, picking it up by its tail and jerking it right away amongstthe trees. 

"No killum kill all a body, " said Jimmy nodding; and he went through asort of pantomime, showing the consequences of being bitten by a viper, beginning with drowsiness, continuing through violent sickness, which itseemed was followed by a fall upon the earth, a few kicks and struggles, and lastly by death, for the black ended his performance by stretchinghimself out stiffly and closing his eyes, saying:

"Jimmy dead; black fellow dig big hole and put um in de ground. Poorold Jimmy!"

Then he jumped up and laughed, saying: "Killum all um snake! No good!No!"

"I say, Joe Carstairs, " said Jack Penny, who had watched the performancewith a good deal of interest; "don't that chap ever get tired?"

"Oh yes; and goes to sleep every time he gets a chance, " I said. 

"Yes! but don't his back ache? Mine does, horrid, every day, withoutbanging about like that;" and as if he felt his trouble then Jack Pennyturned his rueful-looking boy's face to me and began softly rubbing hislong man's back just across the loins. 

It was very funny, too, when Jack was speaking earnestly. In anordinary conversation he would go on drawl, drawl, drawl in a bassvoice; but whenever he grew excited he began to squeak and talk in ahigh-pitched treble like a boy, till he noticed it himself, and then hewould begin to growl again in almost an angry tone; and this was thecase now. 

"Here, you're laughing!" he said savagely. "I can't help being tall andthin, and having a gruff voice like a man, when I'm only a boy. I don'ttry to be big and tall! I grew so. And I don't try to talk gruff. "

"Oh yes! you do, Jack, " I said. 

"Well, p'r'aps I do; but I don't try to talk thin, like I do sometimes. "

"I couldn't help laughing, Jack, " I said, holding out my hand. "I didnot mean to ridicule you. "

He gave my hand quite an angry slap and turned away, but only to comeback directly. 

"Here, I say; I beg your pardon, Joe Carstairs, " he said, holding outhis hand, which I shook heartily. "I wish I hadn't got such a beastlybad temper. I do try not to show it, but it makes me wild when peoplelaugh at me. "

"Well, I won't laugh at you any more, Jack, " I said earnestly. 

"No, don't; there's a good chap, " he said, with the tears in his eyes. "It's partly why I came away from home, you know. I wanted to come andfind the professor, of course, and I like coming for the change; butit's principally that. "

"Principally _that_!" I said. "I don't understand you, Jack. "

"Why, I mean about being laughed at! Everybody has always been laughingat me, because I grew so thin and long and weak-looking, and I got tiredof it at last, and was precious glad to come out to New Guinea to stoptill I had grown thicker. For I said to myself, I don't s'pose thesavage chaps will laugh at me, and if they do I can drop on 'em and theywon't do it again. "

"It must have been unpleasant, Jack, " I said. 

"It's horrid, old fellow, " he said confidentially; "and all the morebecause you are obliged to laugh at it all when you feel as if you'dlike to double 'em up and jump on 'em. "

"Well, there, Jack; I give you my word I won't laugh at you again. "

"Will you?" cried Jack, with his face beaming, and looking quitepleasant. "Well, that is kind of you. If the doctor wouldn't laugheither I should be as happy as the day's long. "

"I'll ask him not to, " I said. 

"Oh, no; don't do that!" he cried quickly then; "he'd leave off laughingat me just out of pity, and I'd rather he laughed at me than pitied me, you know. Don't ask him not. "

"All right!" I said. "I will not. "

"I'd rather he laughed at me, " said Jack again thoughtfully; "for I likethe doctor; he's such a brave chap. I say, Joe Carstairs, I wish Icould grow into a big broad-chested brave chap with a great beard, likethe doctor. "

"So you will some day. "

"Tchah!" he cried impatiently. "Look there--there's long thin arms!There's a pair of legs! And see what a body I've got. I ain't got nolooking-glass here, but last time I looked at myself my head and facelooked like a small knob on the top of a thin pump. "

"You let yourself alone, and don't grumble at your shape, " I saidsturdily, and to tell the truth rather surprising myself, for I had noidea that I was such a philosopher. "Your legs are right enough. Theyonly want flesh and muscle, and it's the same with your arms. Wait abit and it will all come, just as beards do when people grow to be men. "

"I sha'n't never have any beard, " said Jack, dolefully; "my face is assmooth as a girl's!"

"I daresay the doctor was only a little smooth soft baby once, " I said;"and now see what he is. "

"Ah! ain't he a fine fellow?" said Jack. "I'm going to try and do as hedoes, and I want to have plenty of pluck; but no sooner do I get into ascrape than I turn cowardly, same as I did over that little humbug of acrocodile. "

"Don't talk nonsense, Jack!" I said. 

"'Tisn't nonsense! Why, if I'd had as much courage as a wallaby Ishould have kicked that thing out of the water; and all I did was to layhold of a bough and holler murder!"

"I didn't hear you, " I said. 

"Well, _help_! then. I know I hollered something. "

"And enough to make you. The doctor said he is sure he should not haveborne it so bravely as you. "

"No: did he? When?"

"To be sure he did, when we were sitting watching last night. "

"Bah! it was only his fun. He was laughing at me again. "

"He was not, " I said decidedly. "He was in real earnest. "

"Oh!" said Jack softly; and there was once more the pleasant light inhis countenance that quite brightened it up. 

I was going to say something else, but he made a motion with his hand asif asking me to be silent; and he walked on to the front to go behindTi-hi, who was first man, while I went and marched beside the doctor, and chatted with him about the country and our future prospects. 

"It seems, almost too lovely, " I said; "and it worries me because I feelas if I ought to be sad and unhappy, while all the time everything seemsso beautiful that I can't help enjoying it. "

"In spite of perils and dangers, Joe, eh?" he said smiling; and then wewent on threading our way amongst the magnificent trees, and every nowand then coming upon one standing all alone, its position having allowedof its growing into a perfect state. 

Again we came upon one of these, literally alive with parrots; and, as Istopped to admire them, I could see that when they opened their vividgreen wings the inner parts were of a brilliant flame colour, and therewas a ruddy orange patch upon the little feathers at the inset of theirtails. 

Then we came upon monkeys again, quite a family of them, and instead ofrunning away and leaping from branch to branch they began to chatter andshriek and dash about in the greatest excitement, just as if they werescolding us for coming among them, chattering among themselves directlyafter as if meditating an attack. 

Before another hour had passed, after noting the beauty of thebutterflies, which seemed to increase in number as we penetrated fartherinto the interior, we came next upon an enormous tree full ofgaudily-tinted parroquets, which were nearly as numerous as the parrotsof an hour before. 

"We sha'n't want for food, Joe, " the doctor said, "so long as we haveplenty of powder; parroquets and parrots are fruit birds, and splendideating. Look there. "

As he spoke he raised his gun, fired, and directly the report had struckmy ears I saw Jimmy and Gyp set off at full speed. 

They returned both at odds, the one growling, the other calling hisrival a bad bunyip dog, but both holding tightly by a large bird, Gyphaving its head, Jimmy the legs. 

It proved to be something between a turkey and a pheasant, and from itslook it promised to be good eating, for which purpose it was handed overto Ti-hi's care. 

The leader now bore off a little to our left, the result being that weonce more struck the river, to find it a large swift stream, but not anattractive place for travellers, since from that one spot where we stoodbeneath the shelter of some trees I counted at least twenty crocodilesfloating slowly down, with the protuberances above their eyes justvisible, and here and there at least thirty more lying about on themuddy banks. 

Towards evening, as we were journeying slowly on, Jimmy came runningback to fetch me, and catching me by the hand he led me through somebushes to where a thickly wooded park-like stretch of land began, andmotioning me to be silent and follow him he crept from tree to tree, till, having reached what he considered to be a satisfactory position, he pointed upward, and from behind the tree where we were ensconced Ilooked among the branches far overhead, and for the first time saw oneof those wonderfully plumaged creatures--the birds of paradise. 

I could have stopped there for long, gazing at the beautiful creatureswith their fountain-like plumage of pale gold, but time would not permitof my lagging behind, and to Jimmy's great disgust I hurried back, anddetermined that no object should lead me away from the great aim of ourjourney. 

The turkey was ample as a meal for us, but we wanted food for ourfollowers, so as to husband our flour and biscuits. Birds were all verywell, but we wanted to kill something more substantial, and for a longtime past we had seen no sign of deer, though traces of buffalo werepretty frequent in spots where they had made a peculiar track down tothe river, evidently going regularly to quench their thirst. 

The sight of the buffalo tracks formed the subject of a discussion. Fresh meat was wanted for our followers, who made very light of birds, and one of these animals would have been invaluable to us just then; butthe doctor decided that it would not be prudent to follow them, theybeing rather dangerous beasts, and therefore, though the meat would havebeen so useful both for present use and to dry in the sun, we gave upthe idea of trying to obtain any, preferring to trust to finding deer, and continued our journey. 

We had gone very little farther, and I was just about to propose to thedoctor that we should venture as far as the river and try for some fish, when there was an alarm given by the native who was leading, and in aninstant loads were thrown down and every man sought refuge in a tree. 

We did not understand the natives' words, but their actions were easyenough to read, and all followed their example, the doctor and I gettingup into the same tree, one which forked very low down, and we were justin safety when we heard a cry, and saw that Jack Penny was indifficulties. He too had climbed part of the way into a tree, when hehad slipped, and in spite of all his efforts he could not at firstcontrive to get back; and this was just as a rushing noise was heard, that I thought must be a herd of buffalo, but, directly after, a droveof small wild pig came furiously charging down. 

My attention was divided between the sight of the pigs and Jack Penny, whose long legs kept dropping down, and then being spasmodicallysnatched up. 

I burst into a roar of laughter, and Jimmy, who was standing, spear inhand, upon a branch, holding on by another, danced with excitement anddelight. 

"Pull yourself right up, Jack, " I shouted, and I had hard work to makemy voice heard above the grunting and squealing. 

"I can't, " he yelled back. 

"Then kick out at the little brutes, " I shouted; and just then helowered himself to the full length of his arms, swung to and fro, andhalf-a-dozen pigs rushed at him, but he had gained impetus, and just asthey made a dash at him he swung his legs up, and clung with them to abranch. 

"Hurrah!" I shouted; and then a sharp squeal uttered by one unfortunatepig as Jimmy drove his spear through it as it passed beneath his feet, and the sharp report of the doctor's piece, brought me to my senses. 

The scene had been so comical, especially as regarded Jack Penny, that Ihad forgotten that I was letting several good dinners slip away, and Ihad just time to get a quick shot at one of the pigs which was stampinghis hoof and grunting defiantly at Jack Penny, before the whole drove, including one that had received an arrow from Ti-hi's bow, swept by usas hurriedly as they came, and were gone. 

"Not hurt, are you, Jack?" I said, preparing to jump. 

"Keep your place, " cried the doctor; "they may come back. "

"Well, I shall have a better shot at them, " I said. 

"You foolish boy!" cried the doctor. "Why, the boars would rip you topieces. "

I returned to my place at this, and it was fortunate that I did so, fordirectly after, as if in the wildest of haste, the pig drove camedashing back, to stop as hastily as they came up, and stand snapping, tossing their heads, grunting, squealing, and at times literally barkingat us. 

A couple of shots which laid low one of their party seemed, however, toscare them, and they dashed on once more, and hardly had they gonetwenty yards before there was a loud thud and Jack Penny fell from thebranch, where he had been clinging, flat upon his back. 

"Oh my!" he cried, as he sat up and looked about. "I couldn't hold onany longer. It's lucky they are gone. "

"Look out!" I cried, swinging myself down, dropping my gun, and pullingmy hatchet from my belt; but Jack would have fared badly if he haddepended on me. 

For the little boar that had been wounded by an arrow, had dropped, apparently dying, when its companions swept by the second time, but ithad fierce life enough left in it to take advantage of Jack Penny'shelpless condition, and leaping up it charged at him, its tusksglistening, and the foam tossed from its snapping jaws falling upon itssides. 

A bullet would have given the fierce beast its quietus, but the doctorwould not fire for fear of hitting Jack, and he sat with his gun raisedwaiting for an opportunity. 

Jack saw his danger and rolled himself over, trying vainly the while todrag his axe from his belt. Then just as the furious little boar wasdashing at him, I saw something black dart down from above; there was arush, a squeal, and the boar was literally pinned to the earth, whileJimmy stood grinning and staring from the doctor to me and back, as ifasking to be complimented upon his feat. For it really was a feat. Hehad jumped fully ten feet to the ground spear in hand, and literallythrown himself upon the little boar. 

"A magnificent jump, Jimmy, " I cried. 

"Jimmy de boy to jump, " he said, complacently. "Pig, pig kill Mass JackPenny, Jimmy no spear um. "

"Yes, I 'spect I should have ketched it pretty warmly, " said Jack, gathering himself up. "Oh, I say, I did come down such a bump, JoeCarstairs. It seemed to shake my back joints all to pieces. "

"Jimmy spear um lil pig, pig, " said the black. 

"Yes, and I'll give you my knife for it, " said Jack, taking out hisgreat clasp-knife. "It's a real good one, Jimmy, and I wouldn't haveparted with it for a deal. "

"Jimmy got knife, " said the black, with a contemptuous look. "Jimmydon't want knife. "

"Well, then, what shall I give you?" said Jack. 

"Tickpence, " said he, grinning; "give Jimmy tickpence. "

"Why, what for?" I cried. "What are you going to do with _tick_pence?"

"Spend um, " said Jimmy; "black fellow spend money, money. Give Jimmyall a tickpence. "

"But there's nowhere to spend it, " I said. 

"Nev mind, Jimmy spend tickpence all a same. Give Jimmy tickpence. "

Jack had not a single coin about him, neither had I, but fortunately thedoctor had one, which he handed to Jack, who gave it to the delightedblack, and it was forthwith thrust into the pocket of the curtailedtrousers, after which he strutted about, leaving the other blacks toperform the duty of dressing the pigs. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

HOW JIMMY WAS TAKEN VERY BAD INDEED. 

This sudden supply of food necessitated our making camp where we were, and cutting the meat up into strips to dry, while, apparently on theprinciple of making their hay while the sun shone, the blacks lit a fireand had a tremendous feast, both Jack Penny and I laughing heartily tosee the solemn face of Jimmy as he devoted himself to the task ofstoring up an abundance of food, ready for emergencies. 

At our table, as the doctor called it, we contented ourselves with theturkey-like bird, which was delicious, but we tasted the wild pig, apiece of which, fairly well roasted, was brought to us in the mostsolicitous manner by Ti-hi, who smiled contentedly as he saw us begin topartake thereof. 

We set it aside, though, as soon as the black had gone, for the doctorpronounced it strong and musky, and Jack Penny behaved very rudely, according to the ordinary etiquette of the dinner table, and exclaimed:

"Oh, law!"

It was a glorious sunset, and the place where we were encamped, as westyled it, was once more beneath a huge tree. For a time I waslistening to the birds' screams and cries from the forest, and then allat once they ceased, and a long-drawn howl, which recalled the horrorsof our night-watch, arose from a distance. Then the sun sank, anddarkness began to come on very quickly. First the sky paled and a staror two began to twinkle, then all above us was of a deep intense purple, studded and encrusted with points of dazzling light, and, like thedoctor, tired out with loss of rest, I began to yawn. 

For our evenings were not devoted to amusements. Our day only had twodivisions, that for work and that for rest. As soon as the arduous toilof the day was over, and we had partaken of food, we were ready forsleep; so this time Jack Penny was set to watch with Ti-hi and Gyp, andwe lay down on a bough-made bed. 

One moment I was lying on my back gazing up at the stars, and firstthinking of my mother and how anxious she must be as to how I wasgetting on; then wondering where my father was likely to be, and whetherwe were going to work in the best way to find him; the next moment I wasdreaming that Gyp had run after and caught a wild man of the woods bythe tail, and had dragged him into camp, howling dismally. 

It did not fit into my dream that wild men of the woods were not likelyto be possessed of tails for Gyp to tug, and if they were, that theywould have striven to crush the dog by one blow of the hand; my dreamarranged itself, and the howling was continued as I started up, allwakefulness, and saw a dark figure bending over me and looking colossalas seen against the ruddy light of the fire. 

"Is that you, doctor?" I said. 

"Yes, Joe; wake up. I want you. "

"What's the matter--has that horrible thing come again?"

"No, " he said; "the black is very bad. "

"What! old Jimmy?" I cried. 

"Yes. That is he howling. "

I jumped up with a curious sensation of suffocation at my chest, for, startled from a deep sleep into wakefulness, it occurred to me thatsomething dreadful was going to happen, and that we were to lose thetrue-hearted, merry, boyish companion of so many years. Like a flashthere seemed to come back to me the memory of dozens of expeditions inwhich he had been my faithful comrade, and this was like a death-blow toour hopes, for, in spite of his obstinacy and arrogance, Jimmy wouldhave laid down his life to serve me. 

"Let us go to him, doctor, " I said. "Make haste!"

Our way to the black lay past the camp fire, where Jack Penny wassitting with Ti-hi, and the former spoke excitedly as we drew near:

"I say, doctor, do make haste and give him a dose of something to do himgood, or else put him out of his misery. "

"Jack!" I said in disgust. 

"Well, he's awful bad, you know, and he ought to have something. Mindhow you go to him. I went just now and he began hitting at my legs withhis waddy, and then he poked at Gyp with his spear for going up to smellhim. "

"He won't hurt me, " I said sadly; and as another doleful cry came fromamong the bushes, I led the way to where the poor fellow lay, horriblyswollen and writhing in agony. 

Two of the blacks were watching him, and from what we could make out itseemed that Jimmy had alarmed them by his restlessness, and that theyhad fetched him back when he ran some distance and fell, and laid himwhere he now was, in too much agony to stir. 

"What is the matter with him, doctor?" I said excitedly, as I went downon one knee and took the poor fellow's hand, which he graspedconvulsively, and laid flat directly upon his chest--at least that is tosay, nearly. 

"I hardly know yet, my lad, " said the doctor. "Perhaps he has eatensome poisonous berry. You know how he tastes every wild fruit we pass. "

"And will it--will it--"

I could say no more, for something seemed to choke my voice, and Ilooked up imploringly in the doctor's eyes. 

"Oh! no, Joe, my lad, " he said kindly, "not so bad as that. "

"Jimmy bad as that--Jimmy bad as that, " moaned the poor fellow; and asjust then Jack Penny threw some light twigs upon the fire, the blazeshowed me the swollen and distorted countenance of my poor companion, and a strange chill of apprehension came over me. 

We watched by him all night, but he grew worse towards morning, and atlast he lay apparently stupefied, free from pain, but as if the berry, or whatever it was that he had swallowed, had rendered him insensible. 

Of course, continuing our journey was out of the question, so all wecould do was to make the rough brushwood pallet of the sufferer morecomfortable by spreading over it a blanket, and I did little else butwatch by it all the day. 

I felt hurt two or three times by the rough, unfeeling manner in whichthe doctor behaved towards the black, and I could not help thinking thatif Jimmy had been a white man the treatment would have been different. 

This worried me a good deal, for it seemed so different to the doctor'scustomary way; but I took comfort from the fact that poor Jimmy was asinsensible to pain as he was to kindness, and in this state of misery Ihardly left him all day. 

Towards evening the doctor, who had spent the time overhauling andcleaning our guns and pistols, came to me and insisted upon my going toJack Penny, who had just got a good meal ready. 

"But I am not a bit hungry, doctor, " I cried. 

"Then go and eat against you are, " he said. "Lay in a moderate store, and don't, " he added meaningly, "don't eat more than is good for you. "

I looked at him wonderingly, and got up without a word, feeling morehurt and annoyed with him than ever, and the more so as he looked at mewith a peculiar smile as he twisted a stout cane about in his hands. 

"How's Jimmy?" said Jack Penny. 

"Dying, " I said sadly, as I took my seat before him. 

"Oh! I say, not so bad as that, Joe Carstairs! It takes a lot to killa fellow like Jimmy. He'll come all right again. Here, set to and havea good feed. You must want it awfully. "

"I can't eat, " I said bitterly. "I liked poor old Jimmy. A betterfellow never breathed. He saved your life yesterday. "

"Ah! that he did, " said Jack; "and it's all right. The doctor says--Hullo! what's that?"

I started to my feet, for a horrible scream rang through the woods fromthe direction where poor Jimmy lay; and a pang shot through me as I feltthat it was a new throe being suffered by my poor black comrade--comradesoon to be no more. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

HOW THE DOCTOR GAVE JIMMY HIS PHYSICS. 

I could not move for a few moments, the terrible cry and the shrieksthat followed seemed to rob me of all power; but overcoming thisparalysing feeling at last, I ran towards where poor Jimmy lay, thethought flashing upon my mind that the doctor must be performing someoperation to try and save the poor fellow's life. 

I was quite right, as I found when I reached the spot, followed by allthe little camp: the doctor was performing an operation, and theAustralian was upon his knees now, his feet then, capering about, andappealing for mercy. 

For the instrument with which the doctor was performing his operationwas the stout cane I had previously seen in his hand, one that he hadcut in the jungle, and then sent me away so as to spare my feelings andkeep me from witnessing the painful sight. 

To my utter astonishment Jimmy was apparently free from all traces ofhis late ailment, and catching sight of me he bounded to me, gettingbehind me to avoid the hail of blows that the doctor was showering uponhis unprotected person. 

"Doctor!" I shouted. 

"The dose to be repeated, " he said, "when necessary, " and he reachedround me with the cane, giving Jimmy two or three very sharp cuts. "Seehow this takes down the swelling. For outward application only. Onedose nearly certain to cure. "

"What are you doing?" I cried. 

"Doing? Performing a wonderful cure. Hasn't Jimmy here been horriblyill, and alarmed the whole camp?"

Every time he could he gave Jimmy a smart cut, and the black shriekedwith pain. 

"How are you now, my man?" he said mockingly. 

"Jimmy quite as well. Ever so better. All rightums. Tank you better, "yelled the black, and he sheltered himself again behind my back. 

"Doctor, " I said, surprised and angry at what seemed horrible cruelty. 

"Give him some more?" he said laughing. "Of course I will, " and hetried to reach round me, but I caught hold of the cane, and Jimmy tookadvantage of the cessation of hostilities for a moment to run for somedistance and then climb up a tree, in one of the higher branches ofwhich he settled himself like a monkey, and sat rubbing himself andlooking down at the danger from which he had escaped. 

"There, Joe, " said the doctor, laughing; "it has made me hot. That's asgood a cure as the Queen's physician could have made. "

"How could you be so brutal to the poor wretch?" I said indignantly. 

"Brutal! Ha! ha! ha! My indignant young hero!" he cried. "Here areyou going to take up the cudgels in the rascal's behalf. Don't you seethere was nothing the matter with the artful black ruffian. "

"Nothing the matter!" I said. "Why, wasn't he dangerously ill?"

"Dangerously full, " said the doctor, clapping me on the shoulder. "Iwas obliged to give him a lesson, Joe, and it will do him good for allour trip. I suspected the rascal from the very first, but I havestudied medicine long enough to know how easy it is to be deceived byappearances; so I gave Master Jimmy the benefit of the doubt, andtreated him as if he was really very ill, till I had made assurancedoubly sure, and then I thrashed him. "

"What! do you really mean, doctor--" I began. 

"It could not very well have happened with an Englishman, Joe. WithMaster Jimmy there, it was different. "

"But was he not very ill?"

"You saw him run and climb that tree; you heard how he yelled. Now whatdo you think? Could a dying man do that?"

"N-no, " I faltered. "What does it all mean, then?"

"Pig!" said the doctor, smiling; "the gluttonous dog ate till he couldnot stir. He had as much as anybody else, and then waited his chance, and when every one was lying down he began upon the store of driedstrips. "

"Jimmy terribull sorry, Mass Joe, " came from up the tree. 

"He behaved like a boa constrictor, and then alarmed us all horriblyinstead of confessing the truth. Why, my dear boy, do you suppose Ishould have been so cruel to a sick man?"

"You black rascal!" I cried, looking up at Jimmy, who howled like adog. 

"Jimmy come down now! Never do so no more. "

"Only let me have a turn at you, " I said, and he immediately began toclimb higher. 

"Here, you come down, sir, " I shouted. 

For answer he climbed higher and higher till he was pretty well out ofsight among the small branches in the top of the tree. 

"All right!" I said, "I can wait;" and I walked away with the doctor, horribly annoyed at the waste of time, but wonderfully relieved atmatters being no worse. 

I never knew, but I suspect that Jimmy stopped in the top of the treetill it was dark and then slunk down and hid himself amongst the bushesclose up to the watch-fire. 

At all events he was busy the next morning working away as if nothinghad been wrong overnight. He showed himself to be most active inputting things straight, making up the loads, and every now and thenglancing furtively first at one of us and then at the other. 

"Oh, I do like Jimmy, that I do, " said Jack Penny to me, and then hethrew himself down and began to laugh heartily, shutting his eyes androlling himself gently to and fro till he declared that he felt better, and got up. 

"I don't care about laughing when I'm standing up, " he said seriously, "it waggles my back so. "

When breakfast time came, for we had a seven or eight mile walk first inthe cool of the early morning, we made a halt and the rations wereserved out by the doctor, who gave me a look and handed each black hisportion in turn, but omitted Jimmy. 

The latter stood disconsolately looking on for some minutes in the hopethat he was to be remembered after all; but when he saw everybody busyat work eating and himself utterly neglected, he walked slowly away somedistance from where we were seated and, laying his head against thetrunk of a tree, let out a series of the most unearthly howls. 

"Oh, I say!" exclaimed Jack Penny. 

"Pleasant, " said the doctor, going on with his breakfast; and seeingthat he was observed, and that his howls were having some effect, Jimmydisplayed the utter childlike disposition of a savage by redoubling hiscries. 

"If he don't stop directly I shall go and talk to him with this, " Isaid, snatching up a stick. 

"How--aw--ooo!" cried Jimmy, and I jumped to my feet, when he becamesilent, and I resumed my place. 

Jimmy watched us eagerly for a few minutes, when, left half starvedhimself, and unable to bear the neglect when others wereenjoying themselves, the howls burst out again followed by aself-commiserating--"Poor Jimmy, Mass Joe not care poor Jimmy nevernow. "

No one took any notice, and we went on eating grilled turkey and damperand drinking coffee, and all the time I was rather enjoying myimportance and the fact of being able to control, boy as I was, a stoutpowerful fellow like Jimmy and make him as obedient as a dog. 

"Poor old Jimmy cut handums. Ebber so sorry, poor Jimmy. Go and diehimself. Haw--ow!"

"I say, " said Jack Penny, "he couldn't dye himself any blacker, couldhe, Joe Carstairs?"

"Have some more coffee, Joe?" said the doctor aloud. "Here, give me apiece more turkey. "

"Poor Jimmy go starve a deff, " was the next that met our ears, and ithad such an effect upon Jack Penny that some of his coffee got into hiswindpipe and he choked and coughed and laughed till he was obliged tolie down. 

"If I was to cough much like that I should break my back, " he said, sitting up and wiping his eyes. "Poor old Jimmy? I do like him. He_is_ a one. "

Jimmy stood watching the disappearing food, then he sat down. Then helay at full length; but no one took the slightest notice, for the blackswere selfishly busy, and we were keeping up the punishment for the falsealarm to which our follower had subjected us. 

At last this attack upon Jimmy's tenderest part--his appetite--grew tobe more than he could bear, and he sat up in the squatting attitude somuch affected by savages. 

"Ah!" he exclaimed dolefully, "poor black fellow--poor Jimmy!" and thisstarted Jack Penny off laughing once more, which so exasperated Jimmythat he sprang up as sharply as if stung, and ran in a rage to where hisblack companions were eating their food. 

"Here, hi! you black fellow, Jimmy done wid him. Jimmy gib boomerang. You no fro down wallaby. "

He held out his curious hard-wood weapon to Ti-hi, who took it, gazingat him wonderingly, while Jimmy glanced at us to see if we were about torelent and give him some breakfast. 

"Jimmy going, " he said at last, loud enough for us to hear; but we paidno heed. 

"Jimmy going; nebber come back no more, " he said in a louder voice; butno one turned a head. 

"Jimmy go jump river. Big bunyip crocodile come eat poor Jimmy. All umvery sorry. No see poor Jimmy not nev more. "

He glanced at us again, but we were laughing over our breakfast, thoughnot so busy but that we were able to see the black fold his arms andstalk away, evidently under the impression that we should start up andarrest him; but no one moved. 

"Big water bunyip glad get black fellow, " he said, as loudly as hecould, and with a scornful look at us. 

"Here, suppose we go, " said the doctor, rising. 

"Go?" said Jack, getting up slowly, "where to?"

"To see Jimmy feed the crocodiles. Come along, lads. "

Jimmy stopped short with his jaw dropped, and nearly beside himself withrage. He seemed to be completely staggered at our cool way of takingthings, and at last he ran off like the wind, rushed back again with hiseyes flashing, and slapping his legs as he darted upon Ti-hi, waddy inhand. 

"Gib boomerang Jimmy, black tief fellow, " he roared. "Take a boomerang. Jimmy boomerang. Tief fellow tole a boomerang. "

Snatching it from Ti-hi's hand he made believe to strike him with thecurious weapon and then rushed off with it into the bush. 

"Well, Joe, " said the doctor, "do you think the crocodiles will dine onblackbird?"

I shook my head. 

"What do you say, Jack Penny, eh?"

"Jimmy won't jump in, I know, " drawled Jack. 

"You're right, " said the doctor; "he'll come back before long hungry asa hunter, and regularly tamed down or I'm no judge of character. "

"Yes, " I said, "and he'll bring back something he has killed so as totry and make friends. That's how he always did at home. "

"Well, " said Jack Penny solemnly, "I hope he will. I like Jimmy, hemakes me laugh, and though it hurts my back I like laughing. It does megood. I never used to have anything to laugh at at home. Father usedto laugh when he kicked me, but it never seemed funny to me, and I neverused to laugh at that. "

"Well, Jack Penny, I dare say the black will give you something to laughat before long, for I don't suppose it will be long before he is back. "

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

HOW I NEARLY HAD AN ARROW TO DRINK. 

We were soon on the way towards the interior again, and the doctor and Ihad set to work trying to obtain some information from Ti-hi, and alsofrom Aroo, another intelligent looking follower who had been one of theprisoners made by the captain of the burnt schooner. 

It was hard work, but we were daily getting to understand more and moreof the commoner words of conversation, and by degrees we managed to makeout that the reason why we had not come upon any native village was thatthe nearest was still many days' journey distant, but that if we changedour course and went down to the sea-shore we should soon find signs ofoccupation. 

But I felt that this would be of no use, for if my father had beenanywhere on the coast he must have come in contact sooner or later withone or other of the trading vessels, whose captains, even if they couldnot bring him away on account of his being a prisoner, would certainlyhave reported somewhere that they had seen a white captive, and the newsmust have spread. 

"He must be right in the interior somewhere, " I said; "and I'm sure wecan't do better than keep on. "

"I think you are right, Joe, " said the doctor thoughtfully. 

"I feel sure I am, " I said. "I don't expect to find him directly; but Imean to go on trying till I do. "

"That's the way to find anybody, " said Jack Penny. "You're sure to find'em if you keep on like that. Come along. "

Jack went off; taking great strides as if he expected to be successfulat once; but he did not keep up the pace long, but hung back for me toovertake him, saying:

"I say, Joe Carstairs; does your back ever ache much?"

"No, " I said; "very little. Only when I'm very tired. "

"Ah! you ain't got so much back as I have, " he said, shaking his head. "When you've got as much as I have you'll have the back-ache awfully, like I do. I say, I wonder where old Jimmy has got to. "

"He's close at hand somewhere, " I said. "Depend upon it he has not gonefar. If the truth were known, " I continued, "he's walking along abreastof us, just hidden in the bushes. "

"Think so?" said Jack dubiously. 

"I'm about sure of it, " I replied. 

"I ain't, " said Jack. "I'm afraid he's gone right away back; and we'veoffended him so that we sha'n't see him any more. "

"You keep your opinion, Jack, and I'll keep to mine. I say, I wonderwhat that noise is!"

"Noise! Birds, " said Jack. 

"No, no! That dull murmur. There, listen!"

"Wind in the trees. "

"No, I'm sure it is not!" I exclaimed. "There! it is gone now. It islike far-off thunder. "

"Water, " said the doctor, who had closed up with us unperceived. "I'vebeen listening to it, and it sounds to me like a waterfall. Depend uponit we shall find that the river comes down over some pile of rocks, andif we were clear of the forest and could take a good look round weshould find that the country is growing mountainous on ahead. "

It seemed during the next day's journey that the doctor was right, forwe were certainly ascending, the land growing more rugged and toilsome, but at the same time far more beautiful and full of variety. In placeof always journeying on through thick forest or park-like stretches, wenow found our way was among stony ridges and long heavy slopes, withhere and there a lovely valley, so full of beauty that I used to thinkto myself that perhaps we should find my father had built himself a hutin some such place as this, and was patiently going on with hiscollecting. 

We had seen nothing of Jimmy for three days, and though I suspected himof being close at hand, and coming to our camp at night stealthily insearch of food, it really began to appear as if he had left us for good, when an adventure towards evening showed us who was correct in hissurmise. 

"I don't think much of the doctor's waterfall, " Jack said to me, in hisdry drawling way. 

"Why, we haven't seen it!" I replied. 

"No, nor we ain't going to, seemingly. It's wind amongst the trees. "

"Don't be so obstinate, " I said, listening intently to hear the heavythunderous murmur still, now I listened for it, though I had not seemedto notice it before. 

"There ain't no waterfall, " he replied, "or we should have seen itbefore now. "

"Perhaps the shape of the land keeps us from getting near it, or perhapsthe wind drives the sound away. "

"Or perhaps the sound drives the wind away, or perhaps the--Look out, Joe, look out!"

Jack Penny leaped aside nimbly, and I followed his example, hardlyescaping, while the man in front of me, less quick in his motionconsequent upon his having a load upon his head, was sent flying by agreat slate-coloured buffalo which had suddenly charged us from behind aclump of trees where it had been lying. 

It all happened so quickly that I had not time to think of my gun, whilethe doctor was fifty yards behind, and could not have fired had he beenable to see, for fear of hurting us. 

The great beast had stopped for a moment after sending our bearerflying, and then, seeing him down, snorted a little, lowered his head, and would doubtless have tossed and trampled him to death had there notsuddenly come a whirring whizzing noise from some bushes in a hollow onour right, when something struck the buffalo a heavy blow upon themuzzle, making it turn up its head, utter a furious roar, and charge atthe bushes. 

This was my opportunity, and taking a quick aim I fired, and heard thebullet strike with a heavy thud, when the buffalo seemed to drop uponits knees on the steep slope, and literally turned a somersault, crashing with a tremendous noise into some trees; and then, to myastonishment, rising again and going off at a lumbering gallop. 

It did not go far, for just then there was the sharp crack of thedoctor's piece, and once more the buffalo fell heavily, to liestruggling, while, to my astonishment I saw a familiar black figurebound out of the bushes, catch up the boomerang he had thrown, and thenrace after the buffalo, which he reached just as the doctor also came upand put it out of its misery by a merciful shot in the head. 

"Jimmy killum! Jimmy boomerang killum!" shouted the black, dancing onthe prostrate beast, while Jack and I were busy helping the poor bearerto his feet, and making sure that though stunned he was not seriouslyhurt. 

"No, " said the doctor. "No bones broken. It's wonderful what some ofthese savage races will bear. "

He ceased his examination and gave the poor fellow a friendly clap onthe shoulder, while, after lying down for a time in the newcamping-ground, close up to the welcome supply of meat, the injured manwas sufficiently recovered to sit up, and eat his share of roast buffaloflesh. 

Some delicious steaks which we cooked proved very welcome to us by wayof a change, but we did not commence without a few words with MasterJimmy, who was all smiles and friendliness now with everybody, till thedoctor said, pointing to the abundant supply of meat:

"No more bad illness, Jimmy. You are not to eat much. "

"Jimmy won't eat not bit!" he cried viciously. "Go in a bush and starvea deff. "

"There, sit down and eat your supper!" said the doctor sternly; "and nomore nonsense, please. "

The black looked at him in a sidelong fashion, and his fingers playedwith the handle of his waddy, which was behind him in his waistband, andthen he quailed beneath the doctor's steady gaze, and sat down humbly bythe camp fire to cook and eat what was really a moderate quantity for anAustralian black. 

Next morning we were off at daybreak, our way lying up a narrow ravinefor a short distance, and then between a couple of masses of rock, whichseemed to have been split apart by some earthquake; and directly we werethrough here the dull humming buzz that we had heard more or less fordays suddenly fell upon our ears with a deep majestic boom that rose attimes, as the wind set our way, into a deafening roar. 

I looked triumphantly at Jack Penny, but he only held his head higher inthe air and gave a sniff, lowering his crest directly after to attend tohis feet, for we were now in a complete wilderness of rocks and stones, thrown in all directions, and at times we had regularly to climb. 

