ed very
suspicious, and the lad asked himself whether this was a piece of
cunning on the part of the black.

But just then Shanter caught sight of the spear lying upon the ground,
where it had been thrown by the captain after he had drawn it from the
cow's back.

The black made a dash and pounced upon it, his movement to secure the
weapon putting both the captain and his brother on their guard, as they
watched the fellow's movements.

As soon as he had the weapon in his hand, he examined the point, still
wet with blood, looked sharply from one to the other, and then excitedly
pointed to the spear end.

"How this fellow come along?" he cried.

"Some one threw it, and speared the little cow," cried Rifle.

"Where little bull-cow fellow--go bong?"

"No; in the paddock. Did you throw that spear, Shanter?"

"Mine throw? Baal!" cried the black. "Plenty mine spear," and he
pointed to where his own spear stuck in the ground.

"I can't trust him, Rifle, my boy," said the captain, firmly. "I'm
afraid it is his work, and this is a cunning way of throwing us off the
scent."

The black listened eagerly, and partly comprehended.

"Marmi no pidney. Think mine spear bull-cow. Baal, baal throw."

He shook his head violently, and then running back and recovering the
other spear--his own--he stood attentively watching the scrub, his eyes
wandering along the ridge and from place to place as if in search of
enemies.

"What do you say, Ned?" whispered Uncle Jack; "are you going to trust
him?"

"No, I cannot yet," said the captain. "We must be thoroughly on our
guard."

"The poor fellow has proved himself a faithful servant, though."

"What? That colt?"

"A boy's freak. He did not behave dishonestly."

"Well, I do not trust him yet Jack; but I may be wrong. Let's
reconnoitre."

"Where all white Mary?" said Shanter, turning back suddenly.

"In the house," said Norman. "Why?"

"Black fellow metancoly all plenty. Come mumkull."

At that moment Mrs Bedford appeared at the door, and stepped out, but
stopped as Shanter uttered a fierce yell and gesticulated, imitating the
throwing of a spear and battering of some one's head.

"Baal white Mary come along," he cried, running to the captain. "Marmi
say go along."

"Run and tell your mother and the rest to keep in the house," said the
captain sharply to Rifle, and the black nodded in satisfaction; but he
grew furious again, and seized the captain's arm as h