Well, I don't mean to stir out
till we start up country. I'd go to-night if I could. And I leave it
to you to see into this matter. It wouldn't be Christian-like, would
it, not to lend the poor fellow a hand. There, as I said before, I
trust to you, _carte blanche_, in that sort of thing to do what you
think best."

"Thank you, Sir James," said the doctor gravely.

"Oh, you thoroughly approve of what I have said, then?"

"Thoroughly, sir, and I feel very proud of our boys."

And so it came to pass that Daniel Mann--after the doctor had seen him
and had had an interview with the British Consul--was prescribed for
with the news that he would be taken upon the expedition. Thanks to
this intelligence, he looked at the end of two days quite a different
man, even after hearing from the two keepers the anything but cheering
words that they thought the governor must be mad.

Two days later the party, bag and baggage, were on their way up country
to the extreme point, the rail head, so to speak, of civilisation--the
spot where the advance guard of British troops kept back the black wave
of savagedom, and where waggons and bullocks were to be purchased and
the career of wild adventure was to begin.

CHAPTER FIVE.

DAN'S DOUBTS.

It had been a long slow journey, but every day as they ascended, the
weather, though hot, was tempered by crisp breezes which the doctor
declared to be a joy to breathe.

"Health, boys," he said. "Why, can't you feel that you are growing and
enjoying life? If you want any proof of the healthiness of the country,
look at that sailor."

"Yes; isn't it wonderful!" cried Mark.

"Yes," said Dean; "uncle was talking about it only this morning. He
asked me if I didn't see how his colour was altering."

"Oh, that's only the sun," said Mark.

"Think so?" said the doctor, smiling. "I think it's more than that."

"But it was getting out of that nasty damp oven of a port," said Mark.
"I felt horrible there, and as if I should be ill if we stopped."

"So did I," added Dean; "and didn't it make--" The boy paused for a
moment as if hesitating.

"Well, didn't it make what?"

"--Mark disagreeable," said the boy, with a merry, mischievous look.

"Oh, come, I like that!" cried Mark. "Why, you must have noticed,
doctor. Dean was nearly always half asleep, and when he was awake he
did nothing but find fault."

A short time after, when the boys were alone, Mark suddenly turned
sharply u