the assistance of those
they were attacking, and dismayed by the fall of their chief, retreated
hastily down the knoll, and on reaching level ground took to flight to
avoid a volley fired at them by the new-comers. On came the British
party. Ned, with his heart leaping into his mouth, rushed down the hill
to meet them. In another instant his hand was being grasped by
Lieutenant Hanson and his old messmate Charley Meadows, while Tom
Baraka, springing forward, clasped him in his arms, exclaiming--

"O Massa Ned, we find you at last! I always said dat you 'live.
Hurrah! hurrah! Now him tink him die happy."

"Don't talk about dying," said Ned, "for I have found some one else whom
you will rejoice to see, and I will tell you all about it presently; but
I want to know first about my uncle and Aunt Sally and Mary?"

"Dey all well, an' de lieutenant he off dis berry coast in fine schooner
which bring us here."

Lieutenant Hanson and Charley then explained more fully what had
occurred. How they had come out in the "Hope," and how they had heard
from an Arab, one of the few belonging to Abdullah's caravan who had
escaped, that a young Englishman answering Ned's description was up the
country, and was very unlikely ever to find his way down to the coast.
They had accordingly hired the most trustworthy men they could obtain,
and set off without delay to his rescue.

"And very thankful we are to find you," exclaimed Mr Hanson.

"You could not have arrived more opportunely, for never since I have
been in Africa have I been in so great a danger of losing my life; and
now I want to break the news I have to communicate to my faithful friend
Tom Baraka," said Ned.

In the meantime Chando, prompted by curiosity to look at the white men,
had descended the hill. Ned seeing him, took his hand and led him up to
Baraka.

"Tom," he said, "I promised to find your son if I could. What do you
think of this young man? Are you ready to acknowledge him as your
little boy Chando?"

Tom gazed into Chando's face for a few seconds, then grasping his hands,
he rapidly uttered a few words which Ned could not understand. The
young black replied, and the next instant they were clasped in an
affectionate embrace. Tom's paternal feelings assured him that he had
found his long-lost boy, but a still greater surprise was in store for
him. In another minute he and Chando were rushing up the hill together.
Ned and his friends followed, and we