"It is useless to bring the men this way, " the doctor said, after acouple of hours' labour; but as he spoke Ti-hi called a halt and pointedin a different direction, at right angles to that which we had so farfollowed, as being the one we should now take. 

The sun had suddenly become unbearable, for we were hemmed in bypiled-up stones, and its heat was reflected from the brightly glisteningmasses, some of which were too hot even to be touched without pain, while the glare was almost blinding wherever the rocks were crystallineand white. 

"I say, is that a cloud?" said Jack Penny, drawing our attention to afleecy mass that could be seen rising between a couple of masses ofrock. 

"Yes!" cried the doctor eagerly, as he shaded his eyes from the sun'sglare; "a cloud of spray. The falls are there!"

"Or is it the wind you can see in the trees?" I said, with a look atJack Penny. 

"Get out!" retorted that gentleman. "I didn't say I was sure, anddoctor isn't sure now. "

"No, not sure, Penny, " he said; "but I think I can take you to wherewater is coming down. "

We felt no temptation to go on then, and willingly followed our guides, who pointed out a huge mass of overhanging rock right in the side of theravine, and here we gladly halted, in the comparatively cool shade, tosit and partake of some of the buffalo strips, my eyes wanderingdreamily to right and left along the narrow valley so filled withstones. 

I was roused from my thoughts about the strangeness of the place we werein and the absence of trees and thick bush by the doctor proposing a bitof a look round. 

"We are getting up among the mountains, Joe, " he said; "and this meansmore difficult travelling, but at the same time a healthier region andless heat. "

"Oh, doctor!" I said, wiping my forehead. 

"Why, it couldn't be any hotter than it is out there!" said Jack. 

"Come with us, then, and let's see if we can find a fresh way out. Perhaps we may hit upon a pass to the open country beyond. At allevents let's go and see the falls. "

We took our guns, leaving all heavy things with the blacks, who weresettling themselves for a sleep. 

The sun's heat almost made me giddy for the first hundred yards, andeither my eyes deceived me or Jack Penny's long body wavered and shook. 

But we trudged laboriously on over and among masses of rock, that seemedto be nearly alive with lizards basking in the sun, their curious coatsof green and grey and umber-brown glistening in the bright sunshine, andlooking in some cases as if they were covered with frosted metal as theylay motionless upon the pieces of weatherworn stone. 

Some raised their heads to look at us, and remained motionless if westopped to watch them, others scuffled rapidly away at the faintestsound, giving us just a glimpse of a quivering tail as its ownerdisappeared down a crevice almost by magic. 

"Don't! don't fire!" cried the doctor, as Jack suddenly levelled hispiece. 

"Why not?" he said in an ill-used tone. "I daresay they're poison andthey ain't no good. "

The object that had been his aim was an ash-grey snake, rather short andthick of form, which lay coiled into the figure of a letter S, and heldits head a few inches from the rock on which it lay. 

"If you wish to kill the little vipers do it with a stick, my lad. Every charge of powder may prove very valuable, and be wanted in anemergency. "

"I say, " said Jack Penny, dropping the butt of his piece on the rock, leaning his arms upon it, and staring at the speaker. "You don't thinkwe are likely to have a fight soon, do you?"

"I hope not, " said the doctor; "but we shall have to be always on thealert, for in a land like this we never know how soon danger may come. "

"I say, Jack, " I whispered, "do you want to go back?"

"No: I don't want to go back, " he said with a snort. "I don't say Iain't afraid. P'r'aps I am. I always thought our place lonely, but itwas nothing to these parts, where there don't seem to be no livingpeople at all. "

"Well, let's get on, " said the doctor, smiling; and we threaded our wayas well as we could amongst the chaotic masses of stones till we werestopped short by a complete crack in the stony earth, just as if theland had been dragged asunder. 

As we stood on the brink of the chasm, and gazed down at the bottom somehundred feet below, we could see that it was a wild stony place, moresterile than that we had traversed. In places there were traces ofmoisture, as if water sometimes trickled down, and where this was thecase I could see that ferns were growing pretty freely, but on the wholethe place was barrennesss itself. 

It seemed to have a fascination though for Jack Penny, who sat down onthe edge and dangled his long legs over the rock, amusing himself bythrowing down pieces of stone on to larger pieces below, so as to seethem shatter and fall in fragments. 

"Snakes!" he said suddenly. "Look at 'em. See me hit that one. " Hepitched down a large piece of stone as he spoke, and I saw somethingglide into a crevice, while another reptile raised itself up against apiece of rock and fell back hissing angrily. 

We were so high up that I could not tell how big these creatures were, but several that we noticed must have been six or seven feet long, andlike many vipers of the poisonous kinds, very thick in proportion. 

I daresay we should have stopped there amusing ourselves for the nexthour, pitching down stones and making the vipers vicious; but ourchildish pursuit was ended by the doctor, who clapped Jack on theshoulder. 

"Come, Jack, " he said, "if we leave you there you'll fall asleep andtopple to the bottom. "

Jack drew up his legs and climbed once more to his feet, looking veryhot and languid, but he shouldered his piece and stepped out as weslowly climbed along the edge of the chasm for about a quarter of amile, when it seemed to close up after getting narrower and narrower, sothat we continued our journey on what would have been its farther sidehad it not closed. 

Higher and higher we seemed to climb, with the path getting moredifficult, save when here and there we came upon a nice bare spot freefrom stones, and covered with a short kind of herb that had theappearance of thyme. 

But now the heat grew less intense. Then it was comparatively cool, anda soft moist air fanned our heated cheeks. The roar of the falls grewlouder, and at any moment we felt that we might come upon the sight, butwe had to travel on nearly half a mile along what seemed to be a steepslope. It was no longer arid and barren here, for every shelf andcrevice was full of growth of the most vivid green. For a long time wehad not seen a tree, but here tall forest trees had wedged their rootsin the cracks and crevices, curved out, and then shot straight up intothe air. 

The scene around was beautiful, and birds were once more plentiful, dashing from fruit to flower, and no doubt screaming and pipingaccording to their wont, but all seemed to be strangely silent, even ourown voices sounded smothered, everything being overcome by the awfuldeep loud roar that came from beyond a dense clump of trees. 

We eagerly pressed forward now, ready, however, to find that we had along distance to go, and the doctor leading we wound our way in and out, with the delicious shade overhead, and the refreshing moist air seemingto cool our fevered faces and dry lips. 

"Why, we're walking along by the very edge, " said Jack Penny suddenly. "This is the way;" and stepping aside he took about a dozen steps andthen the undergrowth closed behind him for the moment, but as we partedit to follow him we caught sight of his tall form again and then lostit, for he uttered a shrill "Oh!" and disappeared. 

"Doctor! quick!" I cried, for I was next, and I sprang forward, to stopappalled, for Jack was before me clinging to a thin sapling which he hadcaught as he fell, and this had bent like a fishing-rod, letting himdown some ten feet below the edge of an awful precipice, the moreterrible from the fact that the river seemed to be rushing straight outinto the air from a narrow ravine high upon our right, and to plungedown into a vast rocky basin quite a couple of hundred feet below. 

As I caught sight of Jack Penny's face with its imploring eyes I was forthe moment paralysed. He had tight hold of the tree, which was onlyabout half the thickness of his own thin wrists, and he was swaying upand down, the weight of his body still playing upon the elastic sapling. 

"I can't hold on long, Joe Carstairs, " he said hoarsely. "I'm such aweight; but I say I ain't a bit afraid, only do be quick. "

The doctor had crept to my side now, and he reached out his hand tograsp Jack, but could not get hold of him by a couple of feet. 

"Can't you reach?" the poor fellow gasped. 

"No, not yet, " the doctor said sharply; and his voice seemed quitechanged as he took in the position; and I saw him shudder as he noted, as I had done, that if Jack fell it would be into the foaming basinwhere the water thundered down. 

"Be quick, please, " panted Jack. "I can't do nothing at all; and Idon't--think--I could swim--down there. "

"Don't look down, " roared the doctor, though even then his voice soundedsmothered and low. 

Jack raised his eyes to ours directly, and I seemed to feel that but forthis he would have been so unnerved that he would have loosed his hold. 

"Now, " cried the doctor, "the tree's too weak for you to cling to itwith your legs. Swing them to and fro till we catch hold of you. "

Jack looked at me with a face like ashes; but he obeyed, and it washorrible to see the sapling bend and play like a cart-whip with theweight upon it. Each moment I expected it to snap in two or give way atthe roots; but no: it held fast, and Jack swung to and fro, and dancedup and down over the awful gulf till he was within our reach. 

"Now!" shouted the doctor to me. "Both together. "

I did as he did, clutched at Jack's legs as they swung up to us; heldon; and then we threw ourselves back, dragging with all our might. 

"Let go! let go!" roared the doctor to Jack. 

"I daren't, not yet, " he cried, with his head hidden from us, that andhis body being over the gulf, while we had his legs over the edge of therock. 

"But the tree is drawing you away from us, " shouted the doctor. "Letgo, I say. "

All this time it was as though Jack Penny were made of india-rubber, foras we pulled his legs it was against something elastic, which keptgiving and drawing us back. 

For a few moments it seemed doubtful whether we should save him, for ourhold was hastily taken and none of the best, and I felt the coldperspiration gathering in my hands and on my brow. Then just as I feltthat I must give way, and the doctor's hard panting breathing soundeddistant and strange through the singing in my ears, our desperatetugging prevailed over even the wild clutch of one who believed himselfin deadly peril. Jack's hands relaxed, and we all fell together amongstthe bushes, but safe. 

No one spoke, and the dull sound of panting was heard even amidst theroar of the falling waters. Then the doctor got up, looking fierce andangry, and seizing Jack by the collar he gave him a shake. 

"Look here, " he said. "I'll have no more of it. Next time you get intodanger, you may save yourself. "

"Thank ye, doctor, " said Jack, sitting up and rocking himself softly. "I might just as well have gone as be treated like this. You might havetaken hold of a fellow's clothes, both of you. You've about tore theflesh off my bones. "

The doctor turned away to look at the great waterfall, evidently amusedby Jack's dry drawling speech; and I sat and looked at my companion, while he looked at me, and spoke out so as to make me hear above theroar of the torrent. 

"I say, Joe Carstairs, I didn't seem to be very much frightened, did I?"

"No, " I said. "You bore it very bravely. "

"Mean it?"

"Of course, " I said. 

"That's right; because I did feel awfully queer, you know. I don't mindthat though so long as I didn't show it. "

"How did you manage to get into such a pickle?" I said. 

"Oh, I don't know, " he drawled, still rubbing himself gently. "I waswandering forward to get a good look at the waterfall, and then my legsseemed to go down. I only had time to grip hold of that tree, and thenI was swinging about. That's all. Let's have a look at the water, though, all the same. "

We followed the doctor, going cautiously along till we found himstanding gun in hand gazing from a bare spot right out at the hugetumbling body of water, which made the very rocks on which we stoodtremble and vibrate as it thundered down. 

In one spot, half-way down what looked to be a terribly gloomy chasm, abroad beam of sunlight shone right across the foam and fine spray thatrose in a cloud, and from time to time this was spanned by a lovelyiris, whose colours looked more beautiful than anything of the kind thatI had before seen. 

I could have stood for hours gazing at the soft oily looking water as itglided over the piled-up rocks, and watched it breaking up into sprayand then plunge headlong into the chaos of water below; but the doctorlaid his hand upon my shoulder and pointed upwards, when, leading theway, he climbed on and on till we were beyond the rocks which formed theshelf over which the water glided, and here we found ourselves at theedge of a narrow ravine, along which the stream flowed swiftly from farbeyond our sight to the spot where it made its plunge. 

We were in comparative quiet up here, the noise of the fall being cutoff by the rocks, which seemed to hush it as soon as we had passed. 

"Let us get back, my lads, " the doctor said then; "I don't think weshall advance our business by inspecting this grand river;" and soleaving the water-worn smooth rock of the ravine, we retraced our steps, and at last, hot and fainting almost with the heat, reached the littlecamp, where our black followers were eagerly looking out for our return. 

"Where's Jimmy?" I said as I glanced round; but no one knew, andsupposing that he had gone to hunt something that he considered good toeat I took no further notice then, though the doctor frowned, evidentlyconsidering that he ought to have been in camp. Gyp was there though, ready to salute his master, who lay down at once, as he informed me inconfidence, to rest his back. 

We were only too glad to get under the shelter of the great overhangingrock, which gave us comparative coolness, situated as it was beneath ahill that was almost a mountain, towering up in successive ledges to thesummit. 

The walk, in spite of the excitement of the adventure, had given us anexcellent appetite, and even Jack Penny ate away heartily, lookingself-satisfied and as complacent as could be. 

"Why, what are you laughing at, Jack?" I said, as I happened to lookup. 

"I was only smiling, " he whispered, "about my accident. "

"Smiling--at that!" I exclaimed. "Why, I should have thought you wouldhave been horrified at the very thought of it. "

"So I should if I had been a coward over it, Joe Carstairs; but Iwasn't--now was I?"

"Coward! No, " I said, "of course not. Here, fill my cup with water. "

We were sitting pretty close to the edge of our shelter, which reallymight have been termed a very shallow cave, some twenty feet above thelevel; and as I spoke I held out the tin pannikin towards Jack, for theheat had made me terribly thirsty. The next moment, though, somethingstruck the tin mug and dashed it noisily out of my hand, while before Icould recover from my astonishment, the doctor had dragged me backwardswith one hand, giving Jack Penny a backhander on the chest with theother. 

"Arrows!" he whispered. "Danger! There are savages there below. "

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

HOW WE WERE BESIEGED, AND I THOUGHT OF BIRNAM WOOD. 

I believe the doctor saved us from dangerous wounds, if not from death, for, as he threw himself flat, half a dozen arrows struck the roof ofour shelter, and fell pattering down amongst us as we lay. 

"Here, quick! pass these packages forward, " the doctor whispered; and wemanaged to get the blacks' loads between us and the enemy, making of thepackages a sort of breastwork, which sheltered us while we hauledforward some pieces of stone, arrow after arrow reaching this extemporeparapet, or coming over it to strike the roof and fall back. 

The natives with us understood our plans at once, and eagerly helped, pushing great pieces of stone up to us, so that in about a quarter of anhour we were well protected, and the question came uppermost in my mindwhether it was not time to retaliate with a charge of shot upon thecowardly assailants, who had attacked us when we were so peacefullyengaged. 

We had time, too, now to look round us and lament that our force was somuch weakened by the absence of Jimmy and Aroo, who had gone to fetchmore water. 

"They will be killed, " I said, and I saw Ti-hi smile, for he hadevidently understood my meaning. He shook his head too, and tried tomake me understand, as I found afterwards, that Aroo would take care ofhimself; but we left off in a state of the greatest confusion. 

Being then well sheltered we contrived loopholes to watch for ourenemies, and Ti-hi pointed out to me the place from whence the arrowswere shot every time the enemy could see a hand. 

The spot he pointed to as that in which our assailants lay was where apatch of thick growth flourished among some stones, about fifty yardsalong the rocky pass in the direction in which we had come, and as I wasintently watching the place to make out some sign of the enemy, andfeeling doubtful whether the black was right, I saw a slight movementand the glint of a flying arrow, which struck the face of the rock a fewfeet above my head, and then fell by Jack Penny's hand. 

"Mind, " I said, as he picked it up; "perhaps it is poisoned. "

Ti-hi was eagerly watching my face, and as I spoke he caught the arrowfrom Jack's hand, placed it against his arm, and then closed his eyesand pretended to be dead; but as quickly came to life again, as severalmore arrows struck the rock and fell harmlessly among us. These hegathered together all but one, whose point was broken by coming incontact with the rock, and that he threw away. 

After this he carefully strung the bow that he always, like his fellows, carried, and looked eagerly at the doctor, who was scanning the groundin front of us with his little double glass. 

"I don't like the look of things, my lads, " he said in a low voice, andhis countenance was very serious as he spoke. "I intended for ours tobe a peaceable mission, but it seems as if we are to be forced into warwith two men absent. "

"Shall we have to shoot 'em?" said Jack Penny excitedly. 

"I hope not, " said the doctor, "for I should be sorry to shed the bloodof the lowest savage; but we must fight in defence of our lives. Wecannot afford to give those up, come what may. "

Ti-hi fitted an arrow to the string of his short, strong bow, and wasabout to draw it, but the doctor laid his hand upon him and checked him, to the savage warrior's great disgust. 

"No, " said the doctor, "not until we are obliged; and then I shall trywhat a charge of small shot will do. "

We were not long in finding out that it was absolutely necessary todefend ourselves with vigour, for the arrows began to fall thickly--thickly enough, indeed, to show us that there were more marksmen hiddenamong the trees than the size of the clump seemed to indicate from wherewe crouched. 

I was watching the patch of trees very intently when I heard a sharplydrawn inspiration of breath, and turning I saw the doctor pulling anarrow from the flannel tunic he wore. 

"As doctors say, Joe, " he whispered with a smile, "three inches more tothe right and that would have been fatal. "

I don't know how I looked, but I felt pale, and winced a little, whilethe doctor took my hand. 

The force of habit made me snatch it away, for I thought he was going tofeel my pulse. I fancied for the moment that it must be to see whetherI was nervous, and the blood flushed to my cheeks now, and made me lookdefiant. 

"Why, Joe, my lad, what is it?" he said quietly. "Won't you shakehands?"

"Oh! yes, " I cried, placing mine in his, and he gave it a long, firmgrip. 

"I ought, " he said, after a pause, "to have said more about thetroubles, like this one, which I might have known would arise, when wearranged to start; but somehow I had a sort of hope that we might make apeaceful journey, and not be called upon to shed blood. Joe, my lad, weshall have to fight for our lives. "

"And shoot down these people?" I said huskily. 

"If we do not, they will shoot us. Poor wretches, they probably do notknow the power of our guns. We must give them the small shot first, andwe may scare them off. Don't you fire, my lad; leave it to me. "

I nodded my head, and then our attention was taken up by the arrows thatkept flying in, with such good aim that if we had exposed ourselves inthe least the chances are that we should have been hit. 

The doctor was on one side of me, Jack Penny on the other, and my tallyoung friend I noticed had been laying some cartridges very methodicallyclose to his hand, ready for action it seemed to me; but he had notspoken much, only looked very solemn as he lay upon his chest, kickinghis legs up and sawing them slowly to and fro. 

"Are we going to have to fight, Joe Carstairs?" he whispered. 

"I'm afraid so, " I replied. 

"Oh!"

That was all for a few minutes, during which time the arrows kept comingin and striking the roof as before, to fall there with a tinkling sound, and be collected carefully by Ti-hi and his companions, all of whomwatched us with glowing eyes, waiting apparently for the order to begiven when they might reply to the shots of the enemy. 

"I say, Joe Carstairs, " said Jack, giving me a touch with his long arm. 

"Yes; what is it?" I said peevishly, for his questions seemed to be anuisance. 

"I don't look horribly frightened, do I?"

"No, " I said; "you look cool enough. Why?"

"Because I feel in a horrid stew, just as I did when a lot of the blackfellows carried me off. I was a little one then. "

"Were you ever a little one, Jack!" I said wonderingly. 

"Why, of course I was--a very little one. You don't suppose I was bornwith long legs like a colt, do you? The blacks came one day when fatherwas away, and mother had gone to see after the cow, and after taking allthe meal and bacon they went off, one of them tucking me under his arm, and I never made a sound, I was so frightened, for I was sure they weregoing to eat me. I feel something like I did then; but I say, JoeCarstairs, you're sure I don't show it?"

"Sure! Yes, " I said quickly. "If we have to shoot at these savagesshall you take aim at them?"

"All depends, " said Jack coolly. "First of all, I shall fire in frontof their bows like the man-o'-war's men do. If that don't stop 'em Ishall fire at their legs, and if that don't do any good then I shall let'em have it right full, for it'll be their own fault. That's myprinciple, Joe Carstairs; if a fellow lets me alone I never interferewith him, but if he begins at me I'm nasty. Here, you leave thosearrows alone, and--well, what's the matter with you?"

This was to Gyp, who was whining uneasily as if he scented danger, andwanted to run out. 

"Down, Gyp, down!" said his master; and the dog crouched lower, growling, though, now as a fresh arrow flashed in from another part. 

The doctor started and raised his gun to take aim at the spot fromwhence this shot had come, for one of the savages had climbed up andreached a ledge above where we were. In fact this man's attack made ourposition ten times more perilous than it was before. 

But the doctor did not fire, for Ti-hi, without waiting for orders, drewan arrow to its head, the bow-string gave a loud twang, and the nextinstant we saw a savage bound from the ledge where he had hidden and runacross the intervening space, club in one hand, bow in the other, yelling furiously the while. 

The doctor was about to fire, and in the excitement of the moment I hadmy piece to my shoulder, but before he had come half-way the savageturned and staggered back, Ti-hi pointing triumphantly to an arrowsticking deep in the muscles of the man's shoulder. 

There was a loud yelling as the wounded savage rejoined his companions, and our own men set up a triumphant shout. 

"That's one to us, " said Jack Penny drily. "I think I shall keep thescore. "

The doctor looked at me just at this time and I looked back at him; andsomehow I seemed to read in his eyes that he thought it would be thebest plan to let the blacks fight out the battle with their bows andarrows, and I felt quite happy in my mind for the moment, since itseemed to me that we should get out of the difficulty of having to shedblood. 

But directly after I coloured with shame, for it seemed cowardly to wantto do such work by deputy and to make these ignorant people fight ourbattle; while after all I was wrong, for the doctor was not thinkinganything of the kind. In fact he knew that we would all have to fightin defence of our lives, and when a flight of about twenty arrows camewhizzing and pattering over our heads and hurtled down upon the stonyfloor, I knew it too, and began to grow cool with the courage ofdesperation and prepared for the worst. 

"Here, Jack Penny, " I whispered, "you'll have to fight; the savages meanmischief. "

"All right!" he replied in a slow cool drawling way, "I'm ready forthem; but I don't know whether I can hit a man as he runs, unless I tryto make myself believe he's a kangaroo. "

The yelling was continued by our enemies, and as far as I could tell itseemed to me that there must be at least thirty savages hiding amongstthe rocks and trees, and all apparently thirsting for our blood. 

"It seems hard, doctor, " I said bitterly. "They might leave us alone. "

"I'm afraid they will think that they would have done better in leavingus, " said the doctor gloomily, "for I don't mean them to win the day ifI can help it. "

I could not help staring at the doctor: his face looked so stern andstrange till, catching my eye, he smiled in his old way, and held outhis hand. 

"We shall beat them off, Joe, " he said gently. "I would have avoided itif I could, but it has become a work of necessity, and we must fight forour lives. Be careful, " he added sternly. "It is no time for trifling. Remember your father, and the mother who is waiting for you at home. Joe, my boy, it is a fight for life, and you must make every shot tell. "

For the moment I felt chilled with horror; and a sensation of dreadseemed to paralyse me. Then came the reaction, with the thought that ifI did not act like a man I should never see those I loved again. This, too, was supplemented, as it were, by that spirit of what the Frenchcall _camaraderie_, that spirit which makes one forget self; andthinking that I had to defend my two companions from the enemy I raisedthe barrel of my piece upon the low breastwork, ready to fire on thefirst enemy who should approach. 

"Look, " said Ti-hi just then, for he was picking up scraps of ourtongue; and following his pointing finger I made out the black bodies ofseveral savages creeping to posts of vantage from whence they would beable to shoot. 

"Take care, " said the doctor sternly, as an arrow nearly grazed my ear. "If one of those arrows gives ever so slight a wound it may prove fatal, my lad; don't expose yourself in the least. Ah! the game must begin inearnest, " he said partly under his breath. 

As he spoke he took aim at a man who was climbing from rock to rock togain the spot from which the other had been dislodged. Then there was apuff of white smoke, a roar that reverberated amongst the rocks, and thepoor wretch seemed to drop out of sight. 

The doctor's face looked tight and drawn as he reloaded, and for amoment I felt horrified; but then, seeing a great brawny black fellowraise himself up to draw his bow and shoot at the part where Jack Pennywas crouching, and each time seem to send his arrow more close to mycompanion, I felt suddenly as if an angry wave were sweeping over myspirit, and lay there scowling at the man. 

He rose up again, and there was a whizz and a crack that startled me. 

"I say, " drawled Jack Penny, "mind what you're after. You'll hit someone directly. "

He said this with a strange solemnity of voice, and picking up the arrowhe handed it to one of the blacks. 

"That thing went right through my hair, Joe Carstairs, " he continued. "It's making me wild. "

I hesitated no longer, but as the great savage rose up once more I tooka quick aim and fired just as he was drawing his bow. 

The smoke obscured my sight for a few moments, during which there was afurious yelling, and then, just as the thin bluish vapour was clearingoff, there was another puff, and an echoing volley dying off in thedistance, for Jack Penny had also fired. 

"I don't know whether I hit him, " he answered; "but he was climbing upthere like t'other chap was, and I can't see him now. "

In the excitement of the fight the terrible dread of injuring a fellowcreature now seemed to have entirely passed away, and I watched onesavage stealing from bush to bush, and from great stone to stone with aneagerness I could not have believed in till I found an opportunity offiring at him, just as he too had reached a dangerous place and had senthis first arrow close to my side. 

I fired and missed him, and the savage shouted defiance as my bulletstruck the stones and raised a puff of dust. The next moment he hadreplied with a well-directed arrow that made me wince, it was so near myhead. 

By this time I had reloaded and was taking aim again with feverisheagerness, when all at once a great stone crashed down from above andswept the savage from the ledge where he knelt. 

I looked on appalled as the man rolled headlong down in company with themass of stone, and then lay motionless in the bottom of the littlevalley. 

"Who is it throwing stones?" drawled Jack slowly. "That was a big one, and it hit. "

"That could not have been an accident, " said the doctor; "perhaps Aroois up there. "

"I only hope he is, " I cried; "but look, look! what's that?"

I caught at the doctor's arm to draw his attention to what seemed to bea great thickly tufted bush which was coming up the little valleytowards us. 

"Birnam wood is coming to Dunsinane, " said the doctor loudly. 

"Is it?" said Jack Penny excitedly. "What for? Where? What do youmean?"

"Look, look!" I cried, and I pointed to the moving bush. 

"Well, that's rum, " said Jack, rubbing his nose with his finger. "Treesare alive, of course, but they can't walk, can they? I think there'ssome one shoving that along. "

"Why, of course there is, " I said. 

"Don't fire unless you are obliged, " exclaimed the doctor; "and whateveryou do, take care. See how the arrows are coming. "

For they were pattering about us thickly, and the blacks on our sidekept sending them back, but with what result we could not tell, for thesavages kept closely within the cover. 

It was now drawing towards evening, and the sun seemed hotter than ever;the whole of the sultry ravine seemed to have become an oven, of whichour cavern shelter was the furnace. In fact the heat was momentarily, from the sun's position, and in spite of its being so long past themeridian, growing more and more intense. 

Jack Penny had of late grown very silent, but now and then he turned hisface towards me with his mouth open, panting with heat and thirst, asuneasily as his dog, whose tongue was hanging out looking white and dry. 

"Is there any water there?" said the doctor suddenly, as he paused inthe act of reloading. 

"Not a drop, " I said, dismally. 

"Oh! don't say that, " groaned Jack Penny. "If I don't have some I shalldie. "

"It will be evening soon, " said the doctor in a husky voice, "and thisterrible heat will be over. Keep on firing when you have a chance, mylads, but don't waste a shot. We must read them such a lesson that theywill draw off and leave us alone. "

But as he spoke, so far from the loss they had sustained having dampedthe ardour of the enemy, they kept on sending in the arrows morethickly, but without doing us--thanks to our position and thebreastwork--the slightest harm. 

The sun sank lower, but the rock where we were seemed to grow hotter, the air to be quivering all along the little valley, and as the terriblethirst increased so did our tortures seem to multiply from the fact thatwe could hear the heavy dull thunderous murmur away to our right, and weknew that it was cool, clear, delicious water, every drop of which wouldhave given our dried-up mouths and parched throats relief. 

At one time I turned giddy and the whole scene before me seemed to bespinning round, while my head throbbed with the pain I suffered, mytongue all the time feeling like a piece of dry leather which clung tothe roof of my mouth. 

And still the firing was going steadily on, each sending a bulletstraight to its mark whenever opportunity occurred; but apparentlywithout effect, for in the midst of all this firing and confusion ofshouts from the enemy and defiant replies from our people, the arrowswent to and fro as rapidly as ever. 

If it had not been for the sound of the falling water I believe I couldhave borne the thirst far better; but no matter how the fighting went, there was always the soft deep roar of the plashing water tantalising uswith thoughts of its refreshing draughts and delicious coolness whenlaving our fevered heads. 

I grew so giddy at times that I felt that I should only waste my shot ifI fired, and refrained, while, gaining experience and growing bolder bydegrees, the savages aimed so that every shot became dangerous, for theysent them straight at a mass of rock before us some ten or a dozenyards, and this they struck and then glanced off, so that we were nearlyhit three times running. 

Stones were set up at once upon our right as a protection, but this onlysaved us for a time. The savages had found out the way to touch us, andbefore many minutes had elapsed _ricochet_ shots were coming amongst asagain. 

"I can hardly see them, Joe, " whispered the doctor suddenly; "my eyesare dizzy with this awful thirst. We must have water if we are tolive. "

He ceased speaking to catch me by the arm, and point to the bush thathad been so long stationary in one place that I had forgotten it. 

"What's that, my lad?" he whispered; "is that bush moving, or are myeyes playing me false. It must be on the move. It is some trick. Fireat once and stop it, or we shall be taken in the flank. "

I raised my gun as I saw the bush moving slowly on towards us, nowcoming a yard or two and then stopping; but I was so giddy and confusedthat I lowered it again, unable to take aim. This took place again andagain, and at last I lay there scanning as in a nightmare the coming ofthat great green bush. 

The doctor was watching with bloodshot eyes the enemy on his own side, Jack Penny was busy on the other, and the command of this treacherousadvancing enemy was left to my gun, which seemed now to have become ofenormous weight when I tried to raise it and take aim. 

"It's all a dream--it is fancy, " I said to myself, as I tried to shademy eyes and steady my gaze; but as I said this the bush once more beganto glide on, and the black patch I saw beneath it must, I felt, be theleg of the savage concealed behind. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

HOW JIMMY TURNED UP A TRUMP. 

Even then I could not shoot, but remained staring, helplessly fascinatedfor a few minutes by the coming danger. At last, though, I turned toTi-hi, leaning back and touching him where he crouched, busily seizingupon the arrows that came in his way and sending them back. 

He crept up to me directly and I pointed to the bush. 

His eyes glistened, and bending forward he drew an arrow to the head, and was about to send it winging into the very centre of the bush whenwe suddenly became aware of some strange excitement amongst the savages, who undoubtedly now caught sight of the bush for the first time and senta flight of arrows at it. 

The effect of this was that he who had been making use of it for ashield suddenly darted from behind it and made for our shelter. 

"Aroo, Aroo!" exclaimed the men with us, yelling with delight, while tocover his escape we all fired at the savages, who had come out of theirconcealment, but only to dart back again, for one after the other threelarge stones came bounding down the mountain side, scattering the enemyto cover, and the duel once more began, with our side strengthened bythe presence of a brave fighting man, and refreshed, for Aroo had hiswater calabash slung from his shoulders, containing quite a couple ofquarts, which were like nectar to us, parched and half-dying withthirst. 

Its effects were wonderful. The heat was still intense; but after therefreshing draught, small as it was, that we had imbibed, I seemed tosee clearly, the giddy sensation passed off, and we were ready to meetthe attack with something like fortitude. 

We could think now, too, of some plans for the future, whereas a quarterof an hour before there had seemed to be no future for us, nothing but ahorrible death at our enemies' hands. 

Ti-hi contrived to make us understand now that as soon as the sun hadgone down, and it was dark, he would lead us away to the river side andthen along the gorge, so that by the next morning we could be far out ofour enemies' reach, when they came expecting to find us in the cave. 

His communication was not easy to comprehend, but that this was what hemeant there could be no doubt, for we all three read it in the same way. 

Encouraged then by this hope we waited impatiently for the going down ofthe sun, which was now slowly nearing the broad shoulder of a greathill. Another half-hour and it would have disappeared, when the valleywould begin to fill with shadows, darkness--the tropic darkness--wouldset in at once, and then I knew we should have to lose no time in tryingto escape. 

But we were not to get away without an attack from the enemy of a boldernature than any they had yet ventured upon. 

For some little time the arrow shooting had slackened and we watchedanxiously to see what it meant, for there was evidently a good deal ofexcitement amongst the enemy, who were running from bush to stone, andhad we been so disposed we could easily have brought three or four down. 

But of course all we wished for was freedom from attack, and in the hopethat they were somewhat disheartened, and were perhaps meditatingretreat, we waited and withheld our fire. 

Our hopes were short-lived though, for it proved that they were onlypreparing for a more fierce onslaught, which was delivered at the end ofa few minutes, some twenty savages bounding along the slope war-club inhand, two to fall disabled by a mass of stone that thundered down fromabove. 

We fired at the same moment and the advance was checked, the savagesgathering together in a hesitating fashion, when _crash_, _crash_, another mass of rock which had been set at liberty far up the hillsidecame bounding down, gathering impetus and setting at liberty anavalanche of great stones, from which the savages now turned and fledfor their lives, leaving the valley free to a single black figure, whichcame climbing down from far up the steep slope, waddy in hand; and onreaching the level advanced towards us in the fast darkening eve, looking coolly to right and left to see if any enemy was left, butwithout a single arrow being discharged. 

A minute later he was looking over our breastwork into the shallow cave, showing his teeth, which shone in the gloom as he exclaimed:

"Black fellow dreffle hungry. Give Jimmy somefin eat. All gone now. "

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

HOW WE RETREATED AND WERE CAUGHT IN A TROPIC STORM. 

Our black companion was quite right. The enemy had indeed gone, and thetime had come for us to get beyond their reach, for all at once itseemed to grow dark, and we stood farther out of our shelter, glad tofree our limbs from the cramping positions in which they had been for solong. 

The doctor handed to each of us some chips of dried meat, bidding us eatas we walked. The bearers were well provided, and starting at once, with Ti-hi to lead and Aroo to cover our retreat, we stepped lightlyoff. 

Our blacks knew well enough what was required of them now as to ourbaggage, and every package was taken from the breastwork, shouldered orplaced upon the head, and, watchful and ready to use our arms, we soonleft the scene of the fight behind. 

The New Guinea savage Ti-hi as we called him, that being the nearestapproach I can get to his name, followed very much the course we hadtaken early in the day when we sought the waterfall, but left it alittle to our left and struck the river some few hundred yards above, pausing for a few minutes for his men to take breath, and then pointingout the course he meant to take. 

It was a perilous-looking place, enough to make anyone shiver, and therewas a murmur amongst the blacks as they looked down at what seemed to bea mere shelf or ledge of rock low down near the black hurrying water ofthe river, which seemed to be covered with flowing specks of gold as thebrilliant stars were reflected from the smooth rushing stream. 

Where we were to descend the water seemed to be about thirty feet below, but the rocky side of the river bed ran sheer up quite fifty feet as faras we could make out in the darkness, and I did not wonder at the murmurwe heard. 

But Ti-hi's voice rose directly, now pleading softly in his own tongue, now in tones of command, and the murmur trailed off into a fewmutterings which resulted in the men beginning to descend. 

"They were grumbling about having to go down there, weren't they, JoeCarstairs, " said Jack Penny in a whisper. 

"Yes, " I said. 

"And 'nough to make 'em, " he said. "I don't like it; even Gyp don'tlike it. Look at him, how he's got his tail between his legs. I say, can't we wait till daylight?"

"And be shot by poisoned arrows, Penny?" said the doctor quietly. "Come: on with you! I'm sure you're not afraid?"

"Afraid! What! of walking along there?" said Jack, contemptuously. "Not likely. Was I afraid when I hung over the waterfall?"

"Not a bit, my lad; nor yet when you so bravely helped us to defendourselves against the savages, " said the doctor quietly. "Come along. I'll go first. "

The blacks were all on ahead save Aroo and Jimmy, who followed last, Ibeing next to the doctor, and Jack Penny and his dog close behind me. We had to go in single file, for the ledge was not above a yard wide inplaces, and it was impossible to avoid a shiver of dread as we walkedslowly along, assuming a confidence that we did not feel. 

The path rose and fell--rose and fell slightly in an undulating fashion, but it did not alter much in its width as we journeyed on for what musthave been quite a mile, when we had to halt for a few minutes while thebearers readjusted their loads. And a weird party we looked as we stoodupon that shelf of rock, with the perpendicular side of the gorgetowering straight up black towards the sky, the summit showing plainlyagainst the starry arch that spanned the river, and seemed to rest uponthe other side of the rocky gorge fifty yards away. And there now, close to our feet, so close that we could have lain down and drunk hadwe been so disposed, rushed on towards the great fall the glassygold-speckled water. 

