rned upon the disappearance of the two blacks,
and Dunn's ominous words as to the possibility of their non-return.

"I hope he is not right," said the doctor, shaking his head, "but I am
afraid he is. From your description, boys, it is quite evident that the
one made the other fully understand about the missing rifle."

"Oh, but I don't want to think, sir, that those two poor fellows are
going to get themselves killed in trying to bring it back."

"Neither do I, my boy," said Sir James, "and pretty well surrounded as
we are by these people, it is rather a lesson to us, for the doctor and
I have been talking about it that we can't afford to lose two such
useful guides and friends."

"Oh, we shan't lose them, uncle," said Dean cheerily. "They will come
trotting in some day--I mean Pig will, so as to keep up with Mak's long
strides."

"Well, I hope so," said Sir James, "and I hope too that the little feud
between us and our visitors will come to an end. What do you think,
doctor?"

"I cannot commit myself, sir, to giving any judgment upon the matter,
but I hope that our display of firmness, and the possession of weapons
that we know how to use, may keep them at a distance."

"I hope so," said Sir James, "but there will be no relaxing of our
watchfulness, and it will be very hard upon us after a hard day's work
over our researches, this taking it in turns to guard against visitors
in search of what they can annex."

"Nocturnal burglars," said Dean.

"Oh, we shall get used to it, father. But what are we going to do
to-day?"

"Ask the doctor," said Sir James. "I give myself up entirely to his
guidance. Someone will have to stay in camp, of course, on guard, and
ready to fire or whistle and give notice of the approach of any of the
blacks. What do you propose, doctor?"

"Taking two men with us to cut and slash away the growth at the first
place that we think worthy of investigation; and the sooner we are off
the better, before the sun gets too much power."

"There's plenty of shade," said Mark.

"Yes, my boy, but the trees and these towering walls cut off what breeze
there is, and I am afraid that we shall find the heat sometimes too
great to bear."

But in the excitement and labour of the next few days the heat was
forgotten, and the interest of the discovery amongst the old ruins was
quite sufficient to keep all on the _qui vive_ for any fresh object upon
which they might stumble.

They had talked