you did," said Mr. Hume, fervently. Then he
lifted the boy up in his arms.

"I can walk," said Compton; and, to prove it, his head rolled
helplessly on his shoulder.

Mr. Hume strode off to the river, and washed the layer of soot off
the blackened face, laved the red eyes, and moistened the cracked
lips and parched tongue. Then he gave the boy a soothing drink,
rubbed oil on his feet and face; rolled him in a blanket, and
carried him up to the camping-ground under the precipice.

CHAPTER XI

A TRAP

In the morning they packed up and made their way upstream to the
place where they had left the sections of the Okapi, for such a
banner of smoke as was still mounting from the smouldering reeds
was bound to attract inspection from the natives. They found the
hiding-place undisturbed, and, after putting the boat together, went
on down to the Congo. Slipping out upon the great river in the dusk,
they went on slowly for several miles, tied up till the early dawn,
and spread the little sail to the morning breeze. The boat had a
singular appearance, for strips of biltong were suspended from the
awning, not having been quite cured, and the buffalo-hide was
hanging over the side, in soak, to soften it for the final
treatment that would take the hair off and leave it soft and
pliant.

Compton was allowed a day off, and slept the sleep of the tired; but
the others were all occupied--one keeping watch, another steering,
and the third cleaning up. The jackal, like Compton, was unemployed,
and curled itself up by his feet, opening one eye occasionally to
see that all was shipshape. Through the morning they went, and into
the afternoon; then Venning, who was outlook-man, gave tongue--

"A sail--a sail!"

"Where--away?" yelled Compton, waking up.

"On the port bow, hull down, paddle showing."

"Then it's a canoe, you duffer, not a sail."

"A canoe it is, sir; single-handed, and bearing right down upon us.
Shall we speak her?"

"Luff--luff! and we'll pour a broadside into her lee scuppers," said
Compton, ferociously.

"She's signalling," returned Venning; "distress signal, I think."

Mr. Hume went forward and took a look through his glasses. A
solitary canoe was certainly in view, with a single boatman aboard,
who was frantically waving his paddle. Then he swept the shore for
signs of life.

"There are some people squatting just by that tall palm," he
muttered. "Have a look, Venning."

Venning made out se