I was thinking what an awful looking place it was, and wondering whethermy father had ever passed this way, when Jack Penny made me jump bygiving me a poke with the barrel of his gun. 

"Don't do that, " I said angrily, for I felt that I might have slipped, and to have fallen into that swiftly gliding water meant being borne atheadlong speed to the awful plunge down into the basin of foam intowhich I had looked that day. 

"Oh, all right!" whispered Jack. "I only wanted to tell you that itmust be cramp. "

"What must be cramp?" I replied. 

"Don't speak so loud, and don't let the doctor hear you, " whisperedJack. "I mean in one of my legs: it will keep waggling so and givingway at the knee. "

"Why, Jack!" I said. 

"No, no, " he whispered hastily, "it ain't that. I ain't a bit afraid. It's cramp. "

"Well, if you are not afraid, " I whispered back, "I am. I hope, Jack, Imay never live to be in such an awful place again. "

"I say, Joe Carstairs, say that once more, " whispered Jack excitedly. 

"I hope I may never be--"

"No, no, I don't mean that. I mean the other, " whispered Jack. 

"What, about being afraid?" I said. "Well, I'm not ashamed to own it. It may be cramp, Jack Penny, but I feel as if it is sheer fright. "

"Then that's what must be the matter with my leg, " said Jack eagerly, "only don't let's tell the doctor. "

"Ready behind there?" said the latter just then. 

"Yes, " I said, "quite ready;" and I passed the word to Jimmy and Aroo, who were close to me. 

"Let's get on then, " said the doctor in a low voice. "I want to get outof this awful gorge. "

"Hooray!" whispered Jack Penny, giving me such a dig with his elbow thatfor the second time he nearly sent me off the rocky shelf. "Hooray! thedoctor's frightened too, Joe Carstairs. I ain't ashamed to own it now. "

"Hist!" whispered the doctor then, and slightly raised as was his voiceit seemed strangely loud, and went echoing along the side of the chasm. 

Going steadily on at once we found the shelf kept wonderfully the samein width, the only variation being that it dipped down close to therushing water at times, and then curved up till we were fifteen ortwenty feet above the stream. With the walls on either side of theriver, though, it was different, for they gradually rose higher andhigher till there was but a strip of starry sky above our heads, and ourpath then became so dark that but for the leading of the sure-footedblacks we could not have progressed, but must have come to a halt. 

I was wondering whether this gorge would end by opening out upon someplain, through its being but a gap or pass through a range of hills, butconcluded that it would grow deeper and darker, and bring us face toface with a second waterfall, and I whispered to the doctor my opinion;but he did not agree with me. 

"No, " he said, "the gorge is rising, of course, from the way in whichthe river rushes on, but there can be no waterfall this way or we shouldhear it. The noise of the one behind us comes humming along this rockypassage so plainly that we should hear another in the same way. Butdon't talk, my lad. Look to your footsteps and mind that we have noaccident. Stop!" he exclaimed, then, "Halt!"

I did not know why he called a halt just then in that narrow dangerousplace, but it seemed that he heard a peculiar sound from behind, anddirectly after Aroo closed up, to say that the enemy were following us, for he had heard them talking as they came, the smooth walls of therocks acting as a great speaking-tube and bearing the sounds along. 

"That's bad news, my lad, " said the doctor, "but matters might be worse. This is a dangerous place, but it is likely to be far more dangerousfor an attacking party than for the defenders. Our guns could keep anynumber of enemies at a distance, I should say. Better that they shouldattack us here than out in the open, where we should be easy marks fortheir arrows. "

"I do wish they'd leave us alone, " said Jack Penny in an ill-used tone. "Nobody said anything to them; why can't they leave off?"

"We'll argue out that point another time, Jack Penny, " said the doctor. "Only let's get on now. "

"Oh, all right! I'm ready, " he said, and once more our little party setforward, the doctor and I now taking the extreme rear, with theexception that we let Aroo act as a scout behind, to give warning of theenemy's near approach. 

And so we went on in the comparative darkness, the only sounds heardbeing the hissing of the swiftly rushing water as it swept on towardsthe fall, and the dull deep roar that came booming now loudly, nowfaintly, from where the river made its plunge. 

Twice over we made a halt and stood with levelled pieces ready to meetan attack, but they only proved to be false alarms, caused by ourfriends dislodging stones in the path, which fell with a hollow sullenplunge into the rushing water, producing a strange succession of sounds, as of footsteps beating the path behind us, so curiously were theserepeated from the smooth face of the rock. 

_Hiss-hiss_, _rush-rush_ went the water, and when we paused again andagain, so utterly solemn and distinct were the sounds made by thewaterfall and the river that I fancied that our friend Aroo must havebeen deceived. 

"If the savages were pursuing us, " I said, "we should have heard them bynow. "

"Don't be too satisfied, my dear boy, " said the doctor. "These peoplehave a great deal of the animal in them, and when they have marked downtheir prey they are not likely to leave the track till the end. "

I did not like the sound of that word, "end. " It was ominous, but Iheld my tongue. 

"As likely as not, " continued the doctor, "the enemy are creepingcautiously along within a couple of hundred yards of where we stand, and--"

"I say, " cried Jack Penny eagerly, "it's rather cold standing abouthere; hadn't we better make haste on?"

"Decidedly, Penny, " said the doctor. "Forward!"

"Yes, let's get forward, " I said, and the doctor suddenly clapped hishand over my mouth and whispered:

"Hush! Look there!"

"I can't see anything, " I said, after a long gaze in the direction bywhich we had come. 

"Can you see just dimly, close to where that big star makes the blur inthe water, a light-coloured stone?"

"Yes. "

"Watch it for a minute. "

I fixed my eyes upon the dimly-seen rock, just where quite a blaze ofstars flecked the black water with their reflections, but for a time Isaw nothing. I only made my eyes ache, and a strong desire came upon meto blink them very rapidly. Then all at once the stone seemed darkerfor a moment, and then darker again, as if a cloud had come between theglinting stars and the earth. 

It was so plain that a couple of the savages had glided by that stonethat we felt it would be best to remain where we were for the present, awaiting the attack that we knew must follow. 

"We are prepared now, " whispered the doctor, "and if we must fight itwould be better to fight now than have to turn suddenly and meet anattack on our rear. "

The result was that we remained watching through the next painful hour, guns and bows ready for the first oncoming of the savages; but withterrible distinctness there was the washing sound of the river hissingpast the rocks, and the rising and falling musical roar of the distantcascade--nothing more!

Then another hour of silence in that awful chasm passed away, with theexpectation of being attacked every moment keeping our nerves upon thestretch. 

How different it all seemed, what a change from the peaceful life athome! There I had led a happy boyish life, with the black for mycompanion; sometimes he would disappear to live amongst his tribe for afew weeks, but he always returned, and just after breakfast there wouldbe his merry black face eagerly watching for my coming to go with him to"kedge fis" in some fresh creek or water-hole that he had discovered; tohunt out wallabies or some other of the hopping kangaroo family peculiarto the land. Jimmy had always some fresh expedition on the way, uponwhich we started with boy-like eagerness. But now all at once, consequent upon my determination, my course of life had been changed, and it seemed that, young as I was, all the work that fell to my handwas man's work. Yesterday I was a boy, now I was a man. 

That was my rather conceited way of looking upon matters then, and therewas some ground for my assumption of manliness; but if excuse be neededlet me say in my defence that I was suddenly cast into this career ofdangerous adventure, and I was very young. 

Some such musings as the above, mixed up with recollections of mypeaceful bed-room at home, and the gentle face that bent over me to kissme when I was half asleep, were busy in my brain, when the doctor saidsoftly:

"This seems to be such a strong place, Joe, my lad, that I hardly likeleaving it; but we must get on. Go forward and start them. Tell themto be as quiet as possible. "

His words seemed full of relief, and I started round to obey him, gladto have an end to the terrible inaction, when, to my utter astonishment, I found Jack Penny, who was behind me, sitting with his legs danglingover the edge of the rocky shelf, and apparently within an inch or twoof the water, while his shoulders were propped against the side of thechasm; his rifle was in his lap and his chin buried in his breast--fastasleep!

"Jack!" I whispered softly, utterly astounded that any one could sleepat a time like that; but he did not hear me. 

"Jack!" I said again, and laid my hand upon his shoulder, but withoutresult. 

"Jack!" I said, giving him an impatient shove. 

"Get out!" he mumbled softly; and Gyp, whom I had not seen before, resented this interference with his master by uttering a low growl. 

"Down, Gyp!" I said. "Here, Jack; wake up!" I whispered, and thistime I gave him a kick in the leg. 

"I'll give you such a wunner, if you don't be quiet!" he growled. "Letme alone, will yer!"

"Jack! be quiet!" I whispered, with my lips to his ear. "The savagesare close at hand!"

"Who cares for the savages?" he grumbled, yawning fearfully. "Oh! I amso sleepy. I say, I wish you'd be quiet!"

"Wake up!" I said, shaking him; and Gyp growled again. 

"Shan't!" very decidedly. 

"Wake up directly, Jack! Jack Penny, wake up!"

"Shan't! Get out!"

"Hist!" whispered the doctor from behind me. 

"Wake up!" I said again, going down on one knee so that I could whisperto him. 

_Snore_!

It was a very decided one, and when I laid my gun down and gave a tug athim, it was like pulling at something long and limp, say a big bolster, that gave way everywhere, till in my impatience I doubled my fist and, quite in a rage, gave him, as his head fell back, a smart rap on thenose. 

I had previously held him by the ears and tapped the back of his headagainst the rock without the slightest effect; but this tap on the nosewas electric in its way, for Jack sprang up, letting his gun fall, threwhimself into a fighting attitude, and struck out at me. 

But he missed me, for when his gun fell it would have glided over theedge of the rocky shelf into the stream if I had not suddenly stoopeddown and caught it, the result being that Jack's fierce blow went rightover my head, while when I rose upright he was wide awake. 

"I say, " he said coolly, "have I been asleep?"

"Asleep! yes, " I whispered hastily. "Here, come along; we are to getforward. How could you sleep?"

"Oh, I don't know!" he said. "I only just closed my eyes. Why, here'ssomebody else asleep!"

Sure enough Jimmy was curled up close to the rock, with his hands tuckedunder his arms, his waddy in one fist, a hatchet in the other. 

Jack Penny was in so sour a temper at having been awakened from sleep, and in so rude a way, that he swung one of his long legs back, and thensent it forward. 

"Don't kick him!" I said hastily; but I was too late, for the blackreceived the blow from Jack's foot right in the ribs, and starting upwith his teeth grinding together, he struck a tremendous blow with hiswaddy, fortunately at the rock, which sent forth such an echoing reportthrough the gully that the doctor came hurriedly to our side. 

"What is it?" he said in an anxious whisper. 

"Big bunyip hit Jimmy rib; kick, bangum, bangum!" cried the blackfuriously. "Who kick black fellow? Bash um head um! Yah!"

He finished his rapidly uttered address by striking a warlike attitude. 

"It's all right now, " I whispered to the doctor. "Come along, Jimmy;"and taking the black's arm I pushed him on before me, growling like anangry dog. 

"All right!" the doctor said. "Yes, for our pursuers! Get on asquickly as you can. "

I hurried on now to the front, giving Ti-hi his order to proceed, andthen signing to the bearers to go on, I was getting back past them alongthe narrow path, and had just got by Jimmy and reached Jack Penny, whenthere was a flash, and a rattling echoing report as of twenty riflesfrom where the doctor was keeping guard. 

I knew that the danger must be imminent or he would not have fired, andpassing Jack Penny, who was standing ready, rifle in hand, I reached thedoctor just as there was another flash and roar echoing along the gully. 

"That's right, my lad!" he whispered; "be ready to fire if you see themcoming while I reload. "

I knelt down, resting my elbow on my knee, and found it hard work tokeep the piece steady as I waited to see if the savages were coming on. 

I had not long to wait before I distinctly saw a couple of dimly-seenfigures against the surface of the starlit water. I fired directly, andthen again, rising afterwards to my feet to reload. 

"Now, back as you load, quickly!" whispered the doctor, and he caughtAroo by the shoulder and drew him back as half a dozen arrows camepattering against the rock over our head and fell at our feet. 

"Back!" whispered the doctor quietly; "we must keep up a running fight. "

"Here, hold hard a minute!" said Jack Penny aloud; "I must have a shotat 'em first. "

"No: wait!" cried the doctor. "Your turn will come. "

Jack Penny uttered a low growl in his deep bass voice, which wasanswered by Gyp, who was getting much excited, and had to be patted andrestrained by angry orders to lie down before he would consent to followhis master in the hurried retreat we made to where Ti-hi and his menwere waiting for us. Here we found the shelf had widened somewhat, andsome pieces of rock that had fallen offered shelter from an attack. 

As we joined them the men, who had laid down their loads, prepared todischarge a volley of arrows, but they were stopped, as it would havebeen so much waste. 

For the next six hours, till the stars began to pale, ours was onecontinuous retreat before the enemy, who seemed to grow bolder each timewe gave way and hurried along the edge of the river to a freshhalting-place. 

We fired very seldom, for it was only waste of ammunition, and thedarkness was so great that though they often sent a volley of arrowsamongst us, not one of our party was hurt. 

It was a fevered and exciting time, but fortunately we were not calledupon to suffer as we had during the attack upon the cave. Then we weremaddened almost by the heat and thirst. Now we had ample draughts ofcool refreshing water to fly to from time to time, or to bathe ourtemples where the shelf was low. 

The savages made no attempts at concealing their presence now, and wecould hear a loud buzz of excited voices constantly in our rear, butstill they did not pursue us right home, but made rushes that kept us ina constant state of excitement and, I may say, dread. 

"Do you think they will get tired of this soon, doctor?"

I said, just at daybreak, when I found the doctor looking at me in astrange and haggard way. 

"I can't say, my lad, " he whispered back. "We must hope for the best. "

Just then Ti-hi came from the front to sign to us to hurry on, andfollowing him we found that he had hit upon a place where there was somehope of our being able to hold our own for a time. 

It was extremely fortunate, for the coming day would make us an easymark, the pale-grey light that was stealing down having resulted inseveral arrows coming dangerously near; and though there were equaladvantages for us in the bodies of our enemies becoming easier to see, we were not eager to destroy life, our object, as I have before said, being to escape. 

We followed Ti-hi, to find that the narrow shelf slowly rose now higherand higher, till at the end of a couple of hundred yards it gained itshighest point of some five-and-twenty feet above the river; while to addto the advantage of our position, the rock above the path stretched overit like the commencement of some Titan's arch, that had been intended tobridge the stream, one that had either never been finished, or hadcrumbled and fallen away. 

In support of this last fanciful idea there were plenty of loose rocksand splinters of stones that had fallen from above, mingled with otherswhose rounded shapes showed that they must have been ground together bythe action of water. 

I did not think of that at the time, though I had good reason tounderstand it later on. 

The position was admirable, the ledge widening out considerably; we weresafe from dropping arrows, and we had only to construct a strongbreastwork, some five feet long, to protect us from attack by the enemy. In fact in five minutes or so we were comparatively safe; in tenminutes or a quarter of an hour our breastwork was so strengthened thatwe began to breathe freely. 

By this time it was morning, but instead of its continuing to grow lightdown in the ravine, whose walls towered up on either side, the gatheringlight seemed suddenly to begin to fade away. It grew more obscure. Thesoft cool refreshing morning breeze died away, to give place to acurious sultry heat. The silence, save the rushing of the river, wasprofound, and it seemed at last as if it was to be totally dark. 

"What does this mean, doctor?" I said, as I glanced round and notedthat the sombre reflection from the walls of the chasm gave the faces ofmy companions a ghastly and peculiar look. 

"A storm, my lad, " he said quietly. "Look how discoloured the waterseems. There has been a storm somewhere up in the mountains, I suppose, and now it is coming here. "

"Well, we are in shelter, " I said, "and better off than our enemies. "

"What difference does that make?" grumbled Jack Penny in ill-used tones. "They can't get wet through, for they don't wear hardly any clothes. But, I say, ain't it time we had our breakfast? I've given up mynight's rest, but I must have something to eat. "

"Quick! look out, my lads! look out!" cried the doctor, as there was aloud yelling noise from the savages, whom we could plainly see nowcoming along the narrow path, while almost simultaneously there was avivid flash of lightning that seemed to blind us for the time, and thena deafening roar of thunder, followed so closely by others that it waslike one rolling, incessant peal. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

HOW HIGH THE WATER CAME. 

The coming of the storm checked the furious onslaught of our blackenemies, but it was only for the moment. Setting thunder, lightning, and the deluging rain at defiance, they came rushing on, shouting andyelling furiously, and we were about to draw trigger, reluctantlyenough, but in sheer desperation, when a volley of arrows checked themfor a time, while, resuming what seemed to be a favourite means ofwarring upon his enemies, Jimmy commenced hurling masses of stone at thecoming foes. 

Checked as they were, though, it was only for a while; and we werecompelled to fire again and again, with fresh assailants taking theplaces of those who fell. The thunder pealed so that the reports of ourpieces seemed feeble, more like the crack of a cart-whip, and theirflashes were as sparks compared with the blinding lightning, whichdarted and quivered in the gorge, at times seeming to lick the walls, atothers plunging into the rushing, seething stream, into which the rainpoured in very cataracts down the rocky sides. 

We should have ceased in very awe of the terrible battle of theelements, but in self-defence we were driven to fight hard and repel thecontinued attacks of the enemy, who, growing more enraged at ourresistance, came on once more in a determined fashion, as if meaningthis time to sweep us before them into the rushing stream. 

But for the bravery of our black companions our efforts would have beenuseless, and we should certainly have been driven back by the fiercesavages, who advanced up the path, sprang upon the stone breastwork, andwould have dashed down upon us regardless of our firearms, but Ti-hi andAroo cast aside their bows at this final onslaught, and used theirwar-clubs in the most gallant manner. Jimmy, too, seemed to betransformed into as brave a black warrior as ever fought; and it was thegallant resistance offered that checked the enemy and made them recoil. 

The falling back of the foremost men, who were beaten and stunned by theblows they had received, drove their companions to make a temporaryretreat, and enabled us to reload; but ere we could seem to get breath, one who appeared to be a chief rallied them, and two abreast, all thatthe path would allow, they came charging up towards us once again. 

Then there was a dead pause as the thunder crashed overhead once more, and then seemed to be continued in a strange rushing sound, whichapparently paralysed the attacking party, who hesitated, stopped shortabout a third of the way up the narrow slope that led to our littlefort, and then with a shriek of dismay turned and began to retreat. 

I stared after them, wondering that they should give way just at a timewhen a bold attack would probably have ended in our destruction; but Icould make out nothing, only that the noise of the thunder still seemedto continue and grow into a sound like a fierce rush. But this wasnothing new: the thunder had been going on before, and that and theblinding lightning the enemy had braved. Our defence had had no effectupon them, save to make them attack more fiercely. And yet they werenow in full retreat, falling over each other in their haste, and we sawtwo thrust into the swift river. 

"Yah, ah!--big bunyip water, water!" roared Jimmy just then, clapping meon the shoulder; and, turning sharply, I saw the meaning of theprolongation of the thunder, for a great wave, at least ten feet high, ruddy, foaming, and full of tossing branches, came rushing down thegorge, as if in chase of our enemies, and before I had more than time torealise the danger, the water had leaped by us, swelling almost to ourplace of refuge, and where, a minute before, there had been a rockyshelf--the path along which we had come--there was now the furioustorrent tearing along at racing speed. 

I turned aghast to the doctor, and then made as if to run, expectingthat the next moment we should be swept away; but he caught me by thearm with a grip like iron. 

"Stand still, " he roared, with his lips to my ear. "The storm--high upthe mountains--flood--the gorge. "

Just then there was another crashing peal of thunder, close upon a flashof lightning, and the hissing rain ceased as if by magic, while the skybegan to grow lighter. The dull boom of the tremendous wave had passedtoo, but the river hissed and roared as it tore along beneath our feet, and it was plain to see that it was rising higher still. 

The noise was not so great though, now, that we could not talk, andafter recovering from the appalling shock of the new danger we had timeto look around. 

Our first thought was of our enemies, and we gazed excitedly down thegorge and then at each other, Jack Penny shuddering and turning away hishead, while I felt a cold chill of horror as I fully realised the factthat they had been completely swept away. 

There could not be a moment's doubt of that, for the ware spread fromrocky wall to rocky wall, and dashed along at frightful speed. 

We had only escaped a similar fate through being on the summit, so tospeak, of the rocky path; but though for the moment safe, we could nottell for how long; while on taking a hasty glance at our position it wasthis: overhead the shelving rock quite impassable; to left, to right, and in front, the swollen, rushing torrent. 

The doctor stood looking down at the water for a few moments, and thenturned to me. 

"How high above the surface of the water were we, do you think, when wecame here?"

"I should say about twenty-five feet?"

"Why, we ain't four foot above it now; and--look there! it's a risingfast. I say, Joe Carstairs, if I'd known we were going to be drowned Iwouldn't have come. "

"Are you sure it is rising?" said the doctor, bending down to examinethe level--an example I followed--to see crack and crevice graduallyfill and point after point covered by the seething water, which crept upslowly and insidiously higher and higher even as we watched. 

"Yes, " said the doctor, rising to his feet and gazing calmly round, asif to see whether there was any loophole left for escape; "yes, thewater is rising fast; there can be no doubt of that. "

Just then Gyp, who had been fierce and angry, snapping and barkingfuriously at the savages each time they charged, suddenly threw up hishead and uttered a dismal howl. 

"Here, you hold your noise, " cried Jack Penny. "You don't hear usholler, do you? Lie down!"

The dog howled softly and crouched at his master's feet, while Jackbegan to take off his clothes in a very slow and leisurely way. Firsthe pulled off his boots, then his stockings, which he tuckedmethodically, along with his garters, inside his boots. This done hetook off his jacket, folded it carefully, and his shirt followed, to besmoothed and folded and laid upon the jacket. 

And now, for the first time I thoroughly realised how excessively thinpoor Jack Penny was, and the reason why he so often had a pain in hisback. 

It seemed a strange time: after passing through such a series ofdangers, after escaping by so little from being swept away, and while interrible danger from the swiftly-rising waters, but I could not helpit--Jack's aspect as he sat there coolly, very coolly, clothed in histrousers alone, was so ludicrous that I burst out laughing, when Jimmyjoined in, and began to dance with delight. 

"What are you larfin at?" said Jack, half vexed at my mirth. 

"At you, " I said. "Why, what are you going to do?"

"Do!" he said. "Why, swim for it. You don't suppose I'm going to tryin my clothes?"

My mirth died out as swiftly as it came, for the doctor laid his handupon my arm and pressed it silently, to call my attention to our blackfollowers, who were laying their bows and arrows regularly in companywith their waddies, each man looking very stern and grave. 

They showed no fear, they raised no wild cry; they only seemed to bepreparing for what was inevitable; and as I saw Ti-hi bend over andtouch the water easily with his hand, and then rise up and look round athis companions, saying a few words in their tongue, the chill of horrorcame back once more, for I knew that the group of savages felt thattheir time had come, and that they were sitting there patiently waitingfor the end. 

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

WE AWAIT OUR FATE. 

I glanced from the blacks to the doctor, to see that he was intentlygazing up the gorge where the rushing water came seething down, and Iread in his face that he could not see the slightest hope. 

I looked at Jack Penny, who was deeply intent upon a little blue anchorthat some bush shepherd had tattooed upon his thin white arm. 

Then I turned to Jimmy, whose quick dark eyes were busy inspecting histoes, those on the right foot having hold of his war-club, which he washolding out for Gyp to smell. 

He alone of the party did not seem to realise the fact that the end wasso near. 

"Can we do anything, doctor?" I said at last in a low awe-strickenvoice. 

He gazed at me tenderly and held out his hand to press mine, when I laidit in his grasp. 

"No, my lad, " he said, "nothing. I have tried mentally to see a way outof our peril, but I can see none. Unless the water sinks we are lost!Joe, my lad, you must act like a man!"

"I'll try, doctor, " I said in a choking voice; and as I spoke, once morethere seemed to rise up before me our quiet peaceful home near Sydney, with its verandah and flowers and the simply furnished pretty rooms, inone of which sat my mother, waiting for tidings of her husband and son. 

I could not help it, but clasped my hands together uttering a despairingcry. For it seemed so hard to give up hope when so young and full ofhealth and strength. Even if it had been amidst the roar and turmoil ofthe storm it would not have seemed so bad, or when the great flood wavecame down; but now, in these calm cool moments, when there was nothingto excite, nothing to stir the blood, and, above all, just when the skywas of a dazzling blue, with a few silvery clouds floating away in therear of the storm, while the sun shone down gloriously, it seemed toohard to bear. 

I gazed eagerly at the water, to see that it was nearly a foot higher, and then I joined the doctor in searching the rock with my eyes for aplace where we might find foothold and clamber beyond the reach of therushing torrent; but no, there seemed no spot where even a bird couldclimb, and in despair I too began to strip off some of my clothes. 

"Are you going to try to swim?" said the doctor gravely. 

I nodded. 

"That's right, " he said. "I shall do the same. We might reach someledge lower down. "

He said that word _might_ with a slow solemn emphasis that made meshudder, for I knew he felt that it was hopeless; but all the same hegranted that it was our duty to try. 

The doctor now bent down over the water, and I could see that it wasrising faster than ever. 

All at once Jimmy seemed to rouse himself, throwing up his waddy withhis foot and catching it in his hand. 

"No water go down, " he said. "Mass Joe, Mass Jack, doctor, an all a letget up higher; no get wet. Top along get drown, die, and bunyip pull umdown an eat um!"

"I'm afraid escape is impossible, Jimmy, " I said sadly. 

"No know what um say!" cried the black impatiently. 

"Can't get away, " I said. 

"No get way! Waitum, waitum! Jimmy--Jimmy see!"

He went to the edge of the shelf and dipped one foot in the water, thenthe other, worked his toes about, and then, after a contemptuous look atthe blacks, who were calmly awaiting their fate, he looked up at theface of the rock beyond the curving over abutment, and, reaching up ashigh as he could, began to climb. 

It did not seem to occur to him at first that if he were able to escapeno one else would be, and he tried twice with a wonderful display ofactivity, which resulted merely in his slipping back. 

Then he tried elsewhere in two places, but with the same result, andafter a few more trials he came to me and stood rubbing the back of hishead, as if puzzled at his being so helpless and beaten at every turn. 

"Get much, too much water, Mass Joe!" he said. "What um going to do?"

I shook my head sadly, and went to where the doctor was watching theprogress of the rushing river as it rose inch by inch--cracks and pointsof rock that we had before noticed disappearing entirely, till theflowing earth-stained surface was but a few inches below the ledge wherewe were grouped, waiting for the time when we should be swept away. 

In spite of the knowledge that at most in an hour the ledge would becovered I could not help watching the rushing stream as it dashed along. It was plain enough to me now why the sides of the gorge were so smoothand regular, for the action of the water must have been going on likethis for many ages after every storm, and, laden as the waters were withmasses of wood and stone, with pebbles and sand, the scouring of therocks must have been incessant. 

Then my thoughts came back to our horrible position, and I looked roundin despair, but only to be shamed out of any frantic display of grief bythe stoical calmness with which all seemed to be preparing to meet theirfate. 

Still the water rose steadily higher and higher inch by inch, and Icould see that in a very few minutes it would be over the ledge. 

I was noting, too, that now it was so near the end, my companions seemedaverse to speaking to me or each other, but were evidently moody andthoughtful; all but Jimmy, who seemed to be getting excited, and yet notmuch alarmed. 

I had gone to the extreme edge of the ledge, where the water nearlylapped my feet, and gazing straight up the gorge at the sunlit waters, kept backing slowly up the slope, driven away as the river rose, whenthe black came to me and touched my shoulder. 

"Poor black fellow there going die, Mass Joe. Not die yet while: Jimmynot go die till fin' um fader. Lot o' time; Jimmy not ready die--lot o'time!"

"But how are we to get away, Jimmy? How are we to escape?"

"Black fellow hab big tink, " he replied. "Much big tink and find umway. Great tupid go die when quite well, tank you, Mass Joe. Jimmyblack fellow won't die yet? Mass Joe hab big swim 'long o' Jimmy. Swimmuch fass all down a water. Won't die, oh no! Oh no!"

There was so much hope and confidence in the black's manner and hisbroken English that I felt my heart give a great throb; but a sight ofthe calm resignation of my companions damped me again, till Jimmy oncemore spoke:

"Mass Joe take off closums. Put long gun up in corner; come and fetchum when no water. Big swim!"

Many had been the times when Jimmy and I had dashed into the river andswum about by the hour together; why not then now try to save our livesin spite of the roughness of the torrent and the horrors of the greatfall I knew, too, that the fall must be at least two or three milesaway, and there was always the possibility of our getting into some eddyand struggling out. 

My spirits rose then at these thoughts, and I rapidly threw off part ofmy clothes, placing my gun and hatchet with the big knife, all tiedtogether, in a niche of the rock, where their weight and the sheltermight save them from being washed away. 

As I did all this I saw the doctor look up sadly, but only to lower hishead again till his chin rested upon his breast; while Jack Pennystared, and drew his knees up to his chin, embracing his legs andnodding his head sagely, as if he quite approved of what I was doing. 

The only individual who made any active demonstration was Gyp, whojumped up and came to me wagging his tail and uttering a sharp bark ortwo. Then he ran to the water, snuffed at it, lapped a little, andthrew up his head again, barking and splashing in it a little as he ranin breast-high and came back, as if intimating that he was ready at anymoment for a swim. 

The doctor looked up now, and a change seemed to have come over him, forhe rose from where he had been seated and took my hand. 

"Quite right, my lad, " he said; "one must never say despair. There's aledge there higher up where we will place the ammunition. Let's keepthat dry if we can. It may not be touched by the water; even if we haveto swim for our lives the guns won't hurt--that is, if they are notwashed away. "

It was as if he had prepared himself for the worst, and was now going tomake strenuous efforts to save himself and his friends, after we hadtaken such precautions as we could about our stores. 

Jimmy grinned and helped readily to place the various articles likely tobe damaged by water as high as we could on ledges and blocks of stone, though as I did all this it was with the feeling that we were neverlikely to see the things again. 

Still it was like doing one's duty, and I felt that then, of all times, was the hour for that. 

So we worked on, with many a furtive glance at the water, which kept onencroaching till it began to lap the feet of our black companions. 

But they did not stir; they remained with their positions unaltered, andstill the water advanced, till the highest point of the ledge wascovered, and Gyp began whining and paddling about, asking us, as itwere, with his intelligent eyes, whether we did not mean to start. 

"Hi! Gyp, Gyp!" shouted Jimmy just then; "up along, boy; up along!" andhe patted the top of one of the stones that we had used for abreastwork. 

The dog leaped up directly, placing himself three feet above the flood, and stood barking loudly. 

"Yes, we can stand up there for a while, " said the doctor, "and thatwill prolong the struggle a bit. Here, come up higher!" he cried, making signs to our black companions, who after a time came unwillinglyfrom their lower position, splashing mournfully through the water, butevidently unwilling even then to disobey their white leader. 

They grouped themselves with us close up to the breastwork, where westood with the water rising still higher, and then all at once I feltthat we must swim, for a fresh wave, the result probably of some portionof the flood that had been dammed up higher on the river course, sweptupon us right to our lips, and but for the strength of our stonebreastwork we must have been borne away. 

As it was, we were standing by it, some on either side, and all clingingtogether. We withstood the heavy wrench that the water seemed to give, and held on, the only one who lost his footing being Jack Penny, who wasdragged back by the doctor as the wave passed on. 

"Enough to pull your arms out of the socket, " whined Jack dolefully. "Isay, please don't do it again. I'd rather have to swim. "

Higher and higher came the water, icily cold and numbing. The wave thatpassed was succeeded by another, but that only reached to our waists, and when this had gone by there was the old slow rising of the flood asbefore till it was as high as our knees. Then by degrees it crept onand on till I was standing with it reaching my hips. 

A fearful silence now ensued, and the thought came upon me that when thefinal struggle was at hand we should be so clasped together thatswimming would be impossible and we must all be drowned. 

And now, once more, with the water rising steadily, the old stunnedhelpless feeling began to creep over me, and I began to think of home ina dull heavy manner, of the happy days when I had hardly a care, andperhaps a few regrets were mixed with it all; but somehow I did not feelas if I repented of coming, save when I thought that my mother wouldhave two sorrows now when she came to know of her loss. 

Then everything seemed to be numbed; my limbs began to feel helpless, and my thoughts moved sluggishly, and in a half dreamy fashion I stoodthere pressed against, the rock holding tightly by the doctor on oneside, by Jimmy on the other, and in another minute I knew that therising water would be at my lips. 

I remember giving a curious gasp as if my breath was going, and inimagination I recalled my sensations when, during a bathing expedition, I went down twice before Jimmy swam to my help and held me up. Thewater had not touched my lips--it was only at my chest, but I fancied Ifelt it bubbling in my nostrils and strangling me; I seemed to hear itthundering in my ears; there was the old pain at the back of my neck, and I struggled to get my hands free to beat the water like a drowningdog, but they were tightly held by my companions, how tightly probablythey never knew. Then I remember that my head suddenly seemed to growclear, and I was repeating to myself the words of a familiar old prayerwhen my eyes fell upon the surface of the water, and I felt as if Icould not breathe. 

The next minute Gyp was barking furiously, as he stood upon his hindlegs resting his paws upon his master's shoulders, and Jimmy gave a loudshout. 

"All a water run away, juss fass now, " and as he spoke it fell a coupleof inches, then a couple more, so swiftly, indeed, that the terriblepressure that held us tightly against the stones was taken off pound bypound, and before we could realise the truth the water was at my knees. 

Ten minutes later it was at my feet, and before half an hour had passedwe were standing in the glorious sunshine with the rocky ledge dryingfast, while the river, minute by minute, was going down, so that we feltsure if no storm came to renew the flood it would be at its old level ina couple of hours' time. 

We were dripping and numbed by the icy water; but in that fiercesunshine it was wonderful how soon our wrung-out garments dried; andwarmth was rapidly restored to our limbs by rocks that soon grew heatedin the torrid rays. 

"Big bunyip got no more water. All gone dis time, " said Jimmy calmly. "Poor black fellows tink go die. No die Jimmy. Lots a do find um faderall over big country. Water all gone, Jimmy cunning--artful, not meandie dis time. Bunyip not got 'nuff water. Give Jimmy something eat. Ready eat half sheep and damper. Give Jimmy some eat. "

We all wanted something to eat, and eagerly set to work, but soakingdamper was not a very sumptuous repast; still we feasted as eagerly asif it had been the most delicious food, and all the time the water keptgoing down. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

HOW THE DOCTOR TOOK ME IN HAND. 

It is surprising how elastic the mind is in young people, and myexperience has shown me that there is a great deal of resemblancebetween the minds of savages and those of the young. 

In this case we had all been, I may say, in a state of the most terribledespair one hour. The next, our black companions were laughing andchattering over their wet damper, and Jimmy was hopping about in thehighest of glee, while I must confess to a singular feeling ofexhilaration which I showed in company with Jack Penny, who, afterresuming his garments, seemed to have been seized with the idea that theproper thing to do was to go round from one to another administeringfriendly slaps on the shoulder accompanied by nods and smiles. 

I used to wish that Jack Penny would not smile, for the effect upon hissmooth boyish countenance was to make him look idiotic. When the doctorsmiled there was a grave kindly benevolent look in his fineheavily-bearded massive face. When Jimmy smiled it was in a wholesalefashion, which gave you an opportunity of counting his teeth from theincisors right back to those known as wisdom-teeth at the angles of hisjaws. He always smiled with all his might and made me think of the manwho said he admired a crocodile because it had such a nice opencountenance. 

Jimmy had a nice open countenance and a large mouth; but it in norespect resembled a crocodile's. His regular teeth were white with achina whiteness, more than that of ivory, and there was a genuinegood-tempered look about his features which even the distortion producedby anger did not take away. It was only the rather comic grotesquenessseen sometimes in the face of a little child when he is what his mothercalls a naughty boy, and distends his mouth and closes his eyes for agenuine howl. 

But Jack Penny had a smile of his own, a weak inane sickly smile thatirritated instead of pleasing you, and made you always feel as if youwould like to punch his head for being such a fool, when all the time hewas not a fool at all, but a thoroughly good-hearted, brave, and cleverfellow--true as steel--steel of the very elastic watch-spring kind, forthe way in which he bent was terrible to see. 

So Jack Penny went about smiling and slapping people's backs till it wastime to go, and we all watched the cessation of the flood witheagerness. 

