l But hadn't we better
let him try what he can do?"

"Yes, I suppose we had," said Lavie, after a pause. "I can do nothing
for him; and though it is true that the poison is slow in its action,
yet it is fatal unless its effects are checked. I'll go and speak to
the man."

He stepped up to the stranger, and in a few hurried words described the
condition of his patient. The newcomer nodded his head.

"Euphorbia poison," he said; "but I trust we shall be in time. Have you
any means of heating water?"

"I have some water nearly boiling in the iron pot here."

"That is well. Be so good as to put some into this cup; rather more
than half full, if you please."

He took one of the egg-shaped fruits, and pounded it in the hot water.
When it had been reduced to a fluid state, he signed to Lavie to lift
Frank's head, and then poured the mixture down the lad's throat. Then
covering him up as warmly as he could, he sat down by his side, and took
his hand.

He sat there, without speaking, for nearly three-quarters of an hour;
then he looked up and said--

"Let us give thanks to God. The boy's life will be spared. He is
beginning to sweat profusely. We have now only to keep him warmly
covered up, and the effects of the poison will pass off."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE STRANGER'S STORY--GEORGE SCHMIDT--IMPORTANT NEWS--THE COMMANDO
SYSTEM--THE ROOT OF THE MATTER--A BAND OF MARAUDERS.

"Have you practised your profession in this country for very long?"
asked Nick of their visitor, as they sat over their supper an hour or
two later in the evening.

The latter smiled. "Yes," he answered, "for nearly fifteen years. But
are you sure you know what my profession is?"

"Are you not a doctor?" rejoined his questioner.

"Well, I suppose I may call myself a doctor," was the reply, "but a
physician of the soul, not of the body--though, as you have seen, I have
picked up a little knowledge of body-curing too, in the course of my
travels."

"A missionary!" exclaimed Warley. "I am so glad. I have been so hoping
that we might fall in with one. But we were told that there had never
been more than a very few in Southern Africa, and even they had now left
it."

"I am sorry to say you heard no more than the truth," said the stranger.
"But I trust there is a better prospect now."

"I am glad to hear it," observed Lavie. "I guessed what your employment
was, and was afraid you might be in trouble, if not in danger. When