asked Tommy.

"That is one of the many mysteries which man has failed to solve," I
observed. "We cannot understand His plans; with regard to them, all we
know is how He deals with us: for that we know through the Bible, where
all seems to me perfectly clear."

"I am sure it is," observed Harry; "I have been certain of that since
your mother and Edith have read the book to me, and have taught me to
read it for myself. It seems to me that people are ignorant because
they will not read the book, or seek for grace to understand it."

I was very glad to hear Harry say this, for it showed that my mother's
instruction had not been thrown away on him. Indeed, besides being
thoroughly guileless and honest, he possessed as much natural
intelligence as anybody I ever met.

We talked about many other things, and Harry was always ready to listen
for the sake of gaining information. He delighted especially to hear
about England, as well as other countries, and the numberless wonders of
which he formerly had no conception.

That day's march--to us, who had been out all the morning--was a very
fatiguing one. We had, too, as I have said, to be constantly on the
watch, especially when passing near thickets--so I will call them--of
ferns or other closely-growing trees, which might afford concealment to
the blacks. We knew that, cunning as they were, they were just as
likely to appear ahead or on one side of us as behind. My father had
given directions that, should we be attacked. Edith was to be placed on
the ground, when we were to gather round her, forming a hollow square,
in the same way that infantry are arranged to receive cavalry; but that
no one was to fire until he gave the word. He always entertained a hope
that the blacks, on seeing us well-prepared, would not venture to attack
us.

I was very thankful when at length, just as the sun was setting,
Pullingo called a halt by the side of a wood. It was somewhat in a
hollow, for the sake of a water-hole which existed at the bottom. Our
camp, however, was pitched on a slope where the ground was dry. Around
the spot grew some enormous ferns, as large as ordinary trees in the
northern parts of the world. We lost no time in making preparations for
passing the night: our huts were quickly put up and a fire kindled--the
grass surrounding the place being first carefully cut down, so as to
prevent any risk of it blazing up and setting the trees in flames.
This, in dry we