The doctor, in talking, said that it was evident that this gorge ranright up into quite a mountainous region acting as a drain to perhaps ascore of valleys which had been flooded by the sudden storm, and thatthis adventure had given us as true an idea of the nature of theinterior we were about to visit as if we had studied a map. 

Down went the water more and more swiftly till, as I was saying to thedoctor how grand it must have been to see the flood rolling over thegreat fall, we saw that the rocky ledge along which we had come and thaton the other side of our little haven of safety were bare and drying up, being washed perfectly clean and not showing so much as a trace of mud. 

"Let us get on at once, " the doctor said; "this is no road for atraveller to choose, for the first storm will again make it adeath-trap. "

So here we were rescued, and we started at once, every one carefullyavoiding the slightest reference to the fate of our pursuers, while inthe broad light of day, in place of looking terrible, the chasm wassimply grand. The cool rolling water seemed to bring with it a softsweet breeze that made us feel elastic, and refreshed us as we trudgedalong at an ordinary rate, for there was no fear now of pursuit. 

So with one or two halts we walked on all day till I felt eager to getout from between the prison-like walls to where the trees were waving, and we could hear the voices of the birds. Here there was nothing butstone, stone as high as we could see. 

It was a great drawback our not being able to converse with the bearers, but we amended this a little every hour, for Ti-hi struggled hard tomake us understand how much he knew about the place and how he knew thatthere were such floods as this from time to time. 

We managed to learn from him, too, that we should not escape from thegorge that night, and to our dismay we had to encamp on a broad shelfwhen the sun went down; but the night proved to be clear and calm, andmorning broke without any adventure to disturb our much-needed rest. 

The gorge had been widening out, though, a great deal on the previousevening, and by noon next day, when we paused for a rest after a longtramp over constantly-rising ground, we were beyond risk from any suchstorm as that which had nearly been our destruction, but as we restedamid some bushes beside what was a mere gurgling stream, one of severalinto which the river had branched, Ti-hi contrived to make us understandthat we were not in safety, for there were people here who were ready tofight and kill, according to his words and pantomimic action, whichJimmy took upon himself to explain. 

For days and days we journeyed on finding abundance of food in the riverand on its banks by means of gun and hook and line. The blacks wereclever, too, at finding for us roots and fruit, with tender shoots ofsome kind of grassy plant that had a sweet taste, pleasantly acid aswell, bunches of which Jimmy loved to stick behind him in his waistbandso that it hung down like a bushy green tail that diminished as hewalked, for he kept drawing upon it till it all was gone. 

Now and then, too, we came upon the great pale-green broad leaves of abanana or plantain, which was a perfect treasure. 

Jimmy was generally the first to find these, for he was possessed of afine insight into what was good for food. 

"Regular fellow for the pot, " Jack Penny said one day as Jimmy set upone of his loud whoops and started off at a run. 

This was the first time we found a plantain, and in answer to Jimmy's_cooey_ we followed and found him hauling himself up by the largeleaf-stalks, to where, thirty feet above the bottom, hung, like abrobdignagian bunch of elongated grapes, a monstrous cluster of yellowplantains. 

"I say, they ain't good to eat, are they?" said Jack, as Jimmy beganhacking through the curved stalk. 

"Yup, yup! hyi, hyi!" shouted Jimmy, tearing away so vigorously at thegreat bunch that it did not occur to him that he was proceeding in amanner generally accredited to the Irishman who sawed off a branch, cutting between himself and the tree. 

The first knowledge he, and for the matter of fact we, had of hismistake, was seeing him and the bunch of bananas, weighing about ahundredweight, come crashing down amongst the undergrowth, out of atangle of which, and the huge leaves of the plantain tree, we had tohelp our black companion, whose first motion was to save the fruit. 

This done he began to examine himself to see how much he was hurt, andended by seizing my axe and bounding back into the jungle, to hew andhack at the tree till we called him back. 

"Big bunyip tree! Fro black fellow down, " he cried furiously. "Got umbana, though!" he exclaimed triumphantly, and turning to the big bunchhe began to separate it into small ones, giving us each a portion tocarry. 

"I say, what's these?" said Jack Penny, handling his bunch with a lookof disgust. 

"Bananas, " I said. "Splendid fruit food. "

"How do you know?" said Jack sourly. "There's none in your garden athome. "

"My father has often told me about them, " I replied. "They are rich andnutritious, and--let's try. "

I ended my description rather abruptly, for I was thirsty and hungry aswell, and the presence of a highly flavoured fruit was not to be treatedwith contempt. 

I cut off one then, and looking at Jack nodded, proceeded to peel it, and enjoyed the new sweet vegetable butter, flavoured with pear andhoney, for the first time in my life. 

"Is it good?" said Jack, dubiously. 

"Splendid, " I said. 

"Why, they look like sore fingers done up in stalls, " he said. "I say, I don't like the look of them. "

"Don't have any, then, " I said, commencing another; while every onepresent, the doctor included, followed my example with so much vigourthat Jack began in a slow solemn way, peeling and tasting, and making astrange grimace, and ending by eating so rapidly that the doctor adviseda halt. 

"Oh, all right!" said Jack. "I won't eat any more, then. But, I say, they are good!"

There was no likelihood of our starving, for water was abundant, andfruit to be found by those who had such energetic hunters as the blacks. So we proceeded steadily on, hoping day by day either to encounter somefriendly tribe, or else to make some discovery that might be of value tous in our search. 

And so for days we journeyed on, hopeful in the morning, dispirited inthe heat of the day when weary. Objects such as would have made gladthe heart of any naturalist were there in plenty, but nothing in theshape of sign that would make our adventure bear the fruit we wished. If our object had been hunting and shooting, wild pig, deer, and birdsinnumerable were on every hand. Had we been seeking wonderful orchidsand strangely shaped flowers and fruits there was reward incessant forus, but it seemed as if the whole of the interior was given up to wildnature, and that the natives almost exclusively kept to the land nearthe sea-shore. 

The doctor and I sat one night by our watch-fire talking the matterover, and I said that I began to be doubtful of success. 

"Because we have been all over the country?" he replied, smiling. 

"Well, we have travelled a great way, " I said. 

"Why, my dear boy, what we have done is a mere nothing. This island isnext in size to Australia. It is almost a continent, and we have justpenetrated a little way. "

"But I can't help seeing, " I said, "that the people seem to be alldwellers near the sea-coast. "

"Exactly. What of that?" he replied. 

"Then if my poor father were anywhere a prisoner, he would have beensure to have found some means of communicating with the traders if hehad not escaped. "

"Your old argument, Joe, " he said. "Are you tired of the quest?"

"Tired? No!" I cried excitedly. 

"Then recollect the spirit in which we set about this search. We saidwe would find him. "

"And so we will: my mind is made up to find him--if he be living, " Iadded mournfully. 

"Aha!" said the doctor, bending forward and looking at me by the lightof the burning wood, "I see, my fine fellow, I see. We are a bit upsetwith thinking and worry. Nerves want a little tone, eh? as we doctorssay. My dear boy, I shall have to feel your pulse and put you to bedfor a day or two. This is a nice high and dry place: suppose we camphere for a little, and--"

"Oh no, no, doctor, " I cried. 

"But I say, Oh yes, yes. Why, Joe, you're not afraid of a dose ofphysic, are you? You want something, that's evident. Boys of your agedon't have despondent fits without a cause. "

"I have only been thinking a little more about home, and--my poorfather, " I said with a sigh. 

"My dear Joe, " said the doctor, "once for all I protest against thatdespondent manner of speaking. `My poor father!' How do you know he ispoor? Bah! lad: you're a bit down, and I shall give you a littlequinine. To-morrow you will rest all day. "

"And then?" I said excitedly. 

"Then, " he said thoughtfully--"then? Why, then we'll have a fishing ora shooting trip for a change, to do us both good, and we'll take JackPenny and Jimmy with us. "

"Let's do that to-morrow, doctor, " I said, "instead of my lying here incamp. "

"Will you take your quinine, then, like a good boy?" he said laughingly. 

"That I will, doctor--a double dose, " I exclaimed. "A double dose youshall take, Joe, my lad, " he said; and to my horror he drew a littleflat silver case out of his pocket, measured out a little light whitepowder on the blade of a knife into our pannikin, squeezed into it a fewdrops of the juice of a lemon-like fruit of which we had a pretty goodnumber every day, filled up with water, and held it for me to drink. 

"Oh, I say, doctor!" I exclaimed, "I did not think I should be broughtout here in the wilderness to be physicked. "

"Lucky fellow to have a medical man always at your side, " he replied. "There, sip it up. No faces. Pish! it wasn't nasty, was it?"

"Ugh! how bitter!" I cried with a shudder. 

"Bitter? Well, yes; but how sweet to know that you have had a dose ofthe greatest medicine ever discovered. There, now, lie down on theblanket near the fire here, never mind being a little warm, and go tosleep. "

I obeyed him unwillingly, and lay attentively watching the doctor'sthoughtful face and the fire. Then I wondered whether we should havethat savage beast again which had haunted our camp at our firststarting, and then I began to dose off, and was soon dreaming of havingfound my father, and taken him in triumph back to where my mother waswaiting to receive us with open arms. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

HOW I WAS DISPOSED TO FIND FAULT WITH MY BEST FRIEND. 

When I unclosed my eyes it was bright morning and through an opening inthe trees opposite to where I lay I gazed upon the dazzling summit of amountain of wonderfully regular shape. As I lay there it put me in mindof a bell, so evenly rounded were the shoulders, and I was thinkingwhether it would be possible to clamber up it and inspect the countryfrom its summit, when the doctor came up. 

"Ah! Joe, " he said; "and how are the spirits this morning?"

"Spirits?" I said wonderingly, for my sleep had been so deep that I hadforgotten all about the previous evening. "Oh, I'm quite well;" andspringing up I went to the stream by which we were encamped to bathe myface and hands, coming back refreshed, and quite ready for the breakfastthat was waiting. 

"Let's see, " said the doctor. "I promised an expedition did I not?"

"Yes: hunting or fishing, " I said eagerly, though I half repented myeagerness directly after, for it seemed as if I did not think enoughabout the object of our journey. 

"I've altered my mind, " said the doctor. "We've been travelling fordays in low damp levels; now for a change what do you say to trying highground and seeing if we can climb that mountain? What do you say, Penny?"

"Won't it make our backs ache a deal?" he said, gazing rather wistfullyup at the glittering mountain. 

"No doubt, and our legs too, " the doctor replied. "Of course we shallnot try to ascend the snowy parts, but to get as far as the shoulder;that will give us a good view of the lay of the country, and it will besomething to climb where perhaps human foot has never trod before. "

There was something fascinating enough in this to move Jack Penny intoforgetfulness of the possibility of an aching back; and after getting inmotion once more, we followed our black bearers for a few miles, andthen giving them instructions where to halt--upon a low hill just infront--we struck off to the left, the doctor, Jack Penny, Jimmy, and thedog, and at the end of half an hour began the ascent. 

So slight was the slope that we climbed I could hardly believe itpossible how fast we had ascended, when at the end of a couple of hourswe sat down to rest by a rill of clear intensely cold water that wasbubbling amongst the stones. For on peering through a clump of trees Igazed at the most lovely landscape I had seen since I commenced myjourney. Far as eye could reach it was one undulating forest of endlessshades of green, amidst which, like verdant islands, rose hill andlesser mountain. 

I could have stopped and gazed at the scene for hours had not the doctortaken me by the arm. 

"Rest and food, my lad, " he said; "and then higher up yet before wesettle to our map making and mark out our future course. "

Jimmy was already fast asleep beneath a rock, curled up in imitation ofGyp, while Jack Penny was sitting with his back against a tree, apparently studying his legs as he rubbed his hands up and down themgently, to soften and make more pliable the muscles. 

"Tain't time to go on yet, is it?" he said with a dismal glance up atus. 

"No, no, Penny; we'll have a good rest first, " said the doctor; and Jackuttered a profound sigh of relief. 

"I am glad, " he said, "for I was resting my back. I get up against asmall tree like this and keep my back straight, and that seems to makeit stronger and stiffer for ever so long. "

"Then take my advice, Penny; try another plan, my lad. You have growntoo fast. "

"Yes, that's what father always said, " replied Jack, beginning with ahigh squeak and rumbling off into a low bass. 

"You are then naturally weak, and if I were you I should lie flat downupon my back every time we stopped. You will then get up refreshed morethan you think for. "

"But you wouldn't lie flat like that when you were eating your victuals, would you? I ain't Jimmy. "

"No, but you could manage that, " I said; and Jack Penny nodded and laydown very leisurely, but only to spring up again most energetically anduttering a frightened yell. 

Gyp and Jimmy uncoiled like a couple of loosened springs, the former toutter a series of angry barks, and the latter to spring up into the airsuddenly. 

"Where de bunyip--where de big bunyip? Jimmy kill um all along. "

He flourished his waddy wildly, and then followed Gyp, who charged intothe wood as the doctor and I seized our guns, ready for action. 

Then a fierce worrying noise took place for a few moments in amongst thebushes, and then Jimmy came bounding out, dragging a small snake by thetail, to throw it down and then proceed to batter its head once againwith his waddy, driving it into the earth, though the reptile mustalready have ceased to exist. 

"Killum dead um!" cried Jimmy, grinning with triumph. "Jimmy killumheadums; Gyp killums tail. "

"I wish you'd look, doctor, and see if he bit me, " said Jack, speakingdisconsolately. "I lay down as you told me, and put my head right onthat snake. "

"Don't you know whether it bit you?" said the doctor anxiously. 

"No, not the least idea, " said Jack, shaking his head. "I think it musthave bit me, I was so close. "

"I don't believe it did, " I said. "Why, you must have known. "

"Think so?" said Jack dismally. "I say, doctor, is it best, do youthink, to lie right down?"

"Yes, if you look first to see whether there is danger from snakes. There, lie down, my lad, and rest. "

Jack obeyed him very reluctantly, and after Gyp and Jimmy had bothre-curled themselves, the doctor and I lay down to talk in a low voiceabout our prospects, and then as I lay listening to his words, andwondering whether I should ever succeed in tracing out my father, allseemed to become blank, till I started up on being touched. 

"Had a good nap?" said the doctor. "Then let's get on again. "

We started once more, with the ground now becoming more difficult. Trees were fewer, but rocks and rugged patches of stony soil grewfrequent, while a pleasant breeze now played about our faces and seemedto send vigour into our frames. 

Gyp and the black were wonderfully excited, bounding about in front ofus, and even Jack Penny stepped out with a less uncertain stride. 

Higher we climbed and higher, and at every pause that we made for breaththe beauty of the great country was more impressed upon me. 

"What a pity!" exclaimed the doctor, as we halted at last upon a ruggedcorner of the way we were clambering, with the glistening summit farabove our heads, while at our feet the wild country looked like somelovely green garden. 

"What is a pity?" I said wonderingly, for the scene, tired and hot as Iwas, seemed lovely. 

"That such a glorious country should be almost without inhabitant, whenthousands of our good true Englishmen are without a scrap of land tocall their own. "

"Hey, hi!" cried Jack Penny excitedly. "Look out! There's somethingwrong. "

Jimmy and the dog had, as usual, been on ahead; but only to come racingback, the former's face full of excitement, while the dog seemed almostas eager as the black. 

"Jimmy find um mans, find. Quiet, Gyp; no make noise. "

"Find? My father?" I cried, with a curious choking sensation in mythroat. 

"No; no findum fader, " whispered Jimmy. "Get um gun. Findum blackfellow round a corner. "

"He has come upon the natives at last, doctor, " I said softly. "Whatshall we do?"

"Retreat if they are enemies; go up to them if they are friendly, " saidthe doctor; "only we can't tell which, my lad. Ours is a plunge in thedark, and we must risk it, or I do not see how we are to get on with ourquest. "

"Shall we put on a brave face and seem as if we trusted them then?" Isaid. 

"But suppose they're fierce cannibals, " whispered Jack Penny, "or assavage as those fellows down by the river? Ain't it rather risky?"

"No more risky than the whole of our trip, Penny, " said the doctorgravely. "Are you afraid?"

"Well, I don't know, " drawled Jack softly. "I don't think I am, but Iain't sure. But I sha'n't run away. Oh, no, I sha'n't run away. "

"Come along then, " said the doctor. "Shoulder your rifle carelessly, and let's put a bold front upon our advance. They may be friendly. Now, Jimmy, lead the way. "

The black's eyes glittered as he ran to the front, stooping down almostas low as if he were some animal creeping through the bush, and takingadvantage of every shrub and rock for concealment. 

He went on, with Gyp close at his heels, evidently as much interested ashis leader, while we followed, walking erect and making no effort toconceal our movements. 

We went on like this for quite a quarter of a mile, and the doctor hadtwice whispered to me that he believed it was a false alarm, in spite ofJimmy's cautionary movements, and we were about to shout to him to comeback, when all at once he stopped short behind a rugged place that stoodout of the mountain slope, and waved his waddy to us to come on. 

"He has come upon them, " I said, with my heart beating faster and acurious sensation of sluggishness attacking my legs. 

"Yes, he has found something, " said the doctor; and as I glanced round Icould see that Jack Penny had my complaint in his legs a little worsethan I. But no sooner did he see that I was looking at him than hesnatched himself together, and we went on boldly, feeling a good dealencouraged from the simple fact that Gyp came back to meet us wagginghis tail. 

As we reached the spot where Jimmy was watching, he drew back to allowus to peer round the block of stone, saying softly:

"Dat's um. Black fellow just gone long. "

To our surprise there were no natives in the hollow into which wepeered, but just beyond a few stunted bushes I could see smoke arising, so it seemed, and the black whispered:

"Black fellow fire. Cookum damper. Roastum sheep's muttons. "

"But there is no one, Jimmy, " I said. 

"Jus' gone long. Hear Jimmy come long. Run away, " he whispered. 

"That is no fire, " said the doctor, stepping forward. "It is a hotspring. "

"Yes, yes, much big fire; go much out now. Mind black fellow; mindspear killum, killum. "

"Yes, a hot spring, and this is steam, " said the doctor, as we went onto where a little basin of water bubbled gently, and sent forth quite alittle pillar of vapour into the air; so white was it that the blackmight well have been excused for making his mistake. 

"Jimmy run long see where black fellow gone. Cookum dinner here. Eh!whar a fire?" he cried, bending down and poking at the little basin withthe butt of his spear before looking wonderingly at us. 

"Far down in the earth, Jimmy, " said the doctor. 

"Eh? Far down? Whar a fire makum water boils?" cried the blackexcitedly; and bending down he peered in all directions, ending bythrusting one hand in the spring and snatching it out again with a yellof pain. 

"Is it so hot as that, Jimmy?" I said. 

"Ah, roastum hot, O!" cried Jimmy, holding his hand to his mouth. "Oh!Mass Joe, doctor, stop. Jimmy go and find black fellow. "

We tried very hard to make the black understand that this was one ofNature's wonders, but it was of no avail. He only shook his head andwinked at us, grinning the while. 

"No, no; Jimmy too cunning-artful. Play trickums. Make fool o' Jimmy. Oh, no! Ha! ha! Jimmy cunning-artful; black fellow see frooeverybody. "

He stood shaking his head at us in such an aggravating way, after allthe trouble I had been at to show him that this was a hot spring andvolcanic, that I felt ready to kick, and I daresay I should have kickedhim if he had not been aware of me, reading my countenance easilyenough, and backing away laughing, and getting within reach of a greatpiece of rock, behind which he could dodge if I grew too aggressive. 

I left Jimmy to himself, and stood with the doctor examining the curioussteaming little fount, which came bubbling out of some chinks in thesolid rock and formed a basin for itself of milky white stone, some ofwhich was rippled where the water ran over, and trickled musically alonga jagged crevice in the rocky soil, sending up a faint steam which fadedaway directly in the glowing sunshine. 

"I say, " said Jack Penny, who had crouched down beside the basin, "why, you might cook eggs in this. "

"That you might, Penny, " said the doctor. 

"But we ain't got any eggs to cook, " said Jack dolefully. "I wish we'dgot some of our fowls' eggs--the new-laid ones, you know. I don't meanthem you find in the nests. I say, it is hot, " he continued. "Youmight boil mutton. "

"Eh! whar a mutton? Boil mutton?" cried Jimmy, running up, for he hadcaught the words. 

"At home, Jimmy, " I said, laughing. The black's disgust was comical towitness as he tucked his waddy under one arm, turned his nose in theair, and stalked off amongst the rocks, in the full belief that we hadbeen playing tricks with him. 

He startled us the next moment by shouting:

"Here um come! Gun, gun, gun!"

He came rushing back to us, and, moved by his evidently real excitement, we took refuge behind a barrier of rock and waited the coming onslaught, for surely enough there below us were dark bodies moving amongst the lowgrowth, and it was evident that whatever it was, human being or loweranimals, they were coming in our direction fast. 

We waited anxiously for a few minutes, during the whole of which timeJimmy was busily peering to right and left, now creeping forward for afew yards, sheltered by stones or bush, now slowly raising his head toget a glimpse of the coming danger; and so careful was he that his blackrough head should not be seen, that he turned over upon his back, pushedhimself along in that position, and then lay peering through the bushesover his forehead. 

The moving objects were still fifty yards away, where the bush was verythick and low. Admirable cover for an advancing enemy. Their actionsseemed so cautious, too, that we felt sure that we must be seen, and Iwas beginning to wonder whether it would not be wise to fire amongst thelow scrub and scare our enemies, when Jimmy suddenly changed histactics, making a sign to us to be still, as he crawled backwards rightpast us and disappeared, waddy in hand. 

We could do nothing but watch, expecting the black every moment toreturn and report. 

But five minutes', ten minutes' anxiety ensued before we heard a shoutright before us, followed by a rush, and as we realised that the blackhad come back past us so that he might make a circuit and get round theenemy, there was a rush, and away bounding lightly over the tops of thebushes went a little pack of a small kind of kangaroo. 

It was a matter of moments; the frightened animals, taking flying leapstill out of sight, and Jimmy appeared, running up panting, to lookeagerly round. 

"Whar a big wallaby?" he cried. "No shoot? No killum? Eh? Jimmykillum one big small ole man!"

He trotted back as he spoke, and returned in triumph bearing one of thecreatures, about equal in size to a small lamb. 

This was quickly dressed by the black, and secured hanging in a tree, for the doctor would not listen to Jimmy's suggestion that we shouldstop and "boil um in black fellow's pot all like muttons;" and then wecontinued our climb till we had won to a magnificent position on theshoulder of the mountain for making a careful inspection of the countrynow seeming to lie stretched out at our feet. 

A more glorious sight I never saw. Green everywhere, wave upon wave ofverdure lit up by the sunshine and darkening in shadow. Mountains werein the distance, and sometimes we caught the glint of water; but sweepthe prospect as we would in every direction with the glass it was alwaysthe same, and the doctor looked at me at last and shook his head. 

"Joe, " he said at last, "our plan appeared to be very good when weproposed it, but it seems to me that we are going wrong. If we are tofind your father, whom we believe to be a prisoner--"

"Who is a prisoner!" I said emphatically. 

"Why do you say that?" he cried sharply, searching me with his eyes. 

"I don't know, " I replied dreamily. "He's a prisoner somewhere. "

"Then we must seek him among the villages of the blacks near thesea-shore. The farther we go the more we seem to be making our way intothe desert. Look there!" he cried, pointing in different directions;"the foot of man never treads there. These forests are impassable. "

"Are you getting weary of our search, doctor?" I said bitterly. 

He turned upon me an angry look, which changed to one of reproach. 

"You should not have asked me that, my lad, " he said softly. "You aretired or you would not have spoken so bitterly. Wait and see. I onlywant to direct our energies in the right way. The blacks could go ontramping through the country; we whites must use our brains as well asour legs. "

"I--I beg your pardon, doctor!" I cried earnestly. 

"All right, my lad, " he said quietly. "Now for getting back to camp. Where must our bearers be?"

He adjusted the glass and stood carefully examining the broad landscapebefore us, till all at once he uttered an exclamation, and handed theglass to me. 

"See what you make of that spot where there seems to be a mass of rockrising out of the plain, and a thin thread of flashing water running byits side. Yonder!" he continued, pointing. "About ten miles away, Ishould say. "

I took the glass, and after a good deal of difficulty managed to catchsight of the lump of rock he had pointed out. There was the gleamingthread of silver, too, with, plainly seen through the clear atmosphereand gilded by the sun, quite a tiny cloud of vapour slowly rising in theair. 

"Is that another hot spring, doctor?" I said, as I kept my glass fixedupon the spot; "or--"

"Our blacks' fire, " said the doctor. "It might be either; or inaddition it might be a fire lit by enemies, or at all events savages;but as it is in the direction in which we are expecting to find ourcamp, and there seem to be no enemies near, I am in favour of that beingcamp. Come: time is slipping by. Let's start downward now. "

I nodded and turned to Jack Penny, who all this while had been restinghis back by lying flat upon the ground, and that he was asleep wasproved by the number of ants and other investigating insects which weremaking a tour all over his long body; Gyp meanwhile looking on, andsniffing at anything large, such as a beetle, with the result of chasingthe visitor away. 

We roused Jack and started, having to make a detour so as to secureJimmy's kangaroo, which he shouldered manfully, for though it offered usno temptation we knew that it would delight the men in camp. 

The descent was much less laborious than the ascent, but it took a longtime, and the sun was fast sinking lower, while as we approached theplains every few hundred yards seemed to bring us into a warmer stratumof air, while we kept missing the pleasant breeze of the higher ground. 

If we could have made a bee-line right to where the smoke rose the taskwould have been comparatively easy, but we had to avoid this chasm, thatpiled-up mass of rocks, and, as we went lower, first thorny patches ofscrub impeded our passage, and lower still there was the impenetrableforest. 

I was getting fearfully tired and Jack Penny had for a long time beenperfectly silent, while Jimmy, who was last, took to uttering a lowgroan every now and then, at times making it a sigh as he lookedimploringly at me, evidently expecting me to share his heavy load. 

I was too tired and selfish, I'm afraid, and I trudged on till closeupon sundown, when it occurred to me that I had not heard Jimmy groan orsigh for some time, and turning to speak to him I waited till he cameup, walking easily and lightly, with his spear acting as a staff. 

"Why, Jimmy; where's the kangaroo?" I said. 

"Wallaby ole man, Mass Joe?" he said, nodding his head on one side likea sparrow. 

"Yes; where is it?"

"Bad un!" he said sharply. "Jimmy smell up poo boo! Bad; not good aeat. No get camp a night. Jimmy fro um all away!"

"Thrown it away!" I cried. 

"Yes; bad ums. Jimmy fro um all away!"

"You lazy humbug!" I said with a laugh, in which he good-humouredlyjoined. 

"Yess--ess--Jimmy laze humbug! Fro um all away. "

"But I say, look here, Jimmy!" I said anxiously, "what do you mean?"

"Light fire here; go asleep! Findum camp a morning. All away, rightaway. Not here; no!"

He ended by shaking his head, and I called to the doctor:

"Jimmy says we shall not find the camp!" I said hastily; "and that weare going wrong. "

"I know it, " he said quietly; "but we cannot get through this forestpatch, so we must go wrong for a time, and then strike off to theright. "

But we found no opportunity of striking off to the right. Everywhere itwas impenetrable forest, and at last we had to come to a halt on theedge, for the darkness was black, and to have gone on meant feeling ourway step by step. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

HOW I GOT INTO SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES. 

It is not a pleasant place to pass a night, on the ground at the edge ofa vast forest, inhabited by you know not what noxious beasts, while ifyou light a fire to scare them off you always do so with the idea thatin scaring one enemy you may be giving notice to a worse where he mayfind you to make a prisoner or put you to death. 

However we determined to risk being seen by savages, the more readilythat we had gone so far now without seeing one, and in a short time aruddy blaze was gilding the forest edge and the great sparks werecracking around the trees. 

We had calculated upon being back at camp that night, so we had eatenall our food, and now, as we sat there by the fire hungry and tired, Ibegan to think that we might have done worse than cut off the kangaroo'stail before Jimmy had thrown it away. 

Poor Jimmy! He too seemed to be bitterly regretting the idleness thathad made him give up his self-imposed task, and the dismal hungry lookshe kept giving me from time to time were ludicrous in the extreme. 

"Never mind, Joe, " said the doctor smiling; "tighten your belt, my lad, and get to sleep. That's the best way to forget your hunger. You'll besure to begin dreaming about feasts. "

The doctor was right; I lay hungrily awake for a short time, and thendropped off to sleep, to dream of delicious fruits, and cooking, and thesmell of meat burning, and I awoke with a start to find that there was avery peculiar odour close to my nose, for a piece of wood must have shota spark of its burning body into the shaggy head of poor Jimmy, who wassleeping happily unconscious, while a tiny scrap of wood was glowing andthe hair sending forth curls of smoke. 

I jumped up, seized Jimmy by the hair, and crushed out the spark, awaking that worthy so sharply that he sprang up waddy in hand, caughtme by the throat, and threw me back, swinging his war-club over his headto strike a tremendous blow. 

He saw who it was in time and dropped his weapon. 

"What a fool, Jimmy, yes! What a fool Jimmy sleep. Pull Jimmy hair, jig jag. Hallo! What a want?"

It took some time to make him understand what had been wrong, but evenwhen he did comprehend he seemed to be annoyed with me for waking himout of a pleasant dream, probably about damper and mutton, for thesaving of so insignificant a thing as his hair, which would have soongrown again. 

Jimmy lay down again grumbling, but was soon asleep, and on comparingnotes with the doctor I found I was so near my time for taking my turnat watching and keeping up the fire that I exchanged places with him. 

As is often the case, the troubles and depressing influences of thenight departed with the day, and setting out very hungry, but by nomeans in bad spirits, we soon found a more open part, where the forestwas beginning to end, and after about three hours' walking we reachedour little camp, where we had no difficulty in satisfying our cravings, our ordinary food being supplemented by a great bunch of plantains whichone of the blacks had found and saved for us. 

After a good rest, during which the doctor and I had talked well overour future course, we determined to go right on as we had come foranother four days and then to strike due south to hit the shore, alwayssupposing that we encountered nothing fresh to alter our plans. 

"And I'm sure we shall, " I said to myself, for somehow, I cannot tellyou why--and perhaps after all it was fancy--I felt sure that we shouldnot be long now before we met with some adventure. 

I did not like to say anything of this kind to the doctor, for I feltthat if I did he would laugh at me; but I took the first opportunity Icould find of confiding in Jack Penny. 

He looked down at me and then seemed to wave himself to and fro, lookingat me in a curious dreamy fashion. 

"Do you think that? do you feel like as if something is going tohappen?"

"Yes, " I said hastily. "I don't ask you to believe it but I cannot helpthinking something about my curious feelings. "

"Oh! I believe you, " he said eagerly. "Oh! I quite believe you, JoeCarstairs. I used to feel like that always on mornings when I woke upfirst, and so sure as I felt that way father used to be going to lickme, and he did. I should put fresh cartridges in my gun if I was you. I'll keep pretty close to you all day and see you through with itanyhow. "

But Jack Penny did not keep his word, for somehow as we were journeyingon in the heat of the day looking eagerly for a spring or river to makeour next halting-place we were separated. I think it was Jack's backwanted a rest. Anyhow I was steadily pushing on within shoutingdistance of my companions, all of whom had spread out so as to be morelikely to hit upon water. 

It was very hot, and I was plodding drowsily along through a beautifulopen part dotted with large bushes growing in great clumps, many ofwhich were covered with sweet smelling blossoms, when just as I waspassing between a couple of the great clumps which were large enough tohide from me what lay beyond, I stopped utterly paralysed by the scenesome fifty yards in front. 

For there in the bright sunshine stood a boy who might have been aboutmy own age intently watching something just beyond some bushes in hisfront, and the moment after a small deer stepped lightly out full in myview, gazed round, and then stooped its graceful head to begin browsing. 

The boy, who was as black as ebony and whose skin shone in the sun, seemed to have caught sight of the deer at the same moment as I, for hethrew himself into position, poising the long spear he carried, restingthe shaft upon one hand and bending himself back so that he might getthe greatest power into his throw. 

I had seen Jimmy plant himself in the same position hundreds of times, and, surprised as I was at coming upon this stranger, whose people wereprobably near at hand, I could not help admiring him as he stood there athorough child of nature, his body seeming to quiver with excitement forthe moment and then becoming perfectly rigid. 

My eye glanced from the boy to the deer and back again, when a slightmovement to my right caught my attention and I stood paralysed, for in acrouching attitude I could see a second black figure coming up, war-clubin hand, evidently inimically disposed towards the young hunter. 

"And he may belong to a friendly set of people, " I thought. "It isJimmy!"

"No: it was not Jimmy, but one of the bearers--Ti-hi, " I thought. 

"No: it was a stranger!"

Just then the boy drew himself back a little more, and as I saw thestooping figure, that of a big burly savage, stealthily creeping on, Irealised his intention, which was to wait till the boy had hurled hisspear and then leap upon him and beat him to the ground. 

I made no plans, for all was the work of moments. I saw the spear leavethe boy's hand like a line of light in the sunshine; then he turned, alarmed by some sound behind him, saw the savage in the act of leapingupon him, uttered a shrill cry of fear, and ran somewhat in mydirection, and at the same moment my gun made a jump up at my shoulderand went off. 

As the smoke rose I stood aghast, seeing the boy on my left crouchingdown with a small waddy in his hand and the great black savage prone onhis face just to my right. 

"I've killed him!" I exclaimed, a chill of horror running through me;but as I thought this I brought my piece to the ready again, for thesavage leaped to his feet and turned and ran into the bush at atremendous pace. 

From habit I threw open the breech of my gun without taking my eyes fromthe boy, and, thrusting my hand into my pouch, I was about to place afresh ball cartridge in its place when I found that I had drawn theright trigger and discharged the barrel loaded with small shot, asufficient explanation of the man being able to get up and run away. 

I remained standing motionless as soon as I had reloaded, the boywatching me intently the while and looking as if he was either ready toattack or flee according to circumstances. Friendly advance there wasnone, for he showed his white teeth slightly and his eyes glittered asthey were fixed upon mine. 

Suddenly I caught sight of the deer lying transfixed by the boy's spear, and without a word I walked quietly to where the little animal lay, theboy backing slowly and watchfully from me, but holding his waddy readyfor a blow or to hurl at me, it seemed, if I ventured to attack. 

I wanted to make friends, and as soon as I reached the dead deer Istooped down, holding my gun ready though, and taking hold of the spear, drew it out and offered it to the young hunter. 

He understood my motion, for he made a couple of steps forward quickly, but only to draw back uttering an angry ejaculation, and raise his waddyin a threatening way. 

"He thinks I want to trap him, " I said to myself; and taking the spearin regular native style, as Jimmy had taught me, I smiled and nodded, tossed it in the air, and let it drop a few yards away with the shaftupright and towards his hands. 

I pointed to it and drew back a few yards, when, quick as some wildanimal, he made two or three bounds, caught up the spear, poised it, andstood as if about to hurl it at me. 

It was not a pleasant position, and my first impulse was to raise my gunto my shoulder; but my second was to stand firm, resting on my piece, and I waved my hand to him to lower the spear. 

The boy hesitated, uttered a fierce cry, and stamped one foot angrily;but I waved my hand again, and, thrusting my hand into my pocket, pulledout a ring of brass wire, such as we carried many of for presents to thesavages, and I tossed it to him. 

I saw the boy's eyes glitter with eagerness, but he was too suspiciousto move, and so we stood for some minutes, during which I wonderedwhether my companions had heard the report of my gun, and if so whetherthey would come up soon. If they did I was sure they would alarm theboy, who seemed as suspicious as some wild creature and shook his spearmenacingly as soon as I took a step forward. 

A thought struck me just then as I saw a red spot glisten on a leaf, andstepping forward I saw another and another, which I pointed to, and thenagain at a continuous series of them leading towards the dense bush. 

I took a few more steps forward when the boy suddenly bounded to my sideas if he realised that I had saved his life and that he was bound to tryand save me in turn. 

He uttered some words fiercely, and, catching my arm, drew me back, pointing his spear menacingly in the direction taken by the greatsavage, and in response to his excited words I nodded and smiled andyielded to his touch. 

We had not taken many steps before he stopped short to stand and stareat me wonderingly, saying something the while. 

Then he touched me, and as I raised my hand to grasp his he uttered afierce cry and pointed his spear at me once more, but I only laughed--very uncomfortably I own--and he lowered it slowly and doubtfully onceagain, peering into my eyes the while, his whole aspect seeming to say, "Are you to be trusted or no?"

I smiled as the best way of giving him confidence, though I did not feelmuch confidence in him--he seemed too handy with his spear. He, however, lowered this and looked searchingly at me, while I wonderedwhat I had better do next. For this was an opportunity--here was a ladof my own age who might be ready to become friends and be of greatservice to us; but he was as suspicious and excitable as a wildcreature, and ready to dash away or turn his weapons against me at theslightest alarm. 

