k, only that--oh, Dan said that you got hurt with a
spear."

"Oh, yes, my lad; a bit of a dig--made me so wild I brought the butt of
my rifle down on that nigger's head, and it was too dark to see, but I
felt him roll over, and I trod on him."

"Look here--look here, Buck; I'm hurt."

"Yes, my lad; but just you lie quiet and try to sleep it off."

"Now you are talking the same. I want the doctor to come and see to
Dan; and you had better let him see to you too. I say, Buck, whose
father was it somebody was asking for?"

"Whose father, my lad?"

"Yes. I was lying in the dark, and I heard somebody call out for him."

"Here, I say, Dan, lad, what's to be done?" said the big driver, in a
soft, deep growl. "Don't he know?"

"No," said Dan quietly. "A bit off his head still."

"What's that you are saying?" said Mark sharply. "What is it I don't
know? Well--why don't you speak?"

"Don't--don't talk so much, my lad," said Buck softly. "You are a bit
off your head from that club."

"Yes--yes--oh, I understand; you are trying to make me not think about
it. Ah, I can think better now. Where's my father?"

Neither of the men replied.

"Yes, I do understand more now. I know, Buck, you are keeping something
from me. Don't say my father's hurt!"

The boy waited for the answer that did not come.

"Then he is!" he cried excitedly. "And Dr Robertson?"

Still there was no reply.

"Ah, you won't tell me! Call my cousin--no," added the boy sharply,
"don't--pray don't. Speak to me yourselves; I can bear anything now."

"You had better tell him, Dan, lad. He must know."

"Can't, messmate," came in a hoarse whisper. "You are a bigger chap
than me; you tell him, for you are about right: he ought to know."

"Yes, I ought to know, Buck," said the boy softly, and he winced with
agony as he tried to raise his left hand, but let it fall directly and
caught at the big fellow's wrist with his right. "Now tell me, or tell
me if I am right, for I can think now--that cloud has gone. The blacks
attacked us last night?"

"Ay, my lad. They stole a march on us."

"And my father?"

"I dunno, my lad," said Buck hoarsely.

"The doctor, then?"

"Nay, Mr Mark, sir; it was all so dark, and such rough work, that I
heard him shouting to us to come on, and that was all."

"Well, is Dunn Brown here?"

"Nay, my lad. He turned tail and left us in the lurch."

"Oh!" groaned Mark. "But Peter and Bob Bacon?"

"The