did not trouble him
in the least. The position was curious, that was all; and the last time
he heard the beast's roar Mark found himself wondering what it would
feel like to be suddenly snatched away, and he was still wondering, when
all grew utterly still and lonely and then he started, knowing he had
been asleep, but quite convinced that something had crawled close up to
him and had lightly drawn its paw across his breast.

"The lion!" he thought, and then he remembered having read about those
who had been seized by one of these great beasts having felt mentally
stunned and so helpless and free from fear and pain that they had made
no attempt to escape, and thinking that this was exactly his case, he
lay trying to pierce the darkness so as to make out the shape of the
fierce beast whose jaws might at any moment close upon his arm.

Just then one of the blacks sprang up, to utter a yawn and shake
himself, while from close behind Mark's head something leaped away,
making bound after bound.

Silence again as Mark lay listening to the one of their captors who had
sprung up, and who now uttered a long-drawn yawn and lay down again.

It must have been quite half an hour after that Mark, though he had
heard nothing approach, felt the touch of his late visitor's paw laid
heavily upon his breast, and as if fascinated the boy lay without
moving, until the paw--no, it was a hand--a small hand--was laid across
his mouth, and directly after a pair of lips, quite warm, rested upon
his right ear, and the word "Baas" was breathed therein.

"The pigmy!" thought Mark, and there was the sensation as of a great sob
of joy struggling from his throat.

That was all; but the incident meant so much. There was a friend who
was free, watching over the blacks' prisoners, and the next minute a
feeling of confidence pervaded the boy's breast, for he was now sure
that the inseparable Mak would be near at hand.

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR.

A SURPRISE.

Morning again, after a long sleep, and the rest and the feeling of
confidence that had come like an inspiration enabled Mark to partake of
some of the rough food brought to them by the blacks; and when in
obedience to the latter Mark and his companions