It was very hard work to have to display all the confidence, but I toldmyself that it was incumbent upon me as a civilised being to show thissavage a good example, and generally I'm afraid that I was disposed tobe pretty conceited, as, recalling the native words I had picked up fromour followers, I tried all that were available, pointing the while tothe deer and asking him by signs as well if he would sell or barter itaway to me for food. 

My new acquaintance stared at me, and I'm afraid I did not make myselfvery comprehensible. One moment he would seem to grasp my meaning, thenext it appeared to strike him that I must be a cannibal and want to eathim when I made signs by pointing to my mouth. At last, though, theoffer of a couple of brass rings seemed to convince him of myfriendliness, and he dragged the little deer to me and laid it at myfeet. 

After this we sat down together, and he began chattering at a tremendousrate, watching my gun, pointing at the spots upon the leaves, and thentouching himself, falling down, and going through a pantomime as ifdying, ending by lying quite stiff with his eyes closed, all of whicheither meant that if I had not fired at the big black my companion wouldhave been killed, or else that I was not on any consideration to use mythunder-and-lightning weapon against him. 

I did not understand what he meant, and he had doubtless very littlecomprehension of what I tried to convey; but by degrees we became verygood friends, and he took the greatest of interest in my dress, especially in my stout boots and cartridge-belt. Then, too, he touchedmy gun, frowning fiercely the while. My big case-knife also took up agood deal of his attention and had to be pulled out several times andits qualities as a cutter of tough wood shown. 

After this he drew my attention to his slight spear, which, though ofwood, was very heavy, and its point remarkably sharp and hard. In spiteof its wanting a steel point I felt no doubt of its going throughanything against which it was directed with force. 

He next held out his waddy to me to examine. This was a weapon ofblack-looking wood, with a knob at the end about the shape of agood-sized tomato. 

I took hold of the waddy rather quickly, when it must have struck theboy that I had some hostile intention, for he snatched at it, and forthe moment it seemed as if there was a struggle going on; then I felt aviolent blow from behind, as if a large stone had fallen upon my head, and that was all. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

HOW I FOUND THAT I HAD A FELLOW-PRISONER. 

I have had a good many headaches in my time, but nothing to compare withthe fearful throbbing, that seemed as if I were receiving blow afterblow upon my temples, when I began to come to myself. 

I was stupefied and confused, and it took a long time before I recoveredsufficiently to comprehend my position. By degrees, though, I was ableto bear my eyes unclosed for sufficiently long at a time to see that Iwas in some kind of hut, and as I realised all this it seemed that Imust be still a prisoner, and that all my long journeying since was onlya dream. 

I began wondering where Jimmy could be, and the doctor, and Jack Penny, and then my head throbbed so violently that I closed my eyes, feeling atthe same time that I had no arms, no legs, nothing but an inanimatebody, and a head that ached with terrible violence as I lay therehalf-stunned. 

After a time I must have grown a little more collected, for I awoke tothe fact that I was tightly bound with twisted grass, hand and foot;that I was certainly in a hut, quite a large hut, built of bamboo andmats; and that behind me the light shone in, and somewhere close by thesound arose as of a person sleeping heavily. 

I tried to turn round, but the movement caused such intense pain that Idesisted for a time, till my anxiety to know more about my positionforced me to make a fresh effort, and I swung myself over, making myhead throb so that I gladly closed my eyes, while I wrenched my arms andwrists, that were tied behind my back so harshly that I became quiteaware of the fact that I had limbs, as well as an inert body and athrobbing head. 

When I could unclose my eyes again I saw that it was getting nearsundown, and that the sunshine was lighting up the limbs of the greattrees beneath which the native village to which I had been brought wasbuilt. From where I lay I looked across a broad opening, around whichwas hut after hut, with its open door facing towards the centre. 

There was very little sign of life around, but twice in the distance Isaw a black figure come out of the doorway of a hut and disappearamongst the trees, but it was some time before I could make out fromwhence the heavy breathing came that I had heard. 

As far as I could judge it was from some one just outside the entranceto the hut where I lay, but no one was visible, and it seemed to me thatif I could untie the rope that held my wrists and legs there was nothingto prevent my walking out and making my escape. 

I had just come to this conclusion when there was a rustling noise as ofa stick passing over twigs and leaves, and a spear fell down across thedoorway. 

The next instant I saw a black arm and shoulder come forward, the spearwas picked up, and the black arm disappeared. Then there was ashuffling sound, as of some one settling down in a fresh position, andall was silent, for the heavy breathing had ceased. 

"That's my guard, " I said to myself, "and he has been, asleep!"

Simple words, but they sent a throb of joy through me, and I began towonder where the doctor was, and what Jack Penny was doing. 

Then I thought about Jimmy, and that as soon as I was missed he would besure to hunt me out. 

My head began to throb once more horribly, but by degrees the fit diedoff, and I found myself thinking again of escape. 

"How foolish of me not to have had a dog!" I thought. "Why, if I hadhad one like Gyp he would have tracked me out by this time. "

"They'll find me out sooner or later, " I said to myself; "so I need notregret being without a dog. But suppose the savages should attack ourlittle party and make them prisoners too. "

This was quite a new idea to me. The doctor and I had thought out agood many possibilities; but that we, who had come in search of one whowas a prisoner, should be ourselves made captives, hardly ever occurredto me. 

"That would be a sorry end to our voyage, " I thought, and I lay gazingout across the open space, wondering in a dreamy misty way whether mypoor father had been attacked and captured as I had been, and whether Ishould be kept a prisoner, and have to live for the rest of my lifeamong savages. 

My head was not so painful then, and I began to feel that if it wouldonly leave off aching and my poor mother would not be so troubled atthis second loss, such a life would be better than being killed, especially as there would always be the chance of escape. 

I think I must have sunk into a sort of doze or half stupor just then, for the scene at which I lay gazing grew dim, and it seemed to me thatit must all have been a dream about my meeting with that black boy; andonce more I suppose I slept. 

How long I slept I cannot tell, but I can recall being in a confuseddream about home, and going with Jimmy to a neighbour's sheep-run, wherethere was a dog, and Jimmy coaxed him away with a big piece of meat, which he did not give to the dog, but stuck on the end of his spear andcarried it over his shoulder, with the animal whining and snufflingabout, but which was to be reserved until several wallabies had beenhunted out, for that was the aim of the afternoon. 

It seemed very tiresome that that dog should be snuffling about me, andscratching and pawing at me, and I was about to tell Jimmy to give thepoor brute the meat and let him go, when his cold nose touched my face, and I started awake, trembling in every limb. 

The darkness was intense, and for some minutes, try how I would, I couldnot think. 

All sorts of wild fancies rushed through my brain, and I grew more andmore confused; but I could not think--think reasonably, and make outwhere I was and what it all meant. 

The past seemed to be gone, and I only knew that I was there, lying withmy arms and legs dead and my head throbbing. There seemed to be nothingelse. 

Yes there was--my dream. 

It all came with a flash just where it left off, and Jimmy had coaxedthe dog away, and it was here annoying me. But why was it dark?

There was dead silence then, following upon the light pattering sound ofsome animal's feet, and with my brain rapidly growing clearer I began toarrange my thoughts I had even got so far as to recollect dropping offasleep, and I was concluding that I had slept right on into the darknessof night, when there was the pattering of feet again, and I knew nowthat it was no fancy, for some animal had touched me, though it was notlikely to be the dog that Jimmy had coaxed away to go wallaby hunting. 

There was a curious snuffling noise now, first in one part of the hut, then in another. 

Some animal, then, must have come into the hut, and this, whatever itwas, had been touching and had awakened me. What could it be? Iwondered, as I tried to think what creature was likely to be prowlingabout in the darkness. 

It could not be a wild pig, and my knowledge of animal life taught methat it was not likely to be any one of the cat family, for they went sosilently about, while the pattering steps of this creature could beplainly heard. 

We had encountered nothing in our journey that suggested itself as beinglikely, and I was beginning to perspire rather profusely with somethingvery much like utter fright, when I heard the creature, whatever it was, come close up and begin snuffling about my legs. 

"It's coming up to my face, " I thought with a chill of horror seeming toparalyse me, or I am certain that I should have called for help. 

So there I lay numbed and helpless, not knowing what to expect, unlessit was to be seized by the throat by some fierce beast of prey, andperhaps partly devoured before I was dead. 

I tried to shriek out, but not a sound came. I tried to move my arms;to kick out at the creature; but arms and legs had been bound so longthat the circulation as well as sensation had ceased, and I lay like amass of lead, able to think acutely, but powerless to stir a limb. 

The snuffling noise went on; came to my chest, to my throat, to my face;and I could feel the hot panting breath of the creature, smell theanimal odour of its skin; and then, when the dread seemed greater than Icould bear, I felt a moist nose touch my face. 

Another moment and I felt that the intruder would be burying its fangsin my throat, and still I could not stir--could not utter sound, but laylike one in a trance. 

Suddenly the animal began to tear at my chest with its claws, givingthree or four sharp impatient scratchings alternately with its feet, andthough I could not see, I could realise that the creature was standingwith its forepaws on my chest. 

Then it was right upon me, with its muzzle at my throat, snuffing still, and then it touched my face with its nose again and uttered a low whine. 

That sound broke the spell, for I can call it nothing else, and Iuttered the one word:

"Gyp!"

It was magical in its effects, for the faithful beast it was, anduttering a low cry of delight he began nuzzling about my face, lickingme, pawing me, and crouching closer to me, as all the while he kept up aregular patting noise with his tail. 

My speech had returned now, and with it a feeling of shame for mycowardice, as I thought it then, though I do not think so hardly aboutit now. 

"Gyp, you good old dog!" I whispered. "And so you've found me out!"

I suppose he did not understand my words, but he liked the sound of myvoice, for he continued his eager demonstrations of delight, many ofwhich were exceedingly unwelcome. But unwelcome or no I could not helpmyself, and had to lie there passive till, apparently satisfied thatenough had been done, Gyp crouched close to me with his head upon mybreast. 

For a time I thought he was asleep, and thoroughly enjoying theconsolation of his company in my wretched position, I lay thinking ofthe wonderful instinct of the animal, and of his training to be silent, for in spite of the excitement of our meeting he had not barked once. 

But Gyp was not asleep, for at the slightest sound outside he raised hishead quickly, and in the deep silence I could hear the great hairy earsgive quite a flap as he cocked them up. 

As the noise died away or failed to be repeated, he settled down againwith his head upon my breast till some fresh sound arose--a distant cryin the forest, or a voice talking in some neighbouring hut, when hewould start up again, and once uttered a low menacing growl, which mademe think what an unpleasant enemy he would be to a bare-legged savage. 

Once more Gyp uttered a low growl; but after that he lay with his headupon my breast, and I could feel his regular breathing. Then he lifteda paw and laid it by his nose, but evidently it was not a comfortableposition, and he took it down. And there we lay in that black silence, while I wished that dog could speak and tell me where my friends where;whether they had sent him, or whether his own instinct had led him tohunt me out. Whichever way it was, I felt a curious kind of admirationfor an animal that I had before looked upon as a kind of slave, devotedto his master, and of no interest whatever to anyone else. 

"Poor old Gyp!" I thought to myself, and I wished I could pat his head. 

I kept on wishing that I could pay him that little bit of kindness; andthen at last I seemed to be stroking his shaggy head, and then it seemedthat I was not free to do it, and then all at once it seemed to bemorning, with the sun shining, and plenty of black fellows passing andrepassing to the huts of what was evidently a populous village. 

It all looked very bright and beautiful, I thought, seen through theopen door, but I was in great pain. My head had pretty well ceased tothrob, but there was a dull strange aching in my arms and legs. Myshoulders, too, seemed as if they had been twisted violently, and I wasgiddy and weak for want of food. 

"Prisoner or no prisoner they sha'n't starve me, " I said half aloud; andI was about to shout to a tall savage who was going by spear onshoulder, when I suddenly recollected Gyp and looked sharply round forthe dog, but he was not to be seen. 

For the moment I wondered whether I had not made a mistake and dreamedall about the dog; but no, it was impossible, everything was too vivid, and after lying thinking for a few minutes I called to the first blackwho came near. 

He stopped short, came to the door, thrust in his head and stared at me, while, for want of a better means of expressing myself, I opened mymouth and shut it as if eating. 

He went away directly, and I was about to shout to another when thefirst one came back with a couple more, all talking excitedly, andevidently holding some discussion about me. 

This ended by two of them going away, leaving the other to standwatching. 

He was a fine stalwart looking fellow, black as Jimmy, but of adifferent type of countenance, and his hair was frizzed and stuck outall round, giving his head the aspect of being twice the size of nature. 

As soon as the others had gone he stooped down over me, turning meroughly on my face so as to examine my bound hands. 

He wrenched my shoulders horribly in doing this, but it did not seem tohurt my hands in the least, and he finished by unfastening the cords oftwisted grass and making me sit up. 

This I did, but with great pain, my arms hanging helplessly down by mysides. 

The men soon returned, and to my great delight one had a gourd and theother some plantains, which they put down before me in a morose, scowling way. 

I bent towards the gourd, which I believed to contain water; but thoughI tried to take it with my hands I could not move either, and I turnedmy eyes up pitifully to my captors. 

The man who had unloosed me said something to his companions, one ofwhom bent down, lifted my right hand, and let it fall again. The secondman followed suit with my left, and I saw before they dropped them againthat they were dark and swollen, while as to use, that seemed to betotally gone. 

The man who had remained with me took hold of the gourd and held it tomy lips in a quick angry fashion, holding it while I drank with avidityevery drop, the draught seeming to be more delicious than anything I hadever before tasted. 

Setting it aside he looked down at me grimly, and then in a laughingcontemptuous way one of the others picked up and roughly peeled aplantain, holding it out to me to eat. 

It was not sumptuous fare, cold water and bananas, but it was a mostdelicious and refreshing repast; while to make my position a little morebearable one of the men now undid the grass cord that was about myankles, setting them free. 

The act probably was meant kindly, but when, soon after, they left thecabin, after setting me up and letting me fall again, my wrists andankles began to throb and ache in the most unbearable way, somewhatafter the fashion of one's fingers when chilled by the cold and thecirculation is coming back. 

As I sat making feeble efforts to chafe the swollen flesh I became awarethat though unbound I was not to be trusted, for fear of escape, andthat to prevent this a broad-shouldered black with his hair frizzed intotwo great globes, one on either side of his head, had been stationed atthe hut door. 

When he came up, spear in hand, I saw that he was tattooed with curiouslines across his chest and back, similar lines marking his arms andwrists, something after the fashion of bracelets. 

He looked in at me attentively twice, and then seated himself justoutside the entrance, where he took his waddy from where it was stuckthrough his lingouti or waistband, drew a sharp piece of flint from apouch, and began to cut lines upon his waddy handle in the most patientmanner. 

He had been busily at work for some time, when there was a great soundof shouting and yelling, which seemed greatly to excite the people ofthe village, for dozens came running out armed with clubs and spears, tomeet a batch of about a dozen others, who came into the opening frontingmy prison, driving before them another black, who was struggling withthem fiercely, but compelled by blows and pricks of spears to keep goingforward. 

Then three men ran at him with grass cords and seized him, but he drovehis head fiercely into one and sent him flying, kicked the second, andthen attacked the other with his fists, regular English fashion, and Iknew now who it was, without hearing the shout the new prisoner utteredand the language he applied to his captors. 

Another pair approached, but he drove them back at once, and probablyfeeling' pretty well satisfied that his enemies did not want to spearhim, he stuck his doubled fists in his sides and went slowly round thegreat circle that had collected, strutting insultingly, as if daringthem to come on, and ending by striding into the middle of the circleand squatting down, as if treating his foes with the most profoundcontempt. 

"Poor old Jimmy!" I exclaimed, proud even to admiration of the black'sgallant bearing. "Who would call him a coward now!"

For a time Jimmy was untouched, and sat upon his heels with his wristsupon his knees and his hands dangling down, but evidently watchfully onthe look-out for an attack. I felt so excited as I sat there that Iforgot my own pain, and had I been able to move I should have made adash and run to my old companion's side; but I was perfectly helpless, and could only look on, feeling sure that sooner or later the blackswould attack Jimmy, and if he resisted I shuddered for his fate. 

Sure enough, at the end of a consultation I saw a rush made at thewaiting prisoner, who started up and fought bravely; but he seemed todisappear at once, the little crowd heaving and swaying here and there, and ending by seeming to group itself under a tall tree, from which theyat last fell away, and then it was that my heart began to beat lesspainfully and I breathed more freely, for there was Jimmy bound to thetree trunk, grinning and chattering at his captors, and evidently asfull of fight as ever. 

I sank down upon my elbow with a sigh of relief, for I felt that hadthey meant to kill my black companion they would have done it at onceinstead of taking the trouble to bind him to the tree. 

And now, oddly enough, while I could hear Jimmy calling his captors byall the absurd and ugly names he could invent, the pain and achingseemed to come back into my wrists and ankles, making me groan as I satand clasped them, a little use having begun to creep back into my arms. 

As I rubbed my aching limbs I still had an eye on Jimmy, interest in hisfate making me think little about my own; and as I watched now theblack, now the savages grouped about armed with spear and club, I sawthat his dangerous position had so excited Jimmy that he was quitereckless. He had no means of attack or defence left save his tongue, and this he began to use in another way. 

He had abused his captors till he had exhausted his list of availablewords, and now in token of derision he gave me another instance to studyof the childish nature of even a grown-up savage. For, tied uphelplessly there, he put out his tongue at his enemies, thrust it intohis cheeks, and displayed it in a variety of ways. 

Jimmy was possessed of a very long tongue, unusually large for a humanbeing, and this he shot out, turned down, curled up at the end, andwagged from side to side as a dog would his tail. At the same time hecontorted and screwed his face up into the most hideous grimaces, elongating, flattening, and working his countenance as easily as if ithad been composed of soft wax, till at times his aspect was perfectlyhideous. 

Every moment I expected to see a spear thrown or the savages rush atJimmy with their clubs; but they retained their composure, simply gazingat him, till Jimmy grew weary, and, full of contempt, shouting outsomething about poor black fellow dingoes, and then shutting his eyesand pretending to go to sleep. 

My guard was, like me, so intent upon the scene that he did not hear aslight rustling noise in the darker corner of the hut. 

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

HOW I HAD A VISITOR IN THE NIGHT. 

The sufferings I had gone through and the excitement must have made mein a feverish state, so that, though I heard the faint noise again andagain, I began to look upon it as dreaming, and nothing which needtrouble me. Even the sight of Jimmy bound to the tree, and now hangingforward with his head sidewise, did not seem to disturb me. It, too, appeared part of a dream, and my eyes kept closing, and a peculiar hotsensation running over my face. 

Then this passed off and my brain grew clear, and it was not a dream, but real, while the thought now began to torment me, that as the savageswere conferring together it must be about how they should put poor Jimmyto death. 

There was the faint noise again, and I glanced at the savage who was myguard, but he had not heard it apparently, for he was chipping andcarving away at the handle of his waddy, only looking up from time totime at his fellows with their prisoner. 

I wanted to turn myself round and look in the direction whence the soundcame, for I felt now that it was no fancy, but that Gyp had been reallywith me, and that this was he forcing his way to my side again. 

I could not turn, though, without giving myself great pain, for now mywrists and ankles were fearfully swollen and tender, so I lay still, waiting and wondering why the dog was so long. 

Then the rustling ceased altogether, and I was beginning to think thatthe dog had failed to get through and would come round to the front, when there was a faint rustle once more, and I was touched on theshoulder. 

But it was not by Gyp's paw; it was a small black hand laid upon me;while, on looking up, there in the dim light was the face of the boy Ihad encountered on the previous day, or whenever it was that I wasstruck down. 

He showed his teeth and pointed to the savage on guard, laying his handupon my lips as if to stay me from making any sound. Then he looked atmy wrists and ankles, touching them gently, after which he laid his handvery gently on the back of my head, and I knew now why it was that I wassuffering such pain. 

For, lightly as he touched me, it was sufficient to send a keen agonythrough me, and it was all I could do to keep from crying out. 

The boy saw my pain, and looked at me half wonderingly for a few momentsbefore stooping low and whispering in my ear. 

I felt so sick from the pain that I paid little heed to his words; butwhisper or shout it would have been all the same, I could not haveunderstood a word. 

So faint and strange a sensation came over me that all seemed dim, andwhen I once more saw clearly I was alone and the crowd of blacks haddisappeared, taking with them Jimmy--if it had not all been a dream dueto my feverish state. 

Just then, however, a couple of blacks came up with the boy straight tothe door of the hut, and while the latter stood looking on, the menapplied a roughly made plaster of what seemed to be crushed leaves to myhead, and then examined my wrists and feet, rubbing them a little andgiving me intense pain, which was succeeded by a peculiar, dull warmsensation as they pressed and kneaded the joints. 

While they were busy the boy went off quickly, and returned with ahandful of plum-like fruit, one of which he placed to my dry lips, and Ifound its acid juice wonderfully refreshing. 

They all left me soon after, and I saw the boy go and join a tall, peculiar-looking savage, who was marked with tattoo lines or paint in away different to the rest, and these two talked together for a longwhile, gesticulating and nodding again and again in my direction, as ifI was the subject of their discourse. 

The effect of the attention to my injuries was to produce a sensation ofdrowsiness, resulting in a deep sleep, which must have lasted a verylong time, for when I awoke it was in the dark, and I was not startlednow on hearing the snuffling noise and feeling myself touched by Gyp, who, after silently showing his pleasure, lay down with his head upon mychest once more, and seemed to go to sleep. 

I made an effort to raise my hand to stroke him, but the pain was toogreat, and soon after it was I who went to sleep, not Gyp, and when Iawoke it was daybreak and the dog was gone. 

I was better that morning, and could take more interest in all that wenton. I saw the tall, peculiar-looking savage go by the hut door at adistance, and I saw the boy go up to him and pass out of sight. 

Soon after a couple of blacks brought me some food and water, of which Ipartook eagerly. 

Later on the boy came with the same two men as on the previous day, andmy head was once more dressed and my limbs chafed. 

Then I was left alone, and I lay watching once more the savages comingand going in a slow deliberate way. I noticed that there were a goodmany women and children, but if ever they attempted to come in thedirection of the hut where I lay they were angrily driven back. 

Some of the women appeared to be occupied in domestic work, preparingsome kind of bread, others busily stripped the feathers from some largebirds brought in by men who seemed to have been hunting. 

I noticed all this feeling calm and restful now, and I was lyingwondering whether Jack Penny and the doctor would find out where I was, when I heard a scuffling noise, which seemed to come from a hut wherethere was a crowd of the people standing. 

Then there was a repetition of the scene I had previously witnessed, Jimmy being brought out, kicking, struggling, and full of fight. 

The blacks seemed to want to drag him to the tree where I had seen himtied, but to this Jimmy objected strongly. The way in which he buttedat his captors, and kicked out like a grasshopper, would have been mostlaughable had I not been anxious, for I felt sure that it would resultin his hurting some one, and being rewarded with a blow on the head or aspear thrust. 

I grew so excited at last as the struggle went on that I waited tillthere was a moment's pause when Jimmy and his captors were drawingbreath for a fresh attack, and shouted with all my might--

"Jimmy! be quiet!"

My guard, for there was still one at the door, jumped up and stared in, while Jimmy and his captors looked in my direction. 

Jimmy was the first to break silence by shouting loudly: "Mass Joe!Mass Joe!"

"Here!" I shouted back; but I repented the next moment, for Jimmyuttered a yell and made a bound to run towards where he had heard thesound. 

The result was that one savage threw himself down before the prisoner, who fell headlong, and before he could recover, half a dozen of theblacks were sitting upon him. 

My heart seemed to stand still, and I felt that poor Jimmy's end hadcome, but to my delight I could see that our captors were laughing atthe poor fellow's mad efforts to escape, and I shouted to him onceagain:

"Be quiet! Lie still!"

There was no answer, for one of the men was sitting on Jimmy's head; buthe ceased struggling, and after a while the blacks rose, circled abouthim with their spears, and a couple of them began to push my companiontowards the tree to which he had before been bound. 

"Jimmy no fight?" he shouted to me. 

"Not now, " I shouted back. "Wait. "

"All rightums, " cried Jimmy: "but gettum waddy back, gibs um bang, bang--knockum downum--whack, whack--bangum, bangum!"

This was all in a voice loud enough for me to hear, as the poor fellowallowed his captors to bind him to the tree, after which he hung hishead and pretended or really did go to sleep. 

Towards evening I saw the blacks take Jimmy some food, and some wasbrought to me; and as I sat up and ate and drank I saw thestrangely-marked savage and the boy come into the centre of the space bythe huts, and lie down near Jimmy, who behaved a good deal after thefashion of some captured beast, for he raised his head now and then, utterly ignoring those who were around, and staring straight before him. But in his case it was not right away toward the forest, but in thedirection of the hut where I was confined, and even at the distancewhere I lay I could read the eagerness in the black's countenance as hewaited to hear me speak. 

It was getting fast towards sundown, and I was wondering how long theywould leave Jimmy tied up to the tree, and fighting hard to get rid ofan idea that kept coming to me, namely, that the savages were feeding usand keeping us for an object that it made me shudder to think about, when I noted a little excitement among the people. There was some loudtalking, and directly after about a dozen came to my prison and signedto me to get up. 

I rose to my knees and then tried to stand, but my ankles were still sopainful that I winced. By a stern effort, though, I stood up, and asturdy black on either side took my arms and hurried me to a tree closeby the one where Jimmy was tied. 

As we crossed the opening I saw the boy and the tall painted savagestanding by the door of a hut on one side, the latter holding a longspear tasselled with feathers, and I supposed him to be the chief, orperhaps only the doctor or conjuror of the village. 

Jimmy's delight knew no bounds. He shouted and sang and laughed, andthen howled, with the tears running down his cheeks. 

"Hi, yup! Jimmy glad as big dingo dog for mutton bones!" he cried. "How quite well, Mass Joe? Jimmy so glad be with you. Seems all overagain, Mass Joe, and Jimmy knock all black fellow up and down--make umrun, run. Whatum, Mass Joe--legs?"

"Only with being tied up so tightly, Jimmy. They're getting better. Myhead is the worst. "

"Head um worse, Mass Joe! Show Jimmy black debble hurt um head. Jimmywhack um, whack um too much can't say kangaroo. "

"No, no! wait a bit, Jimmy, " I said, as the blacks bound me to the tree. "We must watch for our time. "

"Watch?" said Jimmy; "watch? Doctor got um watch clock. Tick, tick, tick!"

"Where is the doctor?" I said. 

"Jimmy don't know little bitums. Doctor go one way. Mass Jack-JackPenny-Penny, one way find Mass Joe. Jimmy-Jimmy, go one way find MassJoe. Jimmy-Jimmy find um. Hooray! Nebber shall be slabe!"

"I hope not, Jimmy, " I said, smiling. "So the doctor and Jack Penny andyou all went to find me, and you were seized by the blacks?"

"Dats um--all lot take um way, " cried Jimmy. "Only Jimmy find Mass Joe. Come along a black fellow. All jump atop Jimmy. Jimmy fight um, kickum--play big goose berry strong black fellow. Too much big coward big. Topper, topper, Jimmy head um. Go sleep um. Bring um here. "

"Too many of them, and they hit you on the head and stunned you?"

"Hiss! 'tunned Jimmy. Hiss! 'tunned Jimmy. Send um all asleep. Topperhead. "

"Never mind the topper they gave you, Jimmy. We'll escape and find ourfriends. "

"Don't know um, " said Jimmy dolefully. "Bad good black fellow got nomuttons--no grub--no wallaby. Eat Mass Joe--eat Jimmy. "

"Do you think they are cannibals, Jimmy?" I said excitedly. 

Jimmy opened his mouth and his eyes very wide and stared at me. 

"I say, do you think they are cannibals? How stupid! Do you think theyeat man?"

"Yes; 'tupid, 'tupid. Eat man, lot o' man. Bad, bad. Make um sick, sick. "

I turned cold, for here was corroboration of my fear. This was why theywere treating us well instead of killing us at once; and I was turning ashuddering look at the circle of black faces around me when Jimmyexclaimed:

"Sha'n't ums eat Jimmy. No, no. Jimmy eat a whole lot fust. No eatMass Joe. Jimmy killum killum all lot. "

I stood there tightly bound, talking from time to time to the black, happier in mind at having a companion in my imprisonment, and trying tomake him understand that our best policy was to wait our time; and thenwhen our captors were more off their guard we could perhaps escape. 

"No good 't all, " said Jimmy, shaking his head. "Go eat um, Mass Joe, poor Jimmy. Make up fat um--fat um like big sheep. No run at all, catch fas'. "

"Not so bad as that, Jimmy, " I said, laughing in spite of my position atthe idea of being made so fat that we could neither of us run. 

Just then there was a movement among our captors, and having apparentlysatisfied themselves with a long inspection of their prisoners they wereevidently about to take us back to our prisons. 

"Jimmy gib all big kick?" said the black. 

"No, no, " I cried, "go quietly. "

"Jimmy come 'long Mass Joe?" he said next. 

"If they will let you, " I replied; "but if they will not, go back toyour own place quietly. "

"Mass Joe no kind poor Jimmy, " he whimpered. "Want kick um. Mass Joesay no. "

"Wait till I tell you, Jimmy, " I replied. "Now go quietly. "

He made an attempt to accompany me, but the blacks seized him sharplyand led him one way, me the other; and as the sun set and the darknessbegan to come on, I lay in my hut watching the boy and the tall paintedchief talking earnestly together, for I could not see Jimmy's prisonfrom inside my own. 

I felt lighter of heart and more ready to take a hopeful view of myposition now that my sufferings from my injuries were less, and that Ihad a companion upon whom I could depend. But all the same I could nothelp feeling that my position was a very precarious one. But when I wascool and calm I was ready to laugh at the idea about cannibalism, and tothink it was the result of imagination. 

"No, " I said to myself as I lay there, "I don't think they will kill us, and I am certain they will not eat us. We shall be made slaves and keptto work for them--if they can keep us!"

As I lay there listening to the different sounds made in the villagedropping off one by one in the darkness, I grew more elate. I was inless pain, and I kept recalling the many instances Jimmy had shown me ofhis power to be what he called "cunning-artful. " With his help I feltsure that sooner or later we should be able to escape. 

Drowsiness began to creep over me now, and at last, after listening tothe hard breathing of the spear-armed savage whose duty it was to watchme, I began to wonder whether Gyp would come that night. 

"I hope he will, " I said to myself. "I'll keep awake till he does. "

The consequence of making this determination was that in a very fewminutes after I was fast asleep. 

Just as before I was wakened some time in the night by feeling somethingtouch me, and raising my arm for the first time made the faithful beastutter low whines of joy as I softly patted his head and pulled his ears, letting my hand slip lower to stroke his neck, when my fingers came incontact with the dog's collar, and almost at the same moment with astiff scrap of paper. 

For a moment my heart stood still. Then, sitting up, I caught the dogto me, holding his collar with both hands, touching the paper all thewhile, but afraid to do more lest the act should result indisappointment. 

At last I moved one hand cautiously and felt the paper, trembling thewhile, till a joyous throb rose to my lips, and I rapidly untied a pieceof string which tightly bound what was evidently a note to the dog'scollar. 

Gyp whined in a low tone, and as I loosened him, grasping the note in myhand, I knew that he gave a bit of a skip, but he came back and nestledclose to me directly. 

I needed no thought to know that the note was from the doctor, who mustbe near. Perhaps, too, Gyp had been night after night with that samenote, and I had been too helpless to raise a hand and touch his neckwhere it had been tied. 

The doctor was close by, then. There was help, and I would once more befree to get back safe to my dear mother. 

I stopped there and said half aloud:

"Not yet--safe to try once more to find him. "

What was I to do?

I could not read the note. I opened it and moved my fingers over it asa blind person would, but could not feel a letter, as I might haveknown. 

What was I to do?

Gyp would be going back. The letter would be gone, while the doctormight not know but what it had been lost. 

What should I do?

There was only one thing, and that was to tie my handkerchief, my tornand frayed silk handkerchief, tightly to the dog's collar. 

"He will know that I am here, and alive, " I said to myself. "I wish Icould send him word that Jimmy is here as well. "

I tried hard to think of some plan, but for a long time not one wouldcome. 

"I have it!" I said at last; and rapidly taking off the handkerchief Itied two knots fast in one corner. 

"Perhaps he will understand that means two of us, " I said; and I wasabout to fasten it to the dog's collar, when there was a noise outsideas of some one moving, and Gyp dashed away from me and was gone. 

"Without my message, " I said to myself in tones of bitterdisappointment, as all became silent again. 

To my great joy, though, I heard a faint panting once more, and Gyptouched my hand with his wet nose. 

"I'll be safe this time, " I remarked, as I rapidly secured and tied theknotted handkerchief, ending by fondling and caressing the dog, I was sooverjoyed. 

"Go on, dear old Gyp, " I cried softly; "and come back to-morrow nightfor an answer. There, good-bye. Hush! don't bark. Good-bye!"

I patted him, and he ran his nose into my breast, whining softly. Thenafter feeling the handkerchief once more, to be sure it was safe, Iloosened the dog and he bounded from me. I heard a rustling in thecorner, and all was silent, while I lay there holding the note tightlyin my pocket and longing for the day to come that I might read all thatmy friends had to say. 

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

HOW I HEARD ENGLISH SPOKEN HERE. 

I suppose I must have dropped asleep some time, but it seemed to me thatI was lying awake watching for the daylight, which seemed as if it wouldnever come. Then I dropped soundly asleep and slept some hours, forwhen I opened my eyes with a start there was one of the blacks leaningover me with some cords in his hands, with which he seemed to be aboutto bind me; but a shout outside took his attention, and he went out, leaving me trembling with anxiety and crushing the note in my hand. 

It was broad daylight with brilliant sunshine without, but my prison waswindowless, and where I lay was in the shadow, save where here and therea pencil of light shone through the palm-leaf thatch and made a glowingspot upon the floor. 

Every moment I expected to see my guard back again, or I might beinterrupted, I knew, by the coming of some one with food. I dared notthen attempt to read for some time, since it seemed like too great arisk of losing words that were inexpressibly precious. 

At last all seemed so still but the buzz and hum of distant voices thatI determined to venture, and undoing my hot hand I unfolded the littlescrap of paper, upon which, written closely but clearly, were thefollowing words--

"_As we are so near a village of the blacks, and you have not returned, I have concluded that you have been made a prisoner. Gyp found yourscent and went off, returning after many hours' absence; so I writethese lines to bid you be of good heart, for we shall try by stratagemto get you away_. "

Then there was this, evidently written the next day:

"_Gyp has been again and brought back the above lines which I tied tohis collar. If you get them tie something to the dog's collar to showyou are alive and well. Poor Jimmy went in search of you, but has notreturned_. "

"Tie something to the dog's collar to show you are alive and well!" Isaid to myself over and over again, as I carefully secreted the scrap ofpaper--a needless task, as, if it had been seen, no one would have paidany heed to it. "And I have tied something to the dog's collar and theywill come, the doctor and Jack Penny, with the blacks, to-night to tryand save me, and I shall escape. "

I stopped here, for the words seemed to be wild and foolish. How couldthey rescue me, and, besides, ought I not to feel glad that I was hereamong the natives of the island? What better position could I be in forgaining information about my father?

I lay thinking like this for long, and every hour it seemed that myinjured head and my cut wrists and ankles were healing. The confusedfeeling had passed away, leaving nothing but stiffness and soreness, while the message I had received gave me what I wanted worst--hope. 

I did not see Jimmy that day, for he was not brought out, neither was Itaken to the tree, but I saw that the savage who brought me food had adouble quantity, and to prove that some of it was meant for myfellow-prisoner I soon afterwards heard him shout:

"Mass Joe come have 'nana--come have plantain 'nana. "

This he repeated till I uttered a low long whistle, one which he hadheard me use scores of times, and to which he replied. 

An hour after he whistled again, but I could not reply, for three orfour of the blacks were in the hut with me, evidently for no otherpurpose than to watch. 

That night I lay awake trembling and anxious. I wanted to havesomething ready to send back by the dog when it came at night, but tryhow I would I could contrive nothing. I had no paper or pencil; nopoint of any kind to scratch a few words on a piece of bark--no piece ofbark if I had had a point. 

As it happened, though I lay awake the dog did not come, and when themorning came, although I was restless and feverish I was more at rest inmy mind, for I thought I saw my way to communicate a word or two withthe doctor. 

I was unbound now, and therefore had no difficulty in moving about thehut, from whose low roof, after a good deal of trying, I at lastobtained a piece of palm-leaf that seemed likely to suit my purpose. This done, my need was a point of some kind--a pin, a nail, the tongueof a buckle, a hard sharp piece of wood, and I had neither. 

But I had hope. 

Several different blacks had taken their places at the door of my hut, and I was waiting patiently for the one to return who sat there carvinghis waddy handle. When he came I hoped by some stratagem to get hold ofthe sharp bit of flint to scratch my palm-leaf. 

