nd time to
exchange a word. By sunset indeed he was so worn out with toil and
anxiety that he could scarcely stand upon his feet. Jeekie, who all
that afternoon had been strangely quiet and reflective, surveyed him
critically, then said:

"You have good drink and go sleep a bit, Major. Very good little
shelter there by Miss Barbara's tent, and you hold her hand if you like
underneath the canvas, which comforting and all correct. Jeekie never
get tired, he keep good lookout and let you know if anything happen, and
then you jump up quite fresh and fight like tom-cat in corner."

At first Alan refused to listen, but when Barbara added her entreaties
to those of Jeekie he gave way, and ten minutes later was as soundly
asleep as he had ever been in his life.

"Keep eye on him, Miss Barbara, and call me if he wake. Now I go give
noble lord his supper and see that he quite comfortable. Jeekie seem
very busy to-night, just like when Major have dinner-party at Yarleys
and old cook get drunk in kitchen."

If Barbara could have followed Jeekie's movements for the next few
hours, she would probably have agreed that he was busy. First he went
to Aylward's tent, and as he had said he would, gave him his supper,
and with it half a bottle of whisky from the stores which he had been
carrying about with him for some time, as he said, to prevent the
porters from getting at it. Aylward would drink little, though as his
arms were tied to the tent-pole, Jeekie sat beside him and fed him like
a baby, conversing pleasantly with him all the while, informing him
amongst other things that he had better say "big prayer," because the
Asiki would probably cut his throat before morning.

Aylward, who was in a state of sullen fury, scarcely replied to this
talk, except to say that if so, there was one comfort, they would cut
his and his master's also.

"Yes, my Lord," answered Jeekie, "that quite true, so drink to next
meeting, though I think you go different place to me, and when you got
tail and I wing, you horn and I crown of glory, of course we not talk
much together," and he held a mug of whisky and water--a great deal of
whisky and a very little water--to his prisoner's mouth.

Aylward drained it, feeling a need for stimulant.

"There," said Jeekie, holding it upside down, "you drink every drop and
not offer one to poor old Jeekie. Well, he turned teetotaller, so no
matter. Good-night, my Lord, I call you if Asiki come."

"Who are the