oring looks of the
poor dog, and gave him a portion of his own share.

The usual noises of the African wilds were absent,--not even the note of
a bird was heard. Suddenly Denis lifted his head in the attitude of
listening.

"Hark, Percy!" he said. "I heard a peculiar murmur. Yes, I am nearly
certain it is the sound of falling water. Do you listen."

"I pray Heaven that you are right. I think so," said Percy.

"Well, then, do you stay here by the fire, and I'll go and look for it
alone, if you are not able to come with me," said Denis. "Keep your gun
on the cock, and your eye about you, in case any brute of a lion or
leopard should come near, though I don't suppose there's much chance of
that."

Percy tried to rise, but declared his inability to move farther, so
Denis set off. The moment Raff saw him going, he crawled after him.
Denis had taken both his own and Percy's water bottle. No sooner had he
got round the clump of bushes than he saw before him some rocks, beyond
which the ground rose, covered with shrubs, extending away to a
considerable distance; but no signs of water could he perceive. He
stopped and listened. The same sound as before reached his ears. He
could not be mistaken. He went on, until, to his unspeakable joy, he
saw a spring of bright sparkling water rushing out of the cliff, falling
from rock to rock, but instead of forming a rivulet, it was almost
immediately lost in the sand, of which the bottom of the gully was
composed. There was one part, however, which he could reach by climbing
without much difficulty. Poor Raff, who had followed him thus far, was
unable to get up to it, and looked wistfully at him, evidently
entreating to have some given him without delay. Denis, having quenched
his own thirst, filled the water bottles, and then, looking down at poor
Raff, he filled his hat also, and brought that to the dog, who quickly
lapped up the contents. Losing as little time as possible, he hastened
back to Percy.

"Hurrah!" he exclaimed, as he came in sight of the fire, "I've got some
water. You'll soon be all to rights, Percy."

But Percy did not reply; his heart sank. Could anything have happened?
He rushed forward. Percy lay gasping on the ground. He lost not a
moment in lifting his friend's head, in moistening his lips, and then
pouring some water down his throat.

Percy at length opened his eyes, and said, "Thank you, thank you; oh,
how delicious!"

Denis gave him