Fortunately towards mid-day this man came, and after a good look at mewhere I lay he stuck his spear in the earth, squatted down, took out hisflint and waddy, and began once more to laboriously cut the zigzag linesthat formed the ornamentation. 

I lay there hungrily watching him hour after hour, vainly trying tothink out some plan, and when I was quite in despair the black boy, whomI had not seen for many hours, came sauntering up in an indifferent wayto stand talking to my guard for some minutes, and then entered the hutto stand looking down at me. 

I was puzzled about that boy, for at times I thought him friendly, atothers disposed to treat me as an enemy; but my puzzled state was at anend, for as soon as I began to make signs he watched me eagerly andtried to comprehend. 

I had hard work to make him understand by pointing to the savageoutside, and then pretending to hack at my finger as if carving it. Jimmy would have understood in a moment, but it was some time before theboy saw what I meant. Then his face lit up, and he slowly saunteredaway, as if in the most careless of moods, poising his spear andthrowing it at trees, stooping, leaping, and playing at being a warriorof his tribe, so it seemed to me, till he disappeared among the trees. 

The sun was sinking low, but he did not return. I saw him pass by withthe tall painted warrior, and then go out of sight. My food had beengiven me, but I had not seen Jimmy, though we had corresponded togetherby making a few shrill parrot-like whistles. Night would soon be uponme once again, and when Gyp came, if he did come, I should not be ready. 

I was just thinking like this when there was a slight tap close by me, and turning quickly I saw a sharp-pointed piece of stone upon the beatenearth floor, and as I reached out my hand to pick it up a piece of whitewood struck me on the hand, making a sharp metallic sound. 

I felt that there was danger, and half threw myself over my treasures, looking dreamily out at the entrance and remaining motionless, as myguard entered to stare round suspiciously, eyeing me all over, and thengoing slowly back. 

I breathed more freely, and was thinking as I saw him settle down that Imight at any time begin to try and carve a word or two, and in this mindI was about to take the piece of wood from beneath me when the savageswung himself round and sprang into the hut in a couple of bounds. 

He had meant to surprise me if I had been engaged upon any plan ofescape, but finding me perfectly motionless he merely laughed and wentback. 

Directly after, another savage came up and took his place, and I eagerlybegan my task. 

Very easy it sounds to carve a few letters on a piece of wood, but howhard I found it before I managed to roughly cut the words "All Well, "having selected these because they were composed of straight lines, which mine were not. Still I hoped that the doctor would make them out, and I hid my piece of flint and my wooden note and waited, meaning tokeep awake till the dog came. 

But I had been awake all the previous night, and I fell fast asleep, till Gyp came and roused me by scratching at my chest, when in a dreamyconfused way I found and took something from the dog's collar and tiedmy note in its place, falling asleep directly after from sheerexhaustion. 

It was broad daylight when I awoke, and my first thought was of mymessage, when, thrusting my hand into my breast, a curious sensation ofmisery came over me as my hand came in contact with a piece of wood, andit seemed that I had been dreaming and the dog had not come. 

I drew out the flat piece of white wood, but it was not mine. Thedoctor, probably having no paper, had hit upon the same plan as I. 

His words were few. 

"Be on the alert. We shall come some night. "

I thrust the wooden label beneath the dust of the floor, scraped somemore earth over it, and already saw myself at liberty, and in the joy ofmy heart I uttered a long parrot-like whistle, but it was not answered. 

I whistled again, but there was no reply; and though I kept on makingsignals for quite an hour no response came, and the joyousness began tofade out of my breast. 

Twice over that morning I saw the tall savage who was so diabolicallypainted and tattooed go by, and once I thought he looked very hard at myhut; but he soon passed out of my sight, leaving me wondering whether hewas the chief, from his being so much alone, and the curious way inwhich all the people seemed to get out of his path. 

Once or twice he came near enough for me to see him better, and Inoticed that he walked with his eyes fixed upon the ground in a dreamyway, full of dignity, and I felt certain now that he must be the king ofthese people. 

The next day came and I saw him again in the midst of quite a crowd, whohad borne one of their number into the middle of the inclosure of huts, and this time I saw the tall strange-looking savage go slowly down uponhis knees, and soon after rise and motion with his hands, when everyonebut the boy fell back. He alone knelt down on one side of what wasevidently an injured man. 

The blacks kept their distance religiously till the painted savagesigned to them once more, when they ran forward and four of their numberlifted the prostrate figure carefully and carried it into a hut. 

"I was right, " I said to myself with a feeling of satisfaction. "I wasright the first time. It is the doctor, and he ought to have come to myhelp when I was so bad. "

Two days, three days passed, during which I lay and watched the birdsthat flitted by, saw the people as they came and went, and from time totime uttered a signal whistle; but this had to be stopped, for on theafternoon of the third day a very tall savage entered hurriedly incompany with my guard and half a dozen more, and by signs informed methat if I made signals again my life would be taken. 

It was very easy to understand, for spears were pointed at me andwar-clubs tapped me not very lightly upon the head. 

As soon as I was left alone I sat thinking, and before long came to theconclusion that this was probably the reason why I had not heard anysignal from Jimmy, who had perhaps been obstinate, and consequently hadbeen treated with greater severity. 

I longed for the night to come that I might have some fresh message fromthe doctor, but somehow I could not keep awake, anxious as I was, and Iwas sleeping soundly when a touch awoke me with a start. 

I threw up my hands to catch Gyp by the collar, but to my consternationI touched a hand and arm in the darkness, and there was something sopeculiar in the touch, my hand seeming to rest on raised lines of paint, that I turned cold, for I knew that one of the savages was bending overme, and I felt that it must mean that my time had come. 

I should have called out, but a hand was laid over my lips and an armpressed my chest, as a voice whispered in good English:

"Run, escape! You can't stay here!"

"Who is it?" I whispered back, trembling with excitement. "I know!" Iadded quickly; "you are the tall savage--the doctor!"

"Yes--yes!" he said in a low dreamy tone. "The tall savage! Yes--tallsavage!"

"But you are an Englishman!" I panted, as a terrible thought, halfpainful, half filled with hope, flashed through my brain. 

"Englishman! yes--Englishman! Before I was here--before I was ill!Come, quick! escape for your life! Go!"

"And you?"

He was silent--so silent that I put out my hands and touched him, tomake sure that he had not gone, and I found that he was resting his headupon his hands. 

"Will you go with me to my friends?" I said, trembling still, for thethought that had come to me was gaining strength. 

"Friends!" he said softly; "friends! Yes, I had friends before I came--before I came!"

He said this in a curious dreamy tone, and I forced the idea back. Itwas impossible, but at the same time my heart leaped for joy. Here wasan Englishman dwelling among the savages--a prisoner, or one who hadtaken up this life willingly, and if he could dwell among them so couldmy father, who must be somewhere here. 

"Tell me, " I began; but he laid his hand upon my lips. 

"Hist! not a sound, " he said. "The people sleep lightly; come with me. "

He took my hand in his and led me out boldly past a black who was lyinga short distance from my hut, and then right across the broad openingsurrounded by the natives' dwellings, and then through a grove of treesto a large hut standing by itself. 

He pressed my hand hard and led me through the wide opening into whatseemed to be a blacker darkness, which did not, however, trouble him, for he stepped out boldly, and then I heard a muttering growl which Irecognised directly. 

"Hush, Jimmy!" I whispered, throwing myself upon my knees. "Don'tspeak. "

"Jimmy not a go to speak um, " he said softly. "Mass Joe come a top. "

"Go, " said my companion. "Go quick. I want to help--I--the fever--myhead--help. "

There was another pause, and on stretching out my hand I found that myguide was pressing his to his forehead once again. 

"He has lived this savage life so long that he cannot think, " I felt as, taking his hand, I led him to the opening, through which he passed insilence, and with Jimmy walking close behind he led us between a couplemore huts, and then for a good hour between tall trees so close togetherthat we threaded our way with difficulty. 

My companion did not speak, and at last the silence grew so painful thatI asked him how long it would be before daybreak. 

"Hush!" he said. "Listen! They have found out. "

He finished in an excited way, repeating hastily some native wordsbefore stooping to listen, when, to my dismay, plainly enough in thesilence of the night came the angry murmur of voices, and this probablymeant pursuit--perhaps capture, and then death. 

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

HOW I TALKED WITH MY NEW FRIEND. 

As I heard the sound of the pursuit a horrible sensation of dread cameover me. I felt that we must be taken, and, in addition, vague ideas oftrouble and bloodshed floated through my brain, with memories of thefight in the gorge, and I shuddered at the idea of there being morepeople slain. 

The effect was different upon Jimmy, the distant cries seeming to excitehim. He stopped every now and then to jump from the ground and strikethe nearest tree a tremendous blow with a waddy he had obtained from ourguide. 

The latter checked him, though, laying a hand upon his arm as he said tome, after listening intently:

"You don't want to fight. These people are too strong. You mustescape. "

"But you will come with us?" I said once more, with the vague fancycoming back that this was he whom I sought, but terribly changed. 

He said something in reply in the savage tongue, stopped, and then wenton. 

"I forget--I don't know. I am the doctor--a savage--what did you say?"

"Come with us, " I whispered, and he bent his head in the dark; but mywords seemed to have no effect upon him, one idea seeming to be all thathe could retain, for he hurried me on, grasping my arm tightly, and thenloosed it and went on in front. 

Jimmy took his place, gripping my arm in turn, and, whispering, showedhis power of observation by saying:

"Much good him. No black fellow. Talk like Mass Joe some time. Jimmytink um Mass Joe fader got dust in head. Don't know know. "

"Oh no! impossible, Jimmy, " I whispered back with emotion. "It cannotbe my father. "

"No fader? All um white fellow got mud mud in head. Can't see, can'tknow know. No Mass Joe fader?"

"No, I am sure it is not. "

"Then um white fellow. No black fellow. Tupid tupid. Don't know atall. No find wallaby in hole. No find honey. No kedge fis. Tupidwhite fellow all a same, mud in um head. "

"He seems strange in his head, " I said. 

"Yes. Iss mad mad. No wash um head clean. Can't tink straight up andown ums like Jimmy. "

"But he is saving us, " I said. "Taking us to our friends. "

"Jimmy no know. Jimmy tink doctor somewhere right long--big hill. Gibblack white fellow topper topper make um tink more. "

"No, no, " I whispered, for he had grasped his waddy and was about toclear our guide's misty brain in this rough-and-ready way. "Be quietand follow him. "

Just then our guide stopped and let me go to his side. 

"Fever--my head, " he said softly, and as if apologising. "Can't think. "

"But you will come with us?" I said. "My friend the doctor will helpyou. You shall help us. You must not go back to that degraded life. "

"Doctor!" he said, as if he had only caught that word. "Yes, thedoctor. Can't leave the people--can't leave him. "

"Him!" I said; "that boy?"

"Hush! come faster. " For there were shouts and cries behind, and hehurried us along for some distance, talking rapidly to me all the whilein the savages' tongue, and apparently under the impression that Iunderstood every word, though it was only now and then that I caught hismeaning, and then it was because they were English words. 

After catching a few of these I became aware, or rather guessed, that hewas telling me the story of his captivity among these people, and Itried eagerly to get him to speak English; but he did not seem to heedme, going on rapidly, and apparently bent on getting us away. 

I caught such words as "fever--prisoner--my head--years--misery--despair--always--savage--doctor"--but only in the midst of a longexcited account which he said more to himself. I was at last payinglittle heed to him when two words stood out clear and distinctly fromthe darkness of his savage speech, words that sent a spasm through meand made me catch at his arm and try to speak, but only to emit a fewgasping utterances as he bent down to me staring as if in wonder. 

The words were "fellow-prisoner;" and they made me stop short, for Ifelt that I had really and providentially hit upon the right place afterall, and that there could be only one man likely to be afellow-prisoner, and that--my poor father. 

It was impossible to flee farther, I felt, and leave him whom I had cometo seek behind. 

Then common sense stepped in and made me know that it was folly to stay, while Jimmy supplemented these thoughts by saying:

"Black fellow come along fas. Mass Joe no gun, no powder pop, nochopper, no knife, no fight works 'tall. "

"Where is he?" I said excitedly, as I held the arm of our guide. 

"Blacks--coming after us. "

He talked on rapidly in the savage tongue and I uttered a groan ofdespair. 

"What um say, Mass Joe?" whispered Jimmy excitedly. "Talk, talk, pollparrot can't say know what um say. Come along run way fas. Fightnunner time o, " he added. "Black fellow come along. "

He caught my arm, and, following our guide, we hurried on through thedarkness, which was so dense that if it had not been for the wonderfuleyesight of my black companion--a faculty which seemed to have beenacquired or shared by our guide--I should have struck full against thetrunk of some tree. As it was, I met with a few unpleasant blows on armor shoulder, though the excitement of our flight was too great for me toheed them then. 

I was in despair, and torn by conflicting emotions: joy at escaping andat having reached the goal I had set up, misery at having to leave itbehind just when I had found the light. It might have been foolish, seeing how much better I could serve him by being free, but I felt readyto hurry back and share my father's captivity, for I felt assured thatit must be he of whom our guide spoke. 

We were hurrying on all this time entirely under the guidance of thestrange being who had set us free, but not without protests from theblack, who was growing jealous of our guide and who kept on whispering:

"No go no farrer, Mass Joe, Jimmy fine a doctor an Mass Jack Penny. Hicome along Jimmy now. "

He was just repeating this in my ear when we were hurrying on faster, for the sounds of our pursuers came clear upon the wind, when our guidestopped short and fell back a few paces as a low angry growl saluted himfrom the darkness in front and he said something sharply to us in thenative tongue. 

His words evidently meant "Fall back!" but I had recognised that growl. 

"Gyp!" I cried; and the growling changed to a whining cry of joy, andin an instant the dog was leaping up at my face, playfully biting at myhands, and then darting at Jimmy he began the same welcomingdemonstrations upon the black. 

"Mass Joe, Mass Joe, he go eat up black fellow. Top um away, top umaway. "

"It's only his play, Jimmy, " I said. 

"Him eat piece Jimmy, all up leggum, " cried the black. 

"Here, Gyp!" I cried, as the dog stopped his whining cry of pleasure, but growled once more. "Here, " I said, "this is a friend. Pat hishead, sir, and--, where is he, Jimmy?"

"Black white fellow, Mass Joe?"

"Yes, yes, where is he?"

"Gone 'long uder way. Run back fas fas. Fraid o Gyp, Gyp send um way. "

"Stop him! Run after him! He must not go, " I cried. 

I stopped, for there was a low piping whistle like the cry of a BlueMountain parrot back at home. 

"Jack Penny!" I gasped, and I answered the call. 

"Iss, yes, Mass Jack Penny, " cried Jimmy, and Gyp made a bound from myside into the darkness, leaving us alone. 

We heard the crash and rustle of the underwood as the dog tore off, andI was about to follow, but I could not stir, feeling that if I waitedour guide might return, when, in the midst of my indecision, the whistlewas repeated, and this time Jimmy answered. 

Then there was more rustling, the dog came panting back; and as therustling continued there came out of the darkness a sound that made myheart leap. 

It was only my name softly uttered, apparently close at hand, and I madea bound in the direction, but only to fall back half-stunned, for I hadstruck myself full against a tree. 

I just remember falling and being caught by some one, and then I feltsick, and the darkness seemed filled with lights. 

But these soon died out, and I was listening to a familiar voice thatcame, it appeared, from a long way off; then it came nearer and nearer, and the words seemed to be breathed upon my face. 

"Only a bit stunned, " it said; and then I gasped out the one word:

"Doctor!"

"My dear Joe!" came back, and--well, it was in the dark, and we were notashamed: the doctor hugged me to his heart, as if I had been his brotherwhom he had found. 

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

HOW WE MADE FURTHER PLANS. 

"Why, Joe, my lad, " he said at last, in a voice I did not recognise, itwas so full of emotion, "you've driven me half-wild. How could you getin such a fix?"

"Jimmy get in big fix, " said an ill-used voice. "Nobody glad to seeJimmy. "

"I'm glad to feel you, " drawled a well-known voice. "I can't see you. How are you, Joe Carstairs? Where have you been?"

"Jack, old fellow, I'm glad!" I cried, and I grasped his hands. 

"That will do, " said the doctor sternly. "Are the savages after you, Joe?"

"Yes, in full pursuit, I think, " I said. "But my guide. I can't leavehim. "

"Your guide? Where is he?"

"I don't know. He was here just now. He brought us here. "

"Jimmy-Jimmy say um goes back along, " said the black. "He no top, bigfright. Gyp bite um. "

"One of the blacks, Joe?" said the doctor. 

"No, no!" I said, so excited that I could hardly speak coherently. "Awhite man--a prisoner among the blacks--like a savage, but--"

"No, no, " said Jimmy in a disgusted tone; "no like savage blackfellow-fellow. Got a dust in head. No tink a bit; all agone. "

"His mind wanders, being a prisoner, " I stammered. "He is with theblacks--a prisoner--with my father. "

"What?" cried the doctor. 

"He has a fellow-prisoner, " I faltered. "I am not sure--it must be--myfather!"

"Mass Joe find um fader all along, " said the black. "Jimmy find umtoo. "

"Be silent!" cried the doctor. "Do I understand aright, Joe, that yourfather is a prisoner with the people from whom you have escaped?"

"Yes--I think so--I am not sure--I feel it is so, " I faltered. 

"Humph!"

"Have you seen him?"

"No, " I said. "I did not know he was there till I was escaping. "

"Jimmy see um. All rightums. Find Mass Joe fader. "

"You saw him, Jimmy?" I panted. 

"Iss. Yes, Jimmy see him. Big long hair beard down um tummuck. "

"You have seen him--the prisoner?" said the doctor. 

"Yes; iss Jimmy see um. Shut up all along. Sittum down, um look atground all sleep, sleep like wallaby, wallaby. "

"He means the poor fellow who helped us to escape, " I said sadly. 

"Jimmy see Mass Joe fader, " cried the black indignantly. "Jimmy take umright long show um. "

"The man who brought us here?"

"No, no, no, no!" cried Jimmy, dancing with vexation. "Not, not. Jimmysee um Mass Joe fader sit all along. See froo hole. Big long bearddown um tummuck--long hair down um back. Um shake um head so, so. Say`hi--hi--ho--hum. Nev see home again. Ah, my wife! Ah, my boy!'"

"You heard him say that, Jimmy?" I cried, catching him by the arm. 

"Jimmy sure, sure. Jimmy look froo hole. Den fro little tone an hitum, and den black fellow come along, and Jimmy lay fas' sleep, eye shut, no move bit. "

"He has seen him, Joe, " cried the doctor. "He could not have inventedthat. "

There was a low whining growl here again from Gyp, and Jack Pennydrawled:

"I say, sha'n't we all be made prisoners if we stop here?"

"Quick!" said the doctor; "follow me. "

"And our guide?" I cried. 

"We must come in search of him another time. If he has been with theblacks for long he will know how to protect himself. "

I was unwilling to leave one who had helped us in such a time of need;but to stay meant putting ourselves beyond being able to rescue myfather, if it were really he who was our guide's fellow-prisoner. Theresult, of course, was that I followed the doctor, while a snufflingwhine now and then told us that Gyp was on in front, and, in spite ofthe darkness, leading the way so well that there seemed to be nodifficulty. 

"Where are we going?" I said, after a pause, during which we had beenlistening to the cries of the savages, which appeared to come fromseveral directions. 

"To our hiding-place, " said the doctor. "Jimmy found it before we losthim, and we have kept to it since, so as to be near you. "

"But how did you know you were near me?" I said. 

"Through Gyp first. He went away time after time, and I suspected thathe had found you, so one day we followed him and he led us to thevillage. "

"Yes?" I said. 

"Then we had to wait. I sent messages to you by him; and at last I gotyour answer. To-night we were coming again to try and reach you, perhaps get you away. We meant to try. I should not have gone backwithout you, my lad, " he said quietly. 

The cries now seemed distant, and we went slowly on through thedarkness--slowly, for the trees were very close and it required greatcare to avoid rushing against them; but the doctor seemed to have madehimself acquainted with the forest, and he did not hesitate till all atonce the shouts of the blacks seemed to come from close by upon ourright, and were answered directly from behind us. 

"A party of them have worked round, " whispered the doctor. "Keep cool. They cannot know we are so near. Hist! crouch down. "

We were only just in time, for hardly had we crouched down close to theground than the sound of the savages pushing forward from tree to treewas heard. 

I could not understand it at first, that curious tapping noise; but asthey came nearer I found that each man lightly tapped every tree hereached, partly to avoid it, by the swinging of his waddy, partly as aguide to companions of his position. 

They came closer and closer, till it seemed that they must either see ortouch us, and I felt my heart beat in heavy dull throbs as I longed forthe rifle that these people had taken from me when they made meprisoner. 

I heard a faint rustle to my right, and I knew it was Jimmy preparingfor a spring. I heard a slight sound on my left just as the nearestsavage uttered a wild cry, and I knew that this was the lock of a gunbeing cocked. Then all was silent once more. 

Perhaps the savages heard the faint click, and uttered a warning, forthe tapping of the trees suddenly ceased, and not the faintest soundcould be heard. 

This terrible silence lasted quite five minutes. It seemed to me likean hour, and all the while we knew that at least a dozen armed savagewarriors were within charging distance, and that discovery meant certaincaptivity, if not death. 

I held my breath till I felt that when I breathed again I should utter aloud gasp and be discovered. I dared not move to bury my face in myhands or in the soft earth, and my sensations were becoming agonising, when there was a sharp tap on a tree, so near that I felt the groundquiver. The tap was repeated to right and left, accompanied by acurious cry that sounded like "Whai--why!" and the party swept on. 

"A narrow escape!" said the doctor, as we breathed freely once more. "Go on, Gyp. Let's get to earth; we shall be safer there. "

I did not understand the doctor's words then, but followed in silence, with Jack Penny coming close up to me whenever he found the way open, totell me of his own affairs. 

"My back's a deal better, " he whispered. "I've been able to rest itlately--waiting for you, and it makes it stronger, you know, and--"

"Silence, Penny!" said the doctor reprovingly, and Jack fell back a fewfeet; and we travelled on, till suddenly, instead of treading upon thesoft decayed-leaf soil of the forest, I found that we were rustlingamong bushes down a steep slope. Then we were amongst loose stones, andas the darkness was not quite so dense I made out by sight as well as bythe soft trickling sound, that a little rivulet was close to our feet. 

This we soon afterwards crossed, and bidding me stoop the doctor led theway beneath the dense bushes for some little distance before we seemedto climb a stony bank, and then in the intense darkness he took me bythe shoulders and backed me a few steps. 

"There's quite a bed of branches there, " he said aloud. "You can speakout, we are safe here;" and pressing me down I sat upon the soft twigsthat had been gathered together, and Jack Penny came and lay down besideme, to talk for a time and then drop off to sleep, an example I musthave followed. For all at once I started and found that it was broaddaylight, with the loud twittering song of birds coming from the bushesat the entrance of what seemed to be a low-roofed extensive cave, whosemouth was in the shelving bank of a great bluff which overhung asilvery-sounding musical stream. 

Some light came in from the opening; but the place was made bright bythe warm glow that came from a kind of rift right at the far end of thecave, and through this was also wafted down the sweet forest scents. 

"Jimmy's was a lucky find for us, " said the doctor, when I had partakenof the food I found they had stored there, and we had talked over ourposition and the probability of my belief being correct. "It is shelteras well as a stronghold;" and he pointed to the means he had taken tostrengthen the entrance, by making our black followers bind together thebranches of the tangled shrubs that grew about the mouth. 

In the talk that ensued it was decided that we would wait a couple ofdays, and then go by night and thoroughly examine the village. Jimmywould be able to point out the hut where my father was confined, andthen if opportunity served we would bring him away, lie hidden here fora few days till the heat of the pursuit was over, and then escape backto the coast. 

I would not own to the doctor that I had my doubts, and he ownedafterwards to me that his feeling was the same. So we both acted as ifwe had for certain discovered him of whom we came in search, and waitedour time for the first venture. 

It was dangerous work hunting for food at so short a distance from thevillage, but our black followers, aided by Jimmy, were very successful, their black skins protecting them from exciting surprise if they wereseen from a distance, and they brought in a good supply of fish everyday simply by damming up some suitable pool in the little stream inwhose bank our refuge was situated. This stream swarmed with fish, andit was deep down in a gully between and arched over by trees. The bowsand arrows and Jimmy's spear obtained for us a few birds, and inaddition they could always get for us a fair supply of fruit, though notquite such as we should have chosen had it been left to us. Roots, too, they brought, so that with the stores we had there was not much prospectof our starving. 

In fact so satisfactory was our position in the pleasant temperate cavethat Jack Penny was in no hurry to move. 

"We're just as well here as anywhere else, " he said; "that is, if we hadfound your father. "

"And got him safe here, " he added after a pause. 

"And the black chaps didn't come after us, " he said after a little morethought. 

"And your mother wasn't anxious about you, " he said, after a little moreconsideration. 

"You'll find such a lot more reasons for not stopping, Jack Penny, " Isaid, after hearing him out, "that you'll finish by saying we had betterget our work done and return to a civilised country as soon as we can. "

"Oh, I don't know!" said Jack slowly. "I don't care about civilisedcountries: they don't suit me. Everybody laughs at me because I'm a bitdifferent, and father gives it to me precious hard sometimes. Give meGyp and my gun, and I should be happy enough here. "

"Don't talk like that, Jack, " I said in agony, as I thought of him whohad helped me to escape, and of the prisoner he had mentioned, and whomthe black professed to have seen. "Let's get our task done and escapeas soon as we can. A savage life is not for such as we. "

That day we had an alarm. 

Our men had been out and returned soon after sunrise, that being ourcustom for safety's sake. Then, too, we were very careful about havinga fire, though we had no difficulty with it, for it burned freely, andthe smoke rose up through the great crack in the rock above our heads, and disappeared quietly amongst the trees. But we had one or twoscares: hearing voices of the blacks calling to each other, but theywere slight compared to the alarm to which I alluded above. 

The men, I say, were back, having been more successful than usual--bringing us both fish and a small wild pig. We had made a good meal, and the doctor and I were lying on the armfuls of leafy boughs thatformed our couch, talking for the twentieth time about our plans for thenight, when all at once, just as I was saying that with a little braveeffort we could pass right through the sleepy village and bring away theprisoner, I laid my hand sharply on the doctor's arm. 

He raised his head at the same moment, for we had both heard theunmistakable noise given by a piece of dead twig when pressed upon by aheavy foot. 

We listened with beating hearts, trying to localise the very spot whencethe sound came; and when we were beginning to breathe more freely itcame again, but faint and distant. 

"Whoever it was has not found out that we are here, " I whispered. 

The doctor nodded; and just then Jack Penny, who had been resting hisback, sat up and yawned loudly, ending by giving Jimmy, who was fastasleep, a sounding slap on the back. 

I felt the cold perspiration ooze out of me as I glanced at the doctor. Then turning over on to my hands and knees I crept to where Jimmy wasthreatening Jack with his waddy in much anger, and held up my hand. 

The effect was magical. They were silent on the instant, but we passedthe rest of that day in agony. 

"I'm glad that we decided to go to-night, " the doctor said. "Whoever itwas that passed must have heard us, and we shall have the savages hereto-morrow to see what it meant. "

The night seemed as if it would never come, but at last the sun wentdown, and in a very short time it was dark. 

Our plans were to go as near as we dared to the village as soon asdarkness set in, place our men, and then watch till the savages seemedto be asleep, and then, by Jimmy's help, seek out my father's prison, bring him away to the cave, and there rest for a day or two, perhaps forseveral, as I have said. But the events of the day had made us doubtfulof the safety of our refuge; and, after talking the matter over with thedoctor, we both came to the conclusion that we would leave the latterpart of our plan to take care of itself. 

"First catch your hare, Joe!" said the doctor finally. "And look here, my lad; I begin to feel confident now that this prisoner is your father. We must get him away. It is not a case of _try_! We _must_, I say;and if anything happens to me--"

"Happens to you!" I said aghast. 

"Well; I may be captured in his place!" he said smiling. "If I am, don't wait, don't spare a moment, but get off with your prize. I don'tsuppose they will do more than imprison me. I am a doctor, and perhapsI can find some favour with them. "

"Don't talk like that, doctor!" I said, grasping his hand. "We musthold together. "

"We must release your father!" he said sternly. "There, that will do. "

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

HOW WE HEARD A BLACK DISCUSSION AND DID NOT UNDERSTAND. 

The rescue party consisted of the doctor, Ti-hi, and myself, with Jimmyfor guide. Jack Penny was to take command of the cave, and be ready todefend it and help us if attacked or we were pursued. At the same timehe was to have the bearers and everything in readiness for an immediatestart, in case we decided to continue our flight. 

"I think that's all we can say, Penny, " said the doctor in a low gravevoice, as we stood ready to start. "Everything must depend on theprisoners. Now be firm and watchful. Good-bye. "

"I sha'n't go to sleep, " said Jack Penny. "I say, though, hadn't youbetter take Gyp?"

"Yes, yes; take Gyp!" I said; "he knows the way so well. "

"Jimmy know a way so well, too!" said the black. "No take a dog--Gyp!"

But we decided to take the dog, and creeping down into the bed of therivulet we stood in the darkness listening, shut-in, as it were, by thedeep silence. 

"Forward, Jimmy!" said the doctor, and his voice sounded hollow andstrange. 

Gyp uttered a whine--that dog had been so well trained that he rarelybarked--ran quickly up the further bank of the rivulet; Jimmy trottedafter him, waddy in hand; the doctor went next, I followed, and Ti-hibrought up the rear. 

One minute the stars were shining brightly over us, the next we wereunder the great forest trees, and the darkness was intense. 

"Keep close to me, my lad, " the doctor whispered; and I followed him bythe ear more than by the eye; but somehow the task grew easier as wewent on, and I did not once come in contact with a tree. 

By the way Gyp took us I don't suppose it was more than six miles to thesavages' village; and though we naturally went rather slowly, theexcitement I felt was so great that it seemed a very little while beforeJimmy stopped short to listen. 

"Hear um talkum talkum, " he whispered. 

We could neither of us hear a sound, but I had great faith in Jimmy'shearing, for in old times he had given me some remarkable instances ofthe acuteness of this sense. 

"Jimmy go first see!" he whispered; and the next minute we knew that wewere alone with Ti-hi, Jimmy and the dog having gone on to scout. 

"I detest having to depend upon a savage!" muttered the doctor; "itseems so degrading to a civilised man. "

"But they hear and see better than we do. "

"Yes, " he said; "it is so. "

There we waited in that dense blackness beneath the trees, listening tothe faintest sound, till quite an hour had elapsed, and we were burningto go on, when all at once Ti-hi, who was behind us, uttered a fainthiss, and as we turned sharply a familiar voice said:

"All rightums! Jimmy been round round, find um Mass Joe fader!"

"You have found him?" I cried. 

"Not talk shouto so!" whispered Jimmy. "Black fellow come. "

"But have you found him?" I whispered. 

"Going a find um; all soon nuff!" he replied coolly. "Come long now. "

He struck off to the right and we followed, going each minute morecautiously, for we soon heard the busy hum of many voices--a hum whichsoon after developed into a loud chatter, with occasional angryoutbursts, as if something were being discussed. 

Jimmy went on, Gyp keeping close to his heels now, as if he quiteunderstood the importance of not being seen. We had left the denseforest, and were walking in a more open part among tall trees, beneathwhich it was black as ever, but outside the stars shone brilliantly, andit was comparatively light. 

The voices seemed so near now that I thought we were going too far, andjust then Jimmy raised his hand and stopped us, before what seemed to bea patch of black darkness, and I found that we were in the shadow castby a long hut, whose back was within a yard or so of our feet. 

Jimmy placed his lips close to my ear, then to the doctor's, and to eachof us he whispered:

"Soon go sleep--sleep. Find Mass Joe fader, and go away fast. All tophere Jimmy go see. "

I quite shared with the doctor the feeling of helpless annoyance athaving to depend so much on the black; but I felt that he was far betterable to carry out this task than we were, so stood listening to the buzzof voices, that seemed now to arise on every hand. 

From where we stood we could see a group of the savages standing notthirty yards from us, their presence being first made plain by theireager talking, and I pressed the doctor's arm and pointed. 

"Yes, " he whispered; "but we are in the shadow. "

From huts to right and left we could hear talking, but that in front ofus was silent, and I began wondering whether it was the one that hadbeen my prison. But it was impossible to tell, everything seemed sodifferent in the faint light cast by the stars. I could not even makeout the tree where Jimmy had been tied. 

All at once a sensation as of panic seized me, for the group of blacksset up a loud shout, and came running towards where we were. 

I was sure they saw us, and with a word of warning to the doctor Iturned and should have fled but for two hands that were laid upon myshoulders, pressing me down, the doctor crouching likewise. 

At first I thought it was Jimmy, but turning my head I found that it wasTi-hi, whose hand now moved from my shoulder to my lips. 

I drew a breath full of relief the next moment, for in place of dashingdown upon us the blacks rushed into the hut behind which we werestanding, crowding it; and there was nothing now but a wall of dried andinterwoven palm leaves between us and our fierce enemies. 

Here a loud altercation seemed to ensue, angry voices being heard; andseveral times over I thought there was going to be a fight. I could notcomprehend a word, but the tones of voice were unmistakably those ofangry men, and it was easy to tell when one left off and another began. 

We dared not stir, for now it seemed to be so light that if we movedfrom the shadow of the hut we should be seen, while the fact of one ofus stepping upon a dead twig and making it snap would be enough to bringhalf the village upon us, at a time when we wanted to employ strategyand not force. 

The burst of talking in the hut ended all at once, and there was a deadsilence, as if those within were listening intently. 

We held our breath and listened too, trembling with excitement, for allat once we heard a voice utter a few words, and then there was a faintsound of rustling, with the cracking noise made by a joint, as if someone had risen to a standing position. 

Were the savages coming round to our side and about to leap upon us?Perhaps they were even then stealing from both ends; and my heart in theterrible excitement kept on a heavy dull throb, which seemed to beatright up into my throat. 

The moments passed away, though, and at last I began to breathe morefreely. It was evident that the savages had quitted the hut. 

In this belief I laid my hand upon the doctor's arm, and was about tospeak, when close by us, as it seemed, but really from within the wallof the hut, there came the low muttering of a voice, and I knew thatsome one had been left behind. 

The doctor pressed my hand, and I shivered as I felt how narrow anescape we had had. 

We wanted, of course, to move, but it seemed impossible, and so westayed, waiting to see if the black had made any discovery. 

After what seemed to me an interminable time I heard a slight rustlingsound, and almost at the same moment there was a hand upon my arm, anddirectly after a warm pair of lips upon my ear:

"Jimmy no find um fader yet! Take um out o' place place! Put umsomewhere; no know tell!"

I placed my lips to his ear in turn and whispered that there was someone left in the hut. 

"Jimmy go see, " he said softly; and before I could stay him he was gone. 

"What is it?" whispered the doctor; and I told him. 

The doctor drew his pistol--I heard him in the darkness--and grasped myarm, as if to be ready for flight; but just then I heard a voice in thehut which made me start with joy. Then there was a rustling sound, andJimmy came round the corner of the hut. 

"All rightums!" he whispered. "Find somebody's fader!"

"You here again, my boy!" whispered a familiar voice. 

"Yes!" I said, catching the speaker's arm; and then, "Doctor, " I said, "this is the prisoner who saved me--and set Jimmy free!"

"Doctor!" said the poor fellow in a low puzzled voice, as if his mindwere wandering. "Yes, I am the doctor! They made me their doctorwhen--the fever--when--oh! my boy, my boy! why did you come back?" hecried excitedly, as if his brain were once more clear. 

"To fetch you and--the other prisoner!" I said. 

"Mr Carstairs?" he said earnestly. "Hush, hush! They are comingback--to kill me, perhaps! I must go. "

He slipped away from us before we could stop him, and while we weredebating as to whether we had not better rush in and fight in hisdefence, the savages crowded into the hut, and once more there was aloud buzz of voices. 

These were checked by one deeper, slower, and more stern than theothers, which were silenced; and after a minute or two, we heard ourfriend the Englishman respond in a deprecating voice, and apparentlyplead for mercy. 

Then the chief savage spoke again in stern tones, there was a buzz ofvoices once more, and the savages seemed to file out and cross theopening towards the other side of the village. 

We dared not move, but remained there listening, not knowing but that aguard might have been left; but at the end of a minute or two our friendwas back at our side, to say excitedly:

"I want to help you, but my head--I forget--I cannot speak sometimes--Icannot think. It is all dark here--here--in my mind. Why have youcome?"

"We are friends, " said the doctor. "Where is Mr Carstairs?"

"Carstairs?--Mr Carstairs?" he said. "Ah--"

He began to speak volubly in the savage tongue now, tantalising me sothat I grasped his arm, exclaiming fiercely:

"Speak English. Where is my father?"

I could hardly see his face, but there was light enough to tell that heturned towards me, and he stopped speaking, and seemed to beendeavouring to comprehend what I said. 

"My father--the prisoner, " I said again, with my lips now to his ear. 

"Prisoner? Yes. At the great hut--the chief's hut--"

He began speaking again volubly, and then stopped and bent his head. 

"At the chief's hut?" said the doctor excitedly. "Wait a moment or twoto give him time to collect himself, then ask him again. "

The poor dazed creature turned to the doctor now, and bent towards him, holding him by the arm this time. 

"Chief's hut? Yes: right across. There. "

He pointed in the direction the savages seemed to have taken, and fromwhence we could hear the voices rising and falling in busy speech. 

My heart leaped, for we knew now definitely where he whom we sought waskept, and the longing, impatient sensation there came upon me to be faceto face with him was so strong that I could hardly contain myself. 

"Let us get round there at once, " I whispered, "Here, Jimmy. "

There was no answer: Jimmy had crept away. 

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

HOW I NEARLY MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE. 

We tried several times over to get our friend to speak, but the resultwas only a voluble burst of words in a tongue we could not comprehend, while all the time he seemed to be aware of his failing, and waved hishands and stretched them out to us as if begging us to forgive him forhis weakness. 

"Let him be, Joe, " whispered the doctor at last; "we may excite him bypressing him. Let him calm himself, and then perhaps he can speak. "

I felt as if it was resigning myself to utter despair, and it seemedthat our attempt that night was to be in vain, when Jimmy suddenlypopped up among us once more. 

"'Long here, " he whispered, and we were about to follow him when ourfriend stopped us. 

"No; this way, " he said, and he pointed in the opposite direction. 

"No, no! 'long here way, " said Jimmy excitedly. "Much lot black fellowthat way. "

"Never mind, " I whispered; "let's follow him. "

"Jimmy find Mass Joe fader right 'long this way, " cried the black. "Notgo 'long other way. "

"Where is my father?"

"Big hut over 'cross, " said Jimmy. 

"Let's get round this way to it then, " I whispered. "Come along. "

The doctor was already in advance, following our guide, and afterstriking the earth a heavy blow with his waddy to get rid of his anger, Jimmy followed me, not able to understand that we could get to theopposite point by going round one way as readily as by the other. 

It was very slow work and we had to labour hard, holding the bushes andtrees so that they should not fly back upon those who followed us; butby dint of great care we got round at last to what, as far as I couldjudge, was the far side of the village, our principal guide being thesound of voices which came to us in a dull murmur that increased as wedrew nearer, and at last we found ourselves similarly situated as toposition, being at the back of another large hut. 

Here we waited, listening to the buzz of voices, till I wondered in myimpatience what they could be discussing, and longed to ask our guide, but feared lest I should confuse him, now that perhaps he was about todo us good service if left alone. 

I was glad that I had kept quiet the next minute, for the doctor laidhis hand upon my shoulder and whispered in my ear:

"There is no doubt about it, my lad. We have reached the right spot. Your father is a prisoner in this very hut, and the savages arediscussing whether they will keep him here or take him away. "

"What shall we do?" I whispered back in agony, for it seemed soterrible to have come all these hundreds of miles to find him, and thento sit down, as it were, quite helpless, without taking a step to sethim free. 

"We can do nothing yet, " he replied, "but wait for an opportunity to gethim away. "

"Can you not make some plan?" I whispered back. 

"Hist!"

He pressed my hand, for I had been growing louder of speech in myexcitement, and just then there was a fresh outburst of voices fromwithin the hut, followed by the trampling of feet and loud shouting, which seemed to be crossing the village and going farther away. 

"They have taken the prisoner to--"

Our companion said the first words excitedly, and then stopped short. 

"Where?" I exclaimed aloud, as I caught at his arm. 

He answered me in the savage tongue, and with an impatient stamp of thefoot I turned to the doctor. 

"What can we do?" I said. "It makes me wish to be a prisoner too. Ishould see him, perhaps, and I could talk to him and tell him that helpwas near. "

"While you shut up part of the help, and raised expectations in hisbreast, that would perhaps result in disappointment, " replied thedoctor. "We must wait, my lad, wait. The savages are excited andalarmed, and we must come when their suspicions are at rest. "

"What do you mean?" I said. "Do you mean to go back to-night withouthim?"

"Not if we can get him away, " he said; "but we must not do anything mador rash. "

"No, no, of course not, " I said despairingly; "but this is horrible: tobe so close to him and yet able to do nothing!"

"Be patient, my lad, " he whispered, "and speak lower. We have donewonders. We have come into this unknown wild, and actually have foundthat the lost man is alive. What is more, we have come, as if led byblind instinct, to the very place where he is a prisoner, and we almostknow the hut in which he is confined. "

"Yes, yes. I know all that, " I said; "but it is so hard not to be ableto help him now. "

"We are helping him, " said the doctor. "Just think: we have this poorhalf-dazed fellow to glean some information, and we have a hiding-placenear, and--Look out!"

I turned my piece in the direction of the danger, for just then a memberof our little expedition, who had been perfectly silent so far, uttereda savage growl and a fierce worrying noise. 

Simultaneously there was a burst of shouts and cries, with the sound ofblows and the rush of feet through the bush. 

For the next few minutes there was so much excitement and confusion thatI could hardly tell what happened in the darkness. All I knew was thata strong clutch was laid upon my shoulders, and that I was being draggedbackwards, when I heard the dull thud of a blow and I was driven to theground, with a heavy body lying across me. 

I partly struggled out of this position, partly found myself draggedout, and then, in a half-stunned, confused fashion, I yielded, as I wasdragged through the dark forest, the twigs and boughs lashing my facehorribly. 

I had kept tight hold of my gun, and with the feeling strong upon methat if I wished to avoid a second captivity I must free myself, Iwaited for an opportunity to turn upon the strong savage who held me sotightly in his grasp and dragged me through the bush in so pitiless amanner. 

He had me with his left hand riveted in my clothes while with his righthand, I presumed with a war-club, he dashed the bushes aside when theobstacles were very great. 

My heart beat fast as I felt that if I were to escape I must fire atthis fierce enemy, and so horrible did the act seem that twice over, after laying my hand upon my pistol, I withdrew it, telling myself thatI had better wait for a few minutes longer. 

And so I waited, feeling that, after all, my captivity would not be sobad as it was before, seeing that now I should know my father was nearat hand. 

"I can't shoot now, " I said to myself passionately; "I don't think I'm acoward, but I cannot fire at the poor wretch, and I must accept myfate. "

My arm dropped to my side, and at that moment my captor stopped short. 

"No hear um come 'long now, " he said. 

"Jimmy!" I cried; and for a moment the air seemed full of humming, singing noises, and if I had not clung to my companion I should havefallen. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

HOW JIMMY AND I WERE HUNTED LIKE BEASTS. 

"Jimmy!" I panted, as soon as I had recovered myself to find that theblack was feeling me all over in the darkness. 

"Not got no knock um chops, no waddy bang, no popgun ball in umnowhere, " he whispered. 

"No Jimmy, I'm not wounded, " I said. "I thought you were one of theblack fellows. "

"No, no black fellow--no common black fellow sabbage, " he saidimportantly. "Come long fas, fas. "

"But the doctor and the prisoner and Ti-hi?" I said. 

"All run way much fas, " said Jimmy. "Gyp, Gyp, see black fellow comelong much, for Jimmy do and nibblum legs make um hard hard. Gib one twotopper topper, den Jimmy say time um way, take Mass Joe. Come long. "

"But we must go and help the doctor, " I said. 

"Can't find um. All go long back to big hole. Hidum. Say Mass Joecome back long o' Jimmy-Jimmy. "

It seemed probable that they would make for our hiding-place, but I wasvery reluctant to go and leave my friends in the lurch, so I detainedJimmy and we sat listening, the black making me sit down. 

"Rest um leggums, " he said. "Run much fas den. "

We stayed there listening for what must have been the space of half anhour, and during that time we could hear the shouting and rapping oftrees of the blacks as they were evidently searching the bush, but therewas no sound of excitement or fighting, neither did it seem to me thatthere were any exulting shouts such as might arise over the capture ofprisoners. 

This gave me hope, and in the belief that I might find my companions atthe hiding-place I was about to propose to Jimmy that we would go on, when he jumped up. 

"No stop no longer. Black fellow come along fas. Get away. "

The noises made by the blacks were plainly coming nearer, and I sprangto my feet, trying to pierce the darkness, but everywhere there were thedimly-seen shapes of trees so close that they almost seemed to lower andtheir branches to bear down upon our heads; there was the fresh moistscent of the dewy earth and leaves, and now and then a faint cry of somebird, but nothing to indicate the way we ought to go. 

I turned to Jimmy. 

"Can you tell where the cave is?" I said. 

"No: Jimmy all dark, " he answered. 

"Can't you tell which way to go?"

"Oh yes um, " he whispered. "Jimmy know which way go. "

"Well, which?" I said, as the shouts came nearer. 

"Dat away where no black fellow. "

"But it may be away from the cave, " I said. 

"Jimmy don't know, can't help along. Find cave morrow nex day. "

There was wisdom in his proposal, which, awkwardly as it was shaped, meant that we were to avoid the danger now and find our friends anothertime. 

"Mass Joe keep long close, " he whispered. "Soon come near time seealong way Mass doctor and Mass Jack Penny-Penny. "

We paused for a moment, the black going down on his knees to lay hishead close to the ground so as to make sure of the direction where thesavages were, and he rose up with anything but comfortable news. 

"All round bout nearer, come 'long other way. "

Just then I gave a jump, for something touched my leg through a greatrent in my trousers. It felt cold, and for the moment I thought it mustbe the head of a serpent; but a low familiar whine undeceived me, and Istooped down to pat the neck of Jack Penny's shaggy friend. 

"Home, Gyp!" I said. "Home!"

He understood me and started off at once, fortunately in the directiontaken by Jimmy, and after a long toilsome struggle through the bush, themore arduous from the difficulty we experienced in keeping up with thedog, we at last reached a gully at the bottom of which we could hear thetrickling of water. 

"All right ums, " said Jimmy quickly, and plunging down through thebushes he was soon at the bottom, and went upon his knees to find outwhich way the stream ran. 

He jumped up directly, having found that by the direction the water ranwe must be below the cave, always supposing that this was the rightstream. 

Down in the gully the sounds of pursuit grew very faint, and at lastdied out, while we waded at times, and at others found room upon theshelving bank to get along, perhaps for a hundred yards unchecked; thenwould come a long stretch where the gully was full of thick bushes, andhere our only chance was to creep under them, wading the while in thelittle stream, often with our bodies bent so that our faces were closeto the water. 

Gyp trotted cheerfully on as I plashed through the water, stopping fromtime to time to utter a low whine to guide us when he got some distanceahead, and I often envied the sagacious animal his strength andactivity, for beside him at a time like this I seemed to be a _very_helpless creature indeed. 

Two or three times over I grasped the black's arm and we stopped tolisten, for it seemed to me that I could hear footsteps and the rustlingof the bushes at the top of the gully far above our heads; but wheneverwe stopped the noise ceased, and feeling at last that it was fancy Iplodded on, till, half dead with fatigue, I sank down on my knees anddrank eagerly of the cool fresh water, both Jimmy and the dog followingmy example. 

At last, though I should not have recognised the place in the gloom, Jimmy stopped short, and from the darkness above my head, as I stoodwith the stream bubbling past my legs, I heard the unmistakable click ofa gun cock. 

"Jack!" I whispered. "Jack Penny!"

"That'll do, " he whispered back. "Come along. All right! Have you gothim?"

"Whom?" I said, stumbling painfully up into the cave, where I threwmyself down. 

"Your father. "

"No, " I said dismally, "and we've lost the doctor and Ti-hi. Poorfellows, I'm afraid they are taken. But, Jack Penny, we are right. Myfather is a prisoner in the village. "

"Then we'll go and fetch him out, and the doctor too. Ti-hi can takecare of himself. I'd as soon expect to keep a snake in a wicker cage asthat fellow in these woods; but come, tell us all about it. "

I partook, with a sensation as if choking all the while, of the food hehad waiting, and then, as we sat there waiting for the day in the hopethat the doctor might come, I told Jack Penny the adventures of thenight, Jimmy playing an accompaniment the while upon his nose. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. 

HOW JACK PENNY FIRED A STRAIGHT SHOT. 

There was no stopping Jimmy's snoring. Pokes and kicks only intensifiedthe noise, so at last we let him lie and I went on in a doleful key tothe end. 

"Oh, it ain't so very bad after all!" said Jack Penny, in his slowdrawl. "I call it a good night's work. "

"Good, Jack?"

"Yes. Well, ain't it?" he drawled. "Why, you've got back safe, and youdon't know that the doctor won't get back, and you've done what you cameto do--you've found your father. "

"But--but suppose, Jack Penny, " I said, "they--they do him some injuryfor what has passed. "

"'Tain't likely, " drawled Jack. "They've kept him all this time, whyshould they want to--well, kill him--that's what you're afraid of now?"

"Yes, " I said sadly. 

"Gammon! 'tain't likely. If you'd got an old kangaroo in a big cage, and the young kangaroo came and tried to get him away you wouldn't goand kill the old kangaroo for it?"

"No, no, " I said. 

"Of course not. I didn't mean to call your father an old kangaroo, JoeCarstairs. I only meant it to be an instance like. I say, do kick thatfellow for snoring so. "

"It is of no use to kick him, poor fellow, and, besides, he's tired. He's a good fellow, Jack. "

"Yes, I suppose he is, " said Jack Penny; "but he's awfully black. "

"Well, he can't help that. "

"And he shines so!" continued Jack in tones of disgust. "I never saw ablack fellow with such a shiny skin. I say, though, didn't you feel ina stew, Joe Carstairs, when you thought it was a black fellow luggingyou off?"

"I did, " I said; "and when afterwards--hist! is that anything?"

We gazed through the bushes at the darkness outside, and listenedintently, but there was no sound save Jimmy's heavy breathing, and Iwent on:

"When afterwards I found it was the black I turned queer and giddy. Perhaps it was the effect of the blow I got, but I certainly felt as ifI should faint. I didn't know I was so girlish. "

Jack Penny did not speak for a few minutes, and I sat thinking bitterlyof my weakness as I stroked Gyp's head, the faithful beast having curledup between us and laid his head upon my lap. I seemed to have been socowardly, and, weary and dejected as I was, I wished that I had grown tobe a man, with a man's strength and indifference to danger. 

"Oh, I don't know, " said Jack Penny suddenly. 

"Don't know what?" I said sharply, as he startled me out of my thinkingfit. 

"Oh! about being girlish and--and--and, well, cowardly, I suppose youmean. "

"Yes, cowardly, " I said bitterly. "I thought I should be so brave, andthat when I had found where my father was I should fight and bring himaway from among the savages. "

"Ah! yes, " said Jack Penny dryly, "that's your sort! That's like whatyou read in books and papers about boys of fifteen, and sixteen, andseventeen. They're wonderful chaps, who take young women in their armsand then jump on horseback with 'em and gallop off at full speed. Someof 'em have steel coats like lobsters on, and heavy helmets, and thatmakes it all the easier. I've read about some of them chaps who wieldedtheir swords--they never swing 'em about and chop and stab with 'em, butwield 'em, and they kill three or four men every day and think nothingof it. I used to swallow all that stuff, but I'm not such a guffinnow. "

There was a pause here, while Jack Penny seemed to be thinking. 

"Why, some of these chaps swim across rivers with a man under their arm, and if they're on horseback they sing out a battle-cry and charge into awhole army, and everybody's afraid of 'em. I say, ain't it jollynonsense Joe Carstairs?"

"I suppose it is, " I said sadly, for I had believed in some of theseheroes too. 

"I don't believe the boy ever lived who didn't feel in an awful stewwhen he was in danger. Why, men do at first before they get used to it. There was a chap came to our place last year and did some shepherdingfor father for about six months. He'd been a soldier out in the Crimeanwar and got wounded twice in the arm and in the leg, big wounds too. Hetold me that when they got the order to advance, him and his mates, theywere all of a tremble, and the officers looked as pale as could be, someof 'em; but every man tramped forward steady enough, and it wasn't tillthey began to see their mates drop that the want to fight began to come. They felt savage, he says, then, and as soon as they were in the thickof it, there wasn't a single man felt afraid. "

We sat in silence for a few minutes, and then he went on again:

"If men feel afraid sometimes I don't see why boys shouldn't; and as tothose chaps who go about in books killing men by the dozen, and neverfeeling to mind it a bit, I think it's all gammon. "

"Hist! Jack Penny, what's that?" I whispered. 

There was a faint crashing noise out in the forest just then, and I knewfrom the sound close by me that the black who was sharing our watch musthave been lifting his spear. 

I picked up my gun, and I knew that Jack had taken up his and thrownhimself softly into a kneeling position, as we both strove to pierce thedarkness and catch sight of what was perhaps a coming enemy. 

As we watched, it seemed as if the foliage of the trees high up hadsuddenly come into view. There was a grey look in the sky, and for themoment I thought I could plainly make out the outline of the bushes onthe opposite side of the gully. 

Then I thought I was mistaken, and then again it seemed as if I coulddistinctly see the outline of a bush. 

A minute later, and with our hearts beating loudly, we heard therustling go on, and soon after we could see that the bushes were beingmoved. 

"It is the doctor, " I thought; but the idea was false, I knew, for if ithad been he his way would have been down into the stream, which he wouldhave crossed, while, whoever this was seemed to be undecided and to begazing about intently as if in search of something. 

When we first caught a glimpse of the moving figure it was fifty yardsaway. Then it came to within forty, went off again, and all the timethe day was rapidly breaking. The tree tops were plainly to be seen, and here and there one of the great masses of foliage stood out quiteclearly. 

Just then the black, who had crept close to my side, pointed out thefigure on the opposite bank, now dimly-seen in the transparent dawn. 

It was that of an Indian who had stopped exactly opposite the clump ofbushes which acted as a screen to our place of refuge, and stooping downhe was evidently trying to make out the mouth of the cave. 

He saw it apparently, for he uttered a cry of satisfaction, and leapingfrom the place of observation he stepped rapidly down the slope. 

"He has found us out, " I whispered. 

"But he mustn't come all the same, " said Jack Penny, and as he spoke Isaw that he was taking aim. 

"Don't shoot, " I cried, striking at his gun; but I was too late, for asI bent towards him he drew the trigger, there was a flash, a puff ofsmoke, a sharp report that echoed from the mouth of the cave, and thenwith a horrible dread upon me I sprang up and made for the entrance, followed by Jack and the blacks. 

It took us but a minute to get down into the stream bed and then toclimb up amongst the bushes to where we had seen the savage, and neitherof us now gave a thought of there being danger from his companions. What spirit moved Jack Penny I cannot tell. That which moved me was aneager desire to know whether a horrible suspicion was likely to be true, and to gain the knowledge I proceeded on first till I reached the spotwhere the man had fallen. 

It was a desperate venture, for he might have struck at me, woundedmerely, with war-club or spear; but I did not think of that: I wanted tosolve the horrible doubt, and I had just caught sight of the fallenfigure lying prone upon its face when Jimmy uttered a warning cry, andwe all had to stoop down amongst the bushes, for it seemed as if thesavage's companions were coming to his help. 

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. 

HOW THE DOCTOR FOUND A PATIENT READY TO HIS HAND. 

We waited for some minutes crouched there among the bushes listening tothe coming of those who forced their way through the trees, while momentby moment the morning light grew clearer, the small birds twittered, andthe parrots screamed. We could see nothing, but it was evident that twoif not three savages were slowly descending the slope of the ravinetowards where we were hidden. The wounded man uttered a low groan thatthrilled me and then sent a cold shudder through my veins, for I wasalmost touching him; and set aside the feeling of horror at having been, as it were, partner in inflicting his injury, there was the sensationthat he might recover sufficiently to revenge himself upon us by a blowwith his spear. 

The sounds came nearer, and it was now so light that as we watched wecould see the bushes moving, and it seemed to me that more of thishorrible bloodshed must ensue. We were crouching close, but the woundedman was moaning, and his companions might at any moment hear him andthen discovery must follow; while if, on the other hand, we did notresist, all hope of rescuing my poor father would be gone. 

"We must fight, " I said to myself, setting my teeth hard and bringing mygun to bear on the spot where I could see something moving. At the sametime I tried to find where Jack Penny was hiding, but he was out ofsight. 

At the risk of being seen I rose up a little so as to try and get aglimpse of the coming enemy; but though the movement among the busheswas plain enough I only caught one glimpse of a black body, and had Ibeen disposed to shoot it was too quick for me and was gone in aninstant. 

They were coming nearer, and in an agony of excitement I was thinking ofattempting to back away and try to reach the cave, when I felt that Icould not get Jack Penny and the black to act with me unless I showedmyself, and this meant revealing our position, and there all the timewere the enemy steadily making their way right towards us. 

"What shall I do?" I said to myself as I realised in a small way whatmust be the feelings of a general who finds that the battle is goingagainst him. "I must call to Jack Penny. "

"_Cooey_!" rang out just then from a little way to my right, and Jimmylooked up from his hiding-place. 

"Is Carstairs there?" cried the familiar voice of the doctor, and aswith beating heart I sprang up, he came staggering wearily towards methrough the clinging bushes. 

"My dear boy, " he cried, with his voice trembling, "what I have sufferedon your account! I thought you were a prisoner. "

"No!" I exclaimed, delighted at this turn in our affairs. "Jimmyhelped me to escape. I say, you don't think I ran away and desertedyou?"

"My dear boy, " he cried, "I was afraid that you would think this of me. But there, thank Heaven you are safe! and though we have not rescuedyour father we know enough to make success certain. "

"I'm afraid not, " I said hastily. "The savages have discovered ourhiding-place. "

"No!"

"Yes; and one of them was approaching it just now when Jack Penny shothim down. "

"This is very unfortunate! Where? What! close here?"

I had taken his hand to lead him to the clump of bushes where the poorwretch lay, and on parting the boughs and twigs we both started back inhorror. 

"My boy, what have you done?" cried the doctor, as I stood speechlessthere by his side. "We have not so many friends that we could afford tokill them. "

But already he was busy, feeling the folly of wasting words, and downupon his knees, to place the head of our friend, the prisoner of thesavages, in a more comfortable position before beginning to examine himfor his wound. 

"Bullet--right through the shoulder!" said the doctor in a short abruptmanner; and as he spoke he rapidly tore up his handkerchief, and pluggedand bound the wound, supplementing the handkerchief with a long scarfwhich he wore round the waist. 

"Now, Ti-hi! Jimmy! help me carry him to the cave. "

"Jimmy carry um all 'long right way; put um on Jimmy's back!" cried myblack companion; and this seeming to be no bad way of carrying thewounded man in such a time of emergency, Jimmy stooped down, exasperating me the while by grinning, as if it was good fun, till thesufferer from our mistake was placed upon his back, when he exclaimed:

"Lot much heavy-heavy! Twice two sheep heavy. Clear de bush!"

We hastily drew the boughs aside, and Jimmy steadily descended the steepslope, entered the rivulet, crossed, and then stopped for a momentbeneath the overhanging boughs before climbing to the cabin. 

"Here, let me help you!" said the doctor, holding out his hand. 

"Yes, " said Jimmy, drawing his waddy and boomerang from his belt; "holdum tight, um all in black fellow way. "

Then, seizing the boughs, he balanced the wounded man carefully, anddrew himself steadily up step by step, exhibiting wonderful strength ofmuscle, till he had climbed to the entrance of the cave, where he bentdown and crawled in on hands and knees, waiting till his burden wasremoved from his back, and then getting up once more to look roundsmiling. 

"Jimmy carry lot o' men like that way!"

We laid the sufferer on one of the beds of twigs that the savages hadmade for us, and here the doctor set himself to work to more securelybandage his patient's shoulder; Jack Penny looking on, resting upon hisgun, and wearing a countenance full of misery. 

"There!" said the doctor when he had finished. "I think he will do now. Two inches lower, Master Penny, and he would have been a dead man. "

"I couldn't help it!" drawled Jack Penny. "I thought he was a savagecoming to kill us. I'm always doing something. There never was such anunlucky chap as I am!"

"Oh, you meant what you did for the best!" said the doctor, laying hishand on Jack Penny's shoulder. 

"What did he want to look like a savage for?" grumbled Jack. "Who wasgoing to know that any one dressed up--no, I mean dressed down--likethat was an Englishman?"

"It was an unfortunate mistake, Penny; you must be more careful if youmean to handle a gun. "

"Here, take it away!" said Jack Penny bitterly. "I won't fire it offagain. "

"I was very nearly making the same mistake, " I said, out of compassionfor Jack Penny--he seemed so much distressed. "I had you and Ti-hicovered in turn as you came up, doctor. "

"Then I'm glad you did not fire!" he said. "There, keep your piece, Penny; we may want its help. As for our friend here, he has a painfulwound, but I don't think any evil will result from it. Hist, he iscoming to!"

Our conversation had been carried on in a whisper, and we now stoppedshort and watched the doctor's patient in the dim twilight of thecavern, as he unclosed his eyes and stared first up at the ceiling andthen about him, till his eyes rested upon us, when he smiled. 

"Am I much hurt?" he said, in a low calm voice. 

"Oh, no!" said the doctor. "A bullet wound--not a dangerous one atall. "

To my astonishment he went on talking quite calmly, and without any ofthe dazed look and the strange habit of forgetting his own tongue tocontinue in that of the people among whom he had been a prisoner for solong. 

"I thought I should find you here, " he said; "and I came on, thinkingthat perhaps I could help you. "

"Help us! yes, of course you can! You shall help us to get MrCarstairs away!"

"Poor fellow; yes!" he said softly, and in so kindly a way that I creptcloser and took his hand. "We tried several times to escape, but theyovertook us, and treated us so hard that of late we had grown resignedto our fate. "

I exchanged glances with the doctor, who signed to me to be silent. 

"It was a very hard one--very hard!" the wounded man continued, and thenhe stopped short, looking straight before him at the forest, seenthrough the opening of the cave. 

By degrees his eyelids dropped, were raised again, and then fell, and heseemed to glide into a heavy sleep. 

The doctor motioned us to keep away, and we all went to the mouth of thecave, to sit down and talk over the night's adventure, the conversationchanging at times to a discussion of our friend's mental affection. 

"The shock of the wound has affected his head beneficially, it seems, "the doctor said at last. "Whether it will last I cannot say. "

At least it seemed to me that the doctor was saying those or similarwords from out of a mist, and then all was silent. 

The fact was that I had been out all night, exerting myselftremendously, and I had now fallen heavily asleep. 

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. 

HOW WE PASSED THROUGH A GREAT PERIL. 

It was quite evening when I woke, as I could see by the red glow amongstthe trees. I was rested but confused, and lay for some minutesthinking, and wondering what had taken place on the previous day. 

It all came back at once, and I was just in the act of rising and goingto see how our poor friend was, when I felt a hand press me back, andturning I saw it was Jack Penny, who was pointing with the other towardsthe entrance of the cave. 

"What is it?" I whispered; but I needed no telling, for I could seethat a group of the blacks were on the other side of the ravine, pointing in the direction of the bushes that overhung our refuge, andgesticulating and talking together loudly. 

They know where we are then, I thought; and glancing from one to theother in the dim light I saw that my opinion was shared by the doctorand our black followers, who all seemed to be preparing for anencounter, taking up various places of vantage behind blocks of stone, where they could ply their bows and arrows and make good use of theirspears. 

Just then the doctor crept towards me and placed his lips to my ear:

"They have evidently tracked us, my lad, " he said; "and we must fightfor it. There is no chance beside without we escape by the back here, and give up the object of our search. "

"We must fight, doctor!" I said, though I trembled as I spoke, andinvoluntarily glanced at Jack Penny, wondering even in those criticalmoments whether he too felt alarmed. 

I think now it was very natural: I felt horribly ashamed of it then. 

Whether it was the case, or that Jack Penny was only taking his tintfrom the greeny reflected light in the cavern, certainly he looked verycadaverous and strange. 

He caught my eye and blew out his cheeks, and began to whistle softly ashe rubbed the barrel of his gun with his sleeve. 

Turning rather jauntily towards the doctor he said softly:

"Suppose I am to shoot now, doctor?"

"When I give the order, " said the latter coldly. 

"There won't be any mistake this time?"

"No, " said the doctor, quietly; "there will not be any mistake thistime!"

He stopped and gazed intently at the savages, who were cautiouslydescending towards the stream, not in a body but spread out in a line. 

"Fire first with large shot, " he said softly. "If we can frighten themwithout destroying life we will. Now creep each of you behind thatclump of stones and be firm. Mind it is by steadily helping one anotherin our trouble that we are strong. "

I gave him a quick nod--it was no time for speaking--and crept softly tomy place, passing pretty close to where our friend lay wounded andquietly asleep. 

The next minute both Jack Penny and I were crouched behind what servedas a breastwork, with our pieces ready, the doctor being on our left, and the blacks, including Jimmy, right in front, close to the mouth ofthe cave. 

"We must mind and not hit the blacks!" whispered Jack. "I mean ourchaps. Lie down, Gyp!"

The dog was walking about in an impatient angry manner, uttering a lowsnarl now and then, and setting up the hair all about his neck till inthe dim light he looked like a hyena. 

Gyp turned to his master almost a reproachful look, and then looked upat me, as if saying, "Am I to be quiet at a time like this?"

Directly after, though, he crouched down with his paws straight outbefore him and his muzzle directed towards the enemy, ready when thestruggle began to make his teeth meet in some one. 

The savages were all the time coming steadily on lower and lower downthe bank, till suddenly one of them stopped short and uttered a low cry. 

Several ran to his side at once, and we could see them stoop down andexamine something among the bushes, talking fiercely the while. 

"They've found out where our friend was wounded, Jack Penny, " I said. 

"Think so?" he said slowly. "Well, I couldn't help it. I didn't meanto do it, I declare. "

"Hist!" I whispered; and now my heart began to beat furiously, for theblacks, apparently satisfied, began to spread out again, descended tothe edge of the little stream, and then stopped short. 

If I had not been so excited by the coming danger I should have enjoyedthe scene of this group of strongly-built naked savages, their jettyblack, shining skins bronzed by the reflections of orange and goldengreen as the sun flooded the gorge with warm light, making every actionof our enemies plain to see, while by contrast it threw us more and moreinto the shade. 

They paused for a few moments at the edge of the stream, so close nowthat they could touch each other by simply stretching out a hand; and itwas evident by the way all watched a tall black in the centre of theline that they were waiting his orders to make a dash up into the cave. 

Those were terrible minutes: we could see the opal of our enemies' eyesand the white line of their teeth as they slightly drew their lips apartin the excitement of waiting the order to advance. Every man was armedwith bow and arrows, and from their wrists hung by a thong a heavywaddy, a blow from which was sufficient to crush in any man's skull. 

"They're coming now, " I said in a low voice, the words escaping meinvoluntarily. And then I breathed again, for the tall savage, evidently the leader, said something to his men, who stood fast, whilehe walked boldly across the stream beneath the overhanging bushes, andone of these began to sway as the chief tried to draw himself up. 

I glanced at the doctor, being sure that he would fire, when, just asthe chief was almost on a level with the floor of the cave, there was arushing, scratching noise, and the most hideous howling rose from justin front of where I crouched, while Gyp leaped up, with hair bristling, and answered it with a furious howl. 

The savage dropped back into the water with a tremendous splash, andrushed up the slope after his people, not one of them stopping till theywere close to the top, when Jimmy raised his grinning face and lookedround at us. 

"Um tink big bunyip in um hole, make um all run jus fas' away, away. "

He had unmistakably scared the enemy, for they collected together inconsultation, but our hope that they might now go fell flat, for theyonce more began to descend, each one tearing off a dead branch orgathering a bunch of dry ferns as he came; and at the same moment theidea struck Jack Penny and me that they believed some fierce beast wasin the hole, and that they were coming to smoke it out. 

The blacks came right down into the rivulet, and though the firstarmfuls of dry wood and growth they threw beneath the cave mouth wentinto the water, they served as a base for the rest, and in a very shorttime a great pile rose up, and this they fired. 

For a few moments there was a great fume, which floated slowly up amongthe bushes, but very soon the form of the cavern caused it to draw rightin, the opening at the back acting as a chimney. First it burnedbriskly, then it began to roar, and then to our horror we found that theplace was beginning to fill with suffocating smoke and hot vapour, growing more dangerous moment by moment. 

Fortunately the smoke and noise of the burning made our actions safefrom observation, and we were thus able to carry our wounded right tothe back, where the air was purer and it was easier to breathe. 

It was a terrible position, for the blacks, encouraged by their success, piled on more and more brushwood and the great fronds of fern, whichgrew in abundance on the sides of the little ravine, and as the greenboughs and leaves were thrown on they hissed and spluttered and sentforth volumes of smoke, which choked and blinded us till the fuel beganto blaze, when it roared into the cave and brought with it a quantity ofhot but still breathable air. 

"Keep a good heart, my lads, " said the doctor. "No, no, Penny! Are youmad? Lie down! lie down! Don't you know that while the air high up issuffocating, that low down can be breathed?"

"No, I couldn't tell, " said Jack Penny dolefully, as he first knelt downand then laid his head close to the ground. "I didn't know things weregoing to be so bad as this or I shouldn't have come. I don't want tohave my dog burned to death. "

Gyp seemed to understand him, for he uttered a low whine and laid hisnose in his master's hand. 

"Burned to death!" said the doctor in a tone full of angry excitement. "Of course not. Nobody is going to be burned to death. "

Through the dim choking mist I could see that there was a wild andanxious look in the doctor's countenance as he kept going near the mouthof the cave, and then hurrying back blinded and in agony. 

We had all been in turn to the narrow rift at the end through which wehad been able to see the sky and the waving leaves of the trees, but nowall was dark with the smoke that rolled out. This had seemed to be ameans of escape, but the difficulty was to ascend the flat chimney-likeplace, and when the top was reached we feared that it would only be foreach one who climbed out to make himself a mark for the savages' arrows. 

Hence, then, we had not made the slightest attempt to climb it. Now, however, our position was so desperate that Jimmy's proposal waslistened to with eagerness. 

"Place too much big hot, " he said. "Chokum-chokum like um wallaby. Goup. "

He caught hold of the doctor's scarf of light network, a contrivancewhich did duty for bag, hammock, or rope in turn, and the wearer rapidlytwisted it from about his waist. 

"Now, Mas' Jack Penny, tan' here, " he cried; and Jack was placed justbeneath the hole. 

Jack Penny understood what was required of him, and placing his handsagainst the edge of the rift he stood firm, while Jimmy took the end ofthe doctor's scarf in his teeth and proceeded to turn him into a ladder, by whose means he might get well into the chimney-like rift, climb up, and then lower down the scarf-rope to help the rest. 

As I expected, the moment Jimmy caught Jack Penny's shoulders and placedone foot upon him my companion doubled up like a jointed rule, and Jimmyand he rolled upon the floor of the cave. 

At any other time we should have roared with laughter at Jimmy's disgustand angry torrent of words, but it was no time for mirth, and the doctortook Jack Penny's place as the latter drawled out:

"I couldn't help it; my back's so weak. I begin to wish I hadn't come. "

"Dat's fine, " grunted Jimmy, who climbed rapidly up, standing on thedoctor's shoulders, making no scruple about planting a foot upon hishead, and then we knew by his grunting and choking sounds that he wasforcing his way up. 

The moment he had ceased to be of use the doctor stood aside, and it wasas well, for first a few small stones fell, then there was a crash, andI felt that Jimmy had come down, but it only proved to be a mass ofloose stone, which was followed by two or three more pieces of earth androck. 

Next came a tearing sound as of bushes being broken and dragged away, and to our delight the smoke seemed to rush up the rift with so great acurrent of air that fresh breath of life came to us from the mouth ofthe cave, and with it hope. 

In those critical moments everything seemed dream-like and strange. Icould hardly see what took place for the smoke, my companions lookingdim and indistinct, and somehow the smoke seemed to be despair, and thefresh hot wind borne with the crackling flames that darted through thedense vapour so much hope. 

"Ti-hi come 'long nextums, " whispered Jimmy; and the black ran to theopening eagerly, but hesitated and paused, ending by seizing me andpushing me before him to go first. 

"No, no, " I said; "let's help the wounded man first. "

"Don't waste time, " said the doctor angrily. "Up, Joe, and you can helphaul. "

I obeyed willingly and unwillingly, but I wasted no time. With the helpof the doctor and the scarf I had no difficulty in climbing up the rift, which afforded good foothold at the side, and in less than a minute Iwas beside Jimmy, breathing the fresh air and seeing the smoke rise upin a cloud from our feet. 

"Pull!" said the doctor in a hoarse whisper that seemed to come out ofthe middle of the smoke. 

Jimmy and I hauled, and somehow or another we got Jack Penny up, chokingand sneezing, so that he was obliged to lie down amongst the bushes, andI was afraid he would be heard, till I saw that we were separated fromthe savages by a huge mass of stony slope. 

Two of the black bearers came next easily enough, and then the scarf hadto be lowered down to its utmost limits. 

I knew why, and watched the proceedings with the greatest concern asJimmy and one of the blacks reached down into the smoky rift and heldthe rope at the full extent of their arms. 

"Now!" said the doctor's voice, and the two hardy fellows began to drawthe scarf, with its weight coming so easily that I knew the doctor andone of the blacks must be lifting the wounded man below. 

Poor fellow, he must have suffered the most intense agony, but he didnot utter a sigh. Weak as he was he was quite conscious of hisposition, and helped us by planting his feet wherever there was aprojection in the rift, and so we hauled him up and laid him on the sandamong the bushes, where he could breathe, but where he fainted away. 

The rest easily followed, but not until the doctor had sent up everyweapon and package through the smoke. Then came his turn, but he madeno sign, and in an agony of horror I mastered my dread, and, seizing thescarf, lowered myself down into the heat and smoke. 

It was as I feared; he had fainted, and was lying beneath the opening. 

My hands trembled so that I could hardly tie a knot, but knowing, as Idid, how short the scarf was, I secured it tightly round one of hiswrists and called to them to haul just as Jimmy was coming down to myhelp. 

He did not stop, but dropped down beside me, and together we lifted thefainting man, called to them to drag, and he was pulled up. 

"Here, ketch hold, " came from above the next moment in Jack Penny'svoice, and to my utter astonishment down came the end of the scarf atonce, long before they could have had time to untie it from the doctor'swrist. 

"Up, Jimmy!" I cried, as I realised that it was the other end JackPenny had had the _nous_ to lower at once. 

"No: sha'n't go, Mass Joe Carstairs. "

"Go on, sir, " I cried. 

"No sha'n't! Debble--debble--debble!" he cried, pushing me to the hole. 

To have gone on fighting would have meant death to both, for the savageswere yelling outside and piling on the bushes and fern fronds till theyroared. 

I caught the scarf then, and was half-hauled half-scrambled up, to falldown blinded and suffocated almost, only able to point below. 

I saw them lower the scarf again, and after what seemed a tremendoustime Jimmy's black figure appeared. 

Almost at the same moment there were tongues of flame mingled with thesmoke, and Jimmy threw himself down and rolled over and over, sobbingand crying. 

"Burn um hot um. Oh, burn um--burn um--burn um!"

There was a loud roar and a rush of flame and smoke out of the rift, followed by what seemed to be a downpour of the smoke that hung over uslike a canopy, just as if it was all being sucked back, and then thefire appeared to be smouldering, and up through the smoke that now roseslowly came the dank strange smell of exploded powder and the sounds ofvoices talking eagerly, but coming like a whisper to where we lay. 

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. 

HOW THE DOCTOR SAID "THANK YOU" IN A VERY QUIET WAY. 

For some little time we did nothing but lie there blackened and halfchoked, blinded almost, listening to the sound that came up that rift, for the question now was whether the savages would know that we werethere, or would attribute the roar to that of some fierce beast thattheir fire and smoke had destroyed. 

The voices came up in a confused gabble, and we felt that if the blackscame up the rift we could easily beat them back; but if they came roundby some other way to the rocky patch of forest where we were, our statewas so pitiable that we could offer no defence. 

Jimmy had been applying cool leaves to his legs for some minutes as welay almost where we had thrown ourselves, seeming to want to do nothingbut breathe the fresh air, when all at once he came to where the doctorand I now rested ourselves upon our elbows and were watching the smokethat came up gently now and rose right above the trees. 

"Jimmy no hurt now. Roast black fellow, " he said grinning. "Jimmy knowpowder go bang pop! down slow. "

"Yes, " said the doctor. "I was trying to get that last canister when Iwas overcome by the smoke, and just managed to reach the bottom of therift. Who was it saved me?"

"Jimmy-Jimmy!" said the black proudly. 

"My brave fellow!" cried the doctor, catching the black's hand. 

"Jimmy come 'long Mass Joe. Haul Mass doctor up. Mass doctor no wiggleJimmy 'gain, eat much pig. "

The doctor did not answer, for he had turned to me and taken my hand. 

"Did you come down, Joe?" he said softly. 

"Of course I did, " I replied quietly, though I felt very uncomfortable. 

"Thank you!" he said quietly, and then he turned away. 

"Black fellow hear powder bang, " said Jimmy, grinning. "Tink um bigbunyip. All go way now. "

I turned to him sharply, listening the while. 

"Yes: all go 'long. Tink bunyip. Kill um dead. No kill bunyip. Ohno!"

There was the sound of voices, but they were more distant, and then theyseemed to come up the rift in quite a broken whisper, and the nextmoment they had died away. 

"Safe, doctor!" I said, and we all breathed more freely than before. 

The blacks had gone. Evidently they believed that the occupant of thecave had expired in that final roar, and when we afterwards creptcautiously round after a detour the next morning, it was to find thatthe place was all open, and for fifty yards round the bushes andtree-ferns torn down and burned. 

The night of our escape we hardly turned from our positions, utterlyexhausted as we were, and one by one we dropped asleep. 

When I woke first it was sometime in the night, and through the treesthe great stars were glinting down, and as I lay piecing together theadventures of the past day I once more fell fast asleep to be awakenedby Jimmy in the warm sunlight of a glorious morning. 

"All black fellow gone long way. Come kedge fis an fine 'nana. "

I rose to my feet to see that the doctor was busy with his patient, whowas none the worse for the troubles of the past day, and what was ofmore consequence, he was able to speak slowly and without running offinto the native tongue. 

We went down to the stream, Jack Penny bearing us company, and werepretty fortunate in cutting off some good-sized fish which were sunningthemselves in a shallow, and Ti-hi and his companions were no lesssuccessful in getting fruit, so that when we returned we were able tolight a fire and enjoy a hearty meal. 

What I enjoyed the most, though, was a good lave in the clear cold waterwhen we had a look at the mouth of the cave. 

The doctor came to the conclusion that where we were, shut-in by highshelving sand rocks, was as safe a spot as we could expect, the more sothat the blacks were not likely to come again, so we made this our camp, waiting to recruit a little and to let the black village settle downbefore making any farther attempt. Beside this there was our newcompanion--William Francis he told us his name was, and that he had beenten years a prisoner among the blacks. Until he had recovered from theeffect of his unlucky wound we could not travel far, and our flight whenwe rescued my father must necessarily be swift. 

It was terribly anxious work waiting day after day, but the doctor'sadvice was good--that we must be content to exist without news for fear, in sending scouts about the village at night, we should alarm the enemy. 

"Better let them think there is no one at hand, " said the doctor, "andour task will be the easier. "

So for a whole fortnight we waited, passing our time watching the brightscaled fish glance down the clear stream, or come up it in shoals; lyinggazing at the brightly plumed birds that came and shrieked and climbedabout the trees above our heads; while now and then we made cautiousexcursions into the open country in the direction opposite to thevillage, and fortunately without once encountering an enemy, but addinglargely to our store of food, thanks to the bows and arrows of ourfriends. 

At last, one evening, after quietly talking to us sometime about thesufferings of himself and my father, Mr Francis declared himself strongenough to accompany our retreat. 

"The interest and excitement will keep me up, " he said; "and you mustnot wait longer for me. Besides, I shall get stronger every day, and--"

He looked from me to the doctor and then back, and passed his handacross his forehead as if to clear away a mist, while, when he began tospeak again, it was not in English, and he burst into tears. 

"Lie down and sleep, " the doctor said firmly; and, obedient as a child, the patient let his head sink upon the rough couch he occupied andclosed his eyes. 

"It is as if as his body grew strong his mental powers weakened, " saidthe doctor to me as soon as we were out of hearing; "but we must waitand see. "

Then we set to and once more talked over our plans, arranging that wewould make our attempt next night, and after studying the compass andthe position we occupied we came to the decision that we had better workround to the far side of the village, post Mr Francis and two of theblacks there, with our baggage, which was principally food; then makeour venture, join them if successful, and go on in retreat at once. 

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. 

HOW WE TOOK A LAST LOOK ROUND, AND FOUND IT WAS TIME TO GO. 

That next evening seemed as it would never come, and I lay tossingfeverishly from side to side vainly trying to obtain the rest my friendrecommended. 

At last, though, the time came, and we were making our finalpreparations, when the doctor decided that we would just take a lookround first by way of a scout. 

It was fortunate that we did, for just as it was growing dusk, after agood look round we were about to cross the rivulet, and go through thecavern and up the rift back into camp, when I caught the doctor's armwithout a word. 

He started and looked in the same direction as I did which was rightdown the gully, and saw what had taken my attention, namely, thestooping bodies of a couple of blacks hurrying away through the bushesat a pretty good rate. 

The doctor clapped his piece to his shoulder, and then dropped it oncemore. 

"No!" he said. "I might kill one, but the other would bear the news. Fortunately they are going the other way and not ours. Quick, my lad!let's get back to camp and start. "

"And they'll come back with a lot of their warriors to attack usto-night and find us gone!"

"And while they are gone, Joe, we will attack their place and carry offour prize!"

"If we only could!" I cried fervently. 

"No _ifs_, Joe, " he said smiling; "we _will_!"

It did not take us many minutes to reach the mouth of the cave, and aswe entered I looked round again, to catch sight of another black figurecrouching far up the opposite bank, at the foot of a great tree. 

I did not speak, for it was better that the black should not think hehad been seen, so followed the doctor into the cave, climbed the riftwith him, and found all ready for the start. 

"Black fellow all 'bout over there way!" said Jimmy to me in a whisper. 

"How do you know?" I said quickly. 

"Jimmy smell am!" he replied seriously. "Jimmy go look 'bout. Smell umblack fellow, one eye peeping round um trees. "

"Yes, we have seen them too, " I said; and signing to him to follow, Ifound the doctor. 

"The sooner we are off the better!" he said. "Now, Mr Francis, do youthink you can lead us to the other side of the village, round by thenorth? the enemy are on the watch. "

Mr Francis turned his head without a word, and, leaning upon a stoutstick, started at once; and we followed in silence, just as the starswere coming out. 

It seemed very strange calling this savage-looking being Mr Francis, but when talking with him during his recovery from his wound one onlyneeded to turn one's head to seem to be in conversation with a man whohad never been from his civilised fellows. 

He went steadily on, the doctor next, and I followed the doctor; therest of our little party gliding silently through the forest for quitethree hours, when Mr Francis stopped, and it was decided to rest andrefresh ourselves a little before proceeding farther. 

The doctor had settled to leave Mr Francis here, but he quietlyobjected to this. 

"No!" he said; "you want my help more now than ever. I am weak, but Ican take you right to the hut where Carstairs is kept a prisoner. Ifyou go alone you will lose time, and your expedition may--"

He stopped short and lay down upon the earth for a few minutes, duringwhich the doctor remained undecided. At last he bent down and whispereda few words to his patient, who immediately rose. 

Orders were then given to the blacks, who were to stay under the commandof Jack Penny, and, followed by Jimmy, and leaving the rest of our partyin the shade of an enormous tree, we set off once more. 

The excitement made the distance seem so short that I was astounded whena low murmur told us that we were close to the village, and, steppingmore cautiously, we were soon close up behind a great hut. 

"This is the place, " whispered Mr Francis. "He is kept prisoner here, or else at the great hut on the other side. Hist! I'll creep forwardand listen. "

He went down in a stooping position and disappeared, leaving uslistening to the continuous talk of evidently a numerous party of thesavages; and so like did it all seem to the last time, that no timemight have elapsed since we crouched there, breathing heavily withexcitement in the shade of the great trees that came close up to thehuts. 

It was a painful time, for it seemed that all our schemes had been invain, and that we might as well give up our task, unless we could comewith so strong a body of followers that we could make a bold attack. 

I whispered once or twice to the doctor, but he laid his hand upon mylips. I turned to Jimmy, but he had crouched down, and was restinghimself according to his habit. 

And so quite an hour passed away before we were aware by a slight rustlethat Mr Francis was back, looming up out of the darkness like somegiant, so strangely did the obscurity distort everything near at hand. 

"Here!" he said in a low voice; and bending down we all listened to hiswords, which came feebly, consequent upon his exertions. 

"I have been to the far hut and he is not there!" he whispered. "I cameback to this and crept in unobserved. They are all talking about anexpedition that has gone off to the back of the cave--to destroy us. Carstairs is in there, bound hand and foot. "

"My poor father!" I moaned. 

"I spoke to him and told him help was near, " continued Mr Francis; "andthen--"

He muttered something in the savages' tongue, and then broke down andbegan to sob. 

"Take no notice, " the doctor whispered to me, as I stood tremblingthere, feeling as I did that I was only a few yards from him we had cometo save, and who was lying bound there waiting for the help that seemedas if it would never come. 

The doctor realised my feelings, for he came a little closer and pressedmy hand. 

"Don't be downhearted, my lad, " he whispered; "we are a long way nearerto our journey's end than when we started. "

"Yes!" I said; "but--"

"But! Nonsense, boy! Why, we've found your father. We know where heis; and if we can't get him away by stratagem, we'll go to another tribeof the blacks, make friends with them, and get them to fight on ourside. "

"Nonsense, doctor!" I said bitterly. "You are only saying this tocomfort me. "

"To get you to act like a man, " he said sharply. "Shame upon you forbeing so ready to give up in face of a few obstacles!"

I felt that the rebuke was deserved, and drew in my breath, trying tonerve myself to bear this new disappointment, and to set my brain atwork scheming. 

It seemed to grow darker just then, the stars fading out behind a thickveil of clouds; and creeping nearer to the doctor I sat down besidewhere he knelt, listening to the incessant talking of the savages. 

We were not above half-a-dozen yards from the back of the great hut;and, now rising into quite an angry shout, now descending into a lowbuzz, the talk, talk, talk went on, as if they were saying the samethings over and over again. 

I thought of my own captivity--of the way in which Gyp had come to me inthe night, and wondered whether it would be possible to cut away aportion of the palm-leaf wall of the hut, and so get to the prisoner. 

And all this while the talking went on, rising and falling till itseemed almost maddening to hear. 

We must have waited there quite a couple of hours, and still there wasno change. Though we could not see anything for the hut in front of uswe could tell that there was a good deal of excitement in the village, consequent, the doctor whispered, upon the absence of a number of theblacks on the expedition against us. 

At last he crept from me to speak to Mr Francis. 

"It is of no use to stay longer, I'm afraid, my lad, " he whispered;"unless we wait and see whether the hut is left empty when theexpedition party comes back, though I fear they will not come back tillmorning. "

"What are you going to do, then?" I said. 

"Ask Francis to suggest a better hiding-place for us, where we can goto-night and wait for another opportunity. "

I sighed, for I was weary of waiting for opportunities. 

"Fast asleep, poor fellow!" he whispered, coming back so silently thathe startled me. "Where's the black?"

I turned sharply to where Jimmy had been curled up, but he was gone. 

I crept a little way in two or three directions, but he was not with us, and I said so. 

"How dare he go!" the doctor said angrily. "He will ruin our plans!What's that?"

"Gyp!" I said, as the dog crept up to us and thrust his head against myhand. "Jack Penny is getting anxious. It is a signal for us to comeback. "

"How do you know?"

"We agreed upon it, " I said. "He was to send the dog in search of us ifwe did not join him in two hours; and if we were in trouble I was eitherto tie something to his collar or take it off. "

"Do neither!" said the doctor quietly. "Look! they are lighting a fire. The others must have come back. "

I turned and saw a faint glow away over the right corner of the hut; andthen there was a shout, and the shrill cries of some women and children. 

In a moment there was a tremendous excitement in the hut before us, thesavages swarming out like angry bees, and almost at the same moment thewhole shape of the great long hut stood out against the sky. 

"The village is on fire!" whispered the doctor. "Back, my boy!Francis, quick!"

He shook the sleeping man, whom all at once I could see, and he roserather feebly. Then we backed slowly more and more in amongst thetrees, seeing now that one of the light palm-leaf and bamboo huts wasblazing furiously, and that another had caught fire, throwing up thecluster of slight buildings into clear relief, while as we backedfarther and farther in amongst the trees we could see the blacks--men, women, and children--running to and fro as if wild. 

"Now would be the time, " said the doctor. "We might take advantage ofthe confusion and get your father away. "

"Yes!" I cried excitedly. "I'm ready!"

"Stop for your lives!" said a voice at our elbow, and turning I saw MrFrancis, with his swarthy face lit up by the fire. "You could not getnear the hut now without being seen. If you had acted at the moment thealarm began you might have succeeded. It is now too late. "

"No, no!" I cried. "Let us try. "

"It is too late, I say, " cried Mr Francis firmly. "The village is onfire, and the blacks must see you. If you are taken now you will bekilled without mercy. "

"We must risk it, " I said excitedly, stepping forward. 

"And your father too. "

I recoiled shuddering. 

"We must get away to a place of safety, hide for a few days, and thentry again. I shall be stronger perhaps then, and can help. "

"It is right, " said the doctor calmly. "Come, Joe. Patience!"

I saw that he was right, for the fire was leaping from hut to hut, andthere was a glow that lit up the forest far and wide. Had anyone comenear we must have been seen, but the savages were all apparentlycongregated near the burning huts, while the great sparks and flakes offire rose up and floated far away above the trees, glittering like starsin the ruddy glow. 

"Go on then, " I said, with a groan of disappointment, and Mr Francistook the lead once more, and, the doctor following, I was last. 

"But Jimmy!" I said. "We must not leave him behind. "

"He will find us, " said the doctor. "Come along. "

There was nothing for me to do but obey, so I followed reluctantly, theglow from the burning village being so great that the branches of thetrees stood up clearly before us, and we had no difficulty in going on. 

I followed more reluctantly when I remembered Gyp, and chirruped to him, expecting to find him at my heels, but he was not there. 

"He has gone on in front, " I thought, and once more I tramped wearilyon, when there was a rush and a bound and Gyp leaped up at me, catchingmy jacket in his teeth and shaking it hard. 

CHAPTER FORTY. 

HOW JIMMY CRIED "COOEE!" AND WHY HE CALLED. 

"Why, Gyp, " I said in a low voice, "what is it, old fellow?"

He whined and growled and turned back, trotting towards the burningvillage. 

"Yes, I know it's on fire, " I said. "Come along. "

But the dog would not follow. He whined and snuffled and ran back alittle farther, when from some distance behind I heard a rustling and apanting noise, which made me spring round and cock my gun. 

"Followed!" I said to myself, as I continued my retreat, but only tostop short, for from the direction in which we had come I heardwhispered, more than called, the familiar cry of the Australian savage, a cry that must, I knew, come from Jimmy, and this explained Gyp'sappearance. 

"_Cooey_!"

There it was again, and without hesitation I walked sharply back, Gyprunning before me as he would not have done had there been an enemynear. 

There was the panting and rustling again as I retraced my steps, withthe light growing plainer, and in less than a minute I came upon Jimmytrudging slowly along with a heavy burden on his back, a second glanceat which made me stop speechless in my tracks. 

"Mass Joe! Jimmy got um fader. Much big heavy. Jimmy got um rightfas'. "

He panted with the exertion, for he tried to break into a trot. 

I could do no more than go to his side and lay my trembling hands uponthe shoulder of his burden--a man whom he was carrying upon his back. 

"Go on!" I said hoarsely. "Forward, Gyp, and stop them!"

The dog understood the word "Forward, " and went on with a rush, while Ilet Jimmy pass me, feeling that if he really had him we sought he wasperforming my duty, while all I could do was to form the rear-guard andprotect them even with my life if we were pursued. 

Either the dog was leading close in front or the black went on by a kindof instinct in the way taken by our companions. At any rate he wentsteadily on, and I followed, trembling with excitement, ten or a dozenyards behind, in dread lest it should not be true that we had succeededafter all. 

The light behind us increased so that I could plainly see the benthelpless load upon our follower's back; but the black trudged steadilyon and I followed, panting with eagerness and ready the moment Jimmypaused to leap forward and try to take his place. 

The fire must have been increasing fast, and the idea was dawning uponme that perhaps this was a plan of the black's, who had set fire to oneof the huts and then seized the opportunity to get the prisoner away. It was like the Australian to do such a thing as this, for he wascunning and full of stratagem, and though it was improbable the idea wasgrowing upon me, when all at once a tremendous weight seemed to fallupon my head and I was dashed to the earth, with a sturdy savagepressing me down, dragging my hands behind me, and beginning to fastenthem with some kind of thong. 

For the moment I was half-stunned. Then the idea came to me of helpbeing at hand, and I was about to _cooey_ and bring Jimmy to my side, but my lips closed and I set my teeth. 

"No, " I thought, "he may escape. If any one is to be taken let it beme; my turn will come later on. "

My captor had evidently been exerting himself a great deal to overtakeme, and after binding me he contented himself by sitting upon my back, panting heavily, to rest himself, while, knowing that struggling wouldbe in vain, I remained motionless, satisfied that every minute was ofinestimable value, and that once the doctor knew of the black's successhe would use every exertion to get the captive in safety, and then hewould be sure to come in search of me. 

Then I shuddered, for I remembered what Mr Francis had said about thepeople being infuriated at such a time, and as I did so I felt that Iwas a long way yet from being a man. 

All at once my captor leaped up, and seizing me by the arm he gave me afearful wrench to make me rise to my feet. 

For some minutes past I had been expecting to see others of his partycome up, or to hear him shout to them, but he remained silent, and stoodat last hesitating or listening to the faint shouts that came from theglow beyond the trees. 

Suddenly he thrust me before him, shaking his waddy menacingly. Thenext moment he uttered a cry. There was a sharp crack as of onewar-club striking another, and then I was struck down by two menstruggling fiercely. There were some inarticulate words, and a snarlingand panting like two wild beasts engaged in a hard fight, and then aheavy fall, a dull thud, and the sound of a blow, as if some one hadstruck a tree branch with a club. 

I could see nothing from where I lay, but as soon as I could recovermyself I was struggling to my feet, when a black figure loomed over me, and a familiar voice said hoarsely:

"Where Mass Joe knife, cut um 'tring?"

"Jimmy!" I said. "My father?"

"Set um down come look Mass Joe. Come 'long fas. Gyp take care Jimmyfader till um come back again again. "

As Jimmy spoke he thrust his hand into my pocket for my knife, while Iwas too much interested in his words to remind him that there was mylarge sheath-knife in my belt. 

"Come 'long, " he said as he set me free, and we were starting when hestopped short: "No; tie black fellow up firs'. No, can't 'top. "

Before I knew what he meant to do he had given the prostrate black asharp rap on the head with his waddy. 

"Jimmy!" I said; "you'll kill him!"

"Kill him! No, makum sleep, sleep. Come 'long. "

He went off at a sharp walk and I followed, glancing back anxiously fromtime to time and listening, till we reached the spot where he had setdown his burden, just as the doctor came back, having missed me, andbeing in dread lest I had lost my way. 

I did not speak--I could not, but threw myself on my knees beside thestrange, long-haired, thickly-bearded figure seated with its backagainst a tree, while the doctor drew back as soon as he realised thatit was my father the black had saved. 

CHAPTER FORTY ONE. 

HOW JIMMY HEARD THE BUNYIP SPEAK, AND IT ALL PROVED TO BE "BIG 'TUFF. "

I Need not recount what passed just then. But few words were spoken, and there was no time for displays of affection. One black had seen andpursued Jimmy, and others might be on our track, so that our work wasfar from being half done even now. 

"Can you walk, sir?" said the doctor sharply. 

My poor father raised his face toward the speaker and uttered someincoherent words. 

"No, no; he has been kept bound by the ankles till the use of his feethas gone, " said Mr Francis, who had remained silent up to now. 

"Can't walk--Jimmy carry um, " said the black in a whisper. "Don't makenoise--hear um black fellow. "

"You are tired, " said the doctor; "let me take a turn. "

Jimmy made no objection, but bore the gun, while the doctor carried myfather slowly and steadily on for some distance; then the black took aturn and bore him right to the place where our black followers werewaiting, and where Jack Penny was anxiously expecting our return. 

"I thought you wasn't coming back, " he said as Jimmy set down theburden; and then in a doleful voice he continued, "I couldn't do that, my back's so weak. "

But Ti-hi and his friends saw our difficulty, and cut down a couple oflong stout bamboos whose tops were soon cleared of leaves and shoots. Two holes were made in the bottom of a light sack whose contents wereotherwise distributed, the poles thrust through, and my poor fathergently laid upon the sack. Four of us then went to the ends of thepoles, which were placed upon our shoulders, and keeping step as well aswe could, we went slowly and steadily on, Mr Francis taking the leadand acting as guide. 

Our progress was very slow, but we journeyed steadily on hour afterhour, taking advantage of every open part of the forest that was notlikely to show traces of our passage, and obliged blindly to trust toMr Francis as to the way. 

It was weary work, but no one seemed to mind, each, even Jack Penny, taking his turn at the end of one of the bamboos; and when at last themorning broke, and the bright sunshine showed us our haggard faces, westill kept on, the daylight helping us to make better way till the suncame down so fiercely that we were obliged to halt in a dense part ofthe forest where some huge trees gave us shade. 

Mr Francis looked uneasily about, and I caught his anxious gazedirected so often in different directions that I whispered to the doctormy fears that he had lost his way. 

"Never mind, lad, " replied the doctor; "we have the compass. Our way issouth towards the coast--anywhere as long as we get beyond reach of theblacks. No, don't disturb him, let him sleep. "

I was about to draw near and speak to my father, in whose carewornhollow face I gazed with something approaching fear. His eyes wereclosed, and now, for the first time, I could see the ravages that thelong captivity had made in his features; but, mingled with these, therewas a quiet restful look that made me draw back in silence from wherethe litter had been laid and join my companions in partaking of suchfood as we had. 

Watch was set, the doctor choosing the post of guard, and then, lyinganywhere, we all sought for relief from our weariness in sleep. 

As for me, one moment I was lying gazing at the long unkempt hair andhead of him I had come to seek, and thinking that I would rest likethat, rising now and then to see and watch with the doctor; the next Iwas wandering away in dreams through the forest in search of my father;and then all was blank till I started up to catch at my gun, for someone had touched me on the shoulder. 

"There is nothing wrong, my lad, " said the doctor--"fortunately--for Ihave been a bad sentry, and have just awoke to find that I have beensleeping at my post. "

"Sleeping!" I said, still confused from my own deep slumbers. 

"Yes, " he said; "every one has been asleep from utter exhaustion. "

I looked round, and there were our companions sleeping heavily. 

"I've been thinking that we may be as safe here as farther away, "continued the doctor; "so let them rest still, for we have a tremendoustask before us to get down to the coast. "

Just then Jimmy leaped up staring, his hand on his waddy and his eyeswandering in search of danger. 

This being absent, his next idea was regarding food. 

"Much hungry, " he said, "want mutton, want damper, want eatums. "

The rest were aroused, and, water being close at hand in a littlestream, we soon had our simple store of food brought out and made arefreshing meal, of which my father, as he lay, partook mechanically, but without a word. 

The doctor then bathed and dressed his ankles, which were in a fearfullyswollen and injured state. Like Mr Francis, he seemed as if his longcaptivity had made him think like the savages among whom he had been;while the terrible mental anxiety he had suffered along with his bodilyanguish had resulted in complete prostration. He ate what was given tohim or drank with his eyes closed, and when he opened them once or twiceit was not to let them wander round upon us who attended to him, but togaze straight up in a vague manner and mutter a few of the native wordsbefore sinking back into a stupor-like sleep. 

I gazed at the doctor with my misery speaking in my eyes, for it was sodifferent a meeting from that which I had imagined. There was nodelight, no anguished tears, no pressing to a loving father's heart. Wehad found him a mere hopeless wreck, apparently, like Mr Francis, andthe pain I suffered seemed more than I could bear. 

"Patience!" the doctor said to me, with a smile. "Yes, I know what youwant to ask me. Let's wait and see. He was dying slowly, Joe, and wehave come in time to save his life. "

"You are sure?" I said. 

"No, " he answered, "not sure, but I shall hope. Now let's get on againtill dark, and then we'll have a good rest in the safest place we canfind. "

In the exertion and toil that followed I found some relief. Myinterest, too, was excited by seeing how much Mr Francis seemed tochange hour by hour, and how well he knew the country which he led usthrough. 

He found for us a capital resting-place in a rocky gorge, where, unlesstracked step by step, there was no fear of our being surprised. Herethere was water and fruit, and, short a distance as we had come, thedarkness made it necessary that we should wait for day. 

Then followed days and weeks of slow travel through a beautiful country, always south and west. We did not go many miles some days, for theburden we carried made our passage very slow. Sometimes, too, our blackscouts came back to announce that we were travelling towards some blackvillage, or that a hunting party was in our neighbourhood, and thoughthese people might have been friendly, we took the advice of our blackcompanions and avoided them, either by making a detour or by waiting inhiding till they had passed. 

Water was plentiful, and Jimmy and Ti-hi never let us want for fruit, fish, or some animal for food. Now it would be a wild pig or a smalldeer, more often birds, for these literally swarmed in some of the lakesand marshes round which we made our way. 

The country was so thinly inhabited that we could always light a fire insome shut-in part of the forest without fear, and so we got on, runningrisks at times, but on the whole meeting with but few adventures. 

After getting over the exertion and a little return of fever from tooearly leaving his sick-bed of boughs, Mr Francis mended rapidly, hiswound healing well and his mind daily growing clearer. Every now andthen, when excited, he had relapses, and looked at us hopelessly, talking quickly in the savages' tongue; but these grew less frequent, and there would be days during which he would be quite free. He grew somuch better that at the end of a month he insisted upon taking his placeat one of the bamboos, proving himself to be a tender nurse to ourinvalid in his turn. 

And all this time my father seemed to alter but little. The doctor wasindefatigable in his endeavours; but though he soon wrought a change inhis patient's bodily infirmities to such an extent, that at last myfather could walk first a mile, then a couple, and then ease the bearersof half their toil, his mind seemed gone, and he went on in a strangelyvacant way. 

As time went on and our long journey continued he would walk slowly bymy side, resting on my shoulder, and with his eyes always fixed upon theearth. If he was spoken to he did not seem to hear, and he never openedhis lips save to utter a few words in the savage tongue. 

I was in despair, but the doctor still bade me hope. 

"Time works wonders, Joe, " he said. "His bodily health is improvingwonderfully, and at last that must act upon his mind. "

"But it does not, " I said. "He has walked at least six miles to-day asif in a dream. Oh, doctor!" I exclaimed, "we cannot take him back likethis. You keep bidding me hope, and it seems no use. "

He smiled at me in his calm satisfied way. 

"And yet I've done something, Joe, " he said. "We found him--we got himaway--we had him first a hopeless invalid--he is now rapidly becoming astrong healthy man. "

"Healthy!"

"In body, boy. Recollect that for years he seems to have been keptchained up by the savages like some wild beast, perhaps through somereligious scruples against destroying the life of a white man who waswise in trees and plants. Likely enough they feared that if they killedsuch a medicine-man it might result in a plague or curse. "

"That is why they spared us both, " said Mr Francis, who had heard thelatter part of our conversation; "and the long course of being keptimprisoned there seemed to completely freeze up his brain as it didmine. That and the fever and blows I received, " he said excitedly. "There were times when--"

He clapped his hands to his head as if he dared not trust himself tospeak, and turned away. 

"Yes, that is it, my lad, " said the doctor quietly; "his brain hasbecome paralysed as it were. A change may come at any time. Under thecircumstances, in spite of your mother's anxiety, we'll wait and goslowly homeward. Let me see, " he continued, turning to a littlecalendar he kept, "to-morrow begins the tenth month of our journey. Come, be of good heart. We've done wonders; nature will do the rest. "

Two days later we had come to a halt in a lovely little glen throughwhich trickled a clear spring whose banks were brilliant with flowers. We were all busy cooking and preparing to halt there for the night. Myfather had walked the whole of the morning, and now had wandered slowlyaway along the banks of the stream, Mr Francis being a little furtheron, while Jimmy was busy standing beside a pool spearing fish. 

I glanced up once or twice to see that my father was standing motionlesson the bank, and then I was busying myself once more cutting soft boughsto make a bed when Jimmy came bounding up to me with his eyes startingand mouth open. 

"Where a gun, where a gun?" he cried. "Big bunyip down 'mong a trees, try to eat Jimmy. Ask for um dinner, all aloud, oh. "

"Hush! be quiet!" I cried, catching his arm; "what do you mean?"

"Big bunyip down 'mong stones say, `Hoo! much hungry; where my boy?'"

"Some one said that?" I cried. 

"Yes, `much hungry, where my boy?' Want eat black boy; eat Jimmy!"

"What nonsense, Jimmy!" I said. "Don't be such a donkey. There are nobunyips. "

"Jimmy heard um say um!" he cried, stamping his spear on the ground. 

Just then I involuntarily glanced in the direction where my fatherstood, and saw him stoop and pick up a flower or two. 

My heart gave a bound. 

The next minute he was walking slowly towards Mr Francis, to whom heheld out the flowers; and then I felt giddy, for I saw them comingslowly towards our camp, both talking earnestly, my father seeming to beexplaining something about the flowers he had picked. 

The doctor had seen it too, and he drew me away, after cautioning Jimmyto be silent. 

And there we stood while those two rescued prisoners talked quietly andearnestly together, but it was in the savage tongue. 

I need not tell you of my joy, or the doctor's triumphant looks. 

"It is the beginning, Joe, " he said; and hardly had he spoken when Jimmycame up. 

"Not bunyip 'tall!" he said scornfully. "Not no bunyip; all big 'tuff!Jimmy, Mass Joe fader talk away, say, `where my boy?'"

CHAPTER FORTY TWO. 

HOW I MUST WIND UP THE STORY. 

It was the beginning of a better time, for from that day what was likethe dawn of a return of his mental powers brightened and strengthenedinto the full sunshine of reason, and by the time we had been waiting atTi-hi's village for the coming of the captain with his schooner we hadheard the whole of my father's adventures from his own lips, and how hehad been struck down from behind by one of the blacks while collecting, and kept a prisoner ever since. 

I need not tell you of his words to me, his thanks to the doctor, andhis intense longing for the coming of the schooner, which seemed to bean age before it came in sight. 

We made Ti-hi and his companions happy by our supply of presents, for wewanted to take nothing back, and at last one bright morning we sailedfrom the glorious continent-like island, with two strong middle-aged menon board, both of whom were returning to a civilised land with thetraces of their captivity in their hair and beards, which were as whiteas snow. 

Neither shall I tell you of the safe voyage home, and of the meetingthere. Joy had come at last where sorrow had sojourned so long, and Iwas happy in my task that I had fulfilled. 

I will tell you, though, what the captain said in his hearty way overand over again. 

To me it used to be:

"Well, you have growed! Why, if you'd stopped another year you'd havebeen quite a man. I say, though I never thought you'd ha' done it; 'ponmy word!"

Similar words these to those often uttered by poor, prejudiced, obstinate old nurse. 

To Jack Penny the captain was always saying:

"I say, young 'un, how you've growed too; not uppards but beam ways. Why, hang me if I don't think you'll make a fine man yet!"

And so he did; a great strong six-foot fellow, with a voice like atrombone. Jack Penny is a sheep-farmer on his own account now, andafter a visit to England with my staunch friend the doctor, where Igained some education, and used to do a good deal of business for myfather, who is one of the greatest collectors in the south, I returnedhome, and went to stay a week with Jack Penny. 

"I say, " he said laughing, "my back's as strong as a lion's now. How itused to ache!"

We were standing at the door of his house, looking north, for we hadbeen talking of our travels, when all at once I caught sight of whatlooked like a little white tombstone under a eucalyptus tree. 

"Why, what's that?" I said. 

Jack Penny's countenance changed, and there were a couple of tears inthe eyes of the great strong fellow as he said slowly:

"That's to the memory of Gyp, the best dog as ever lived!"

I must not end without a word about Jimmy, my father's faithfulcompanion in his botanical trips. 

Jimmy nearly went mad for joy when I got back from England, dancingabout like a child. He was always at the door, black and shining asever, and there was constantly something to be done. One day he hadseen the biggest ole man kangaroo as ever was; and this time there was awallaby to be found; another the announcement that the black cockatooswere in the woods; or else it would be:

"Mass Joe, Mass Joe! Jimmy want go kedge fis very bad; do come a day. "

And I? Well, I used to go, and it seemed like being a boy again to goon some expedition with my true old companion and friend. 

Yes, friend; Jimmy was always looked upon as a friend; and long beforethen my mother would have fed and clothed him, given him anything heasked. But Jimmy was wild and happiest so, and I found him just as hewas when I left home, faithful and boyish and winning, and often readyto say:

"When Mass Joe ready, go and find um fader all over again!"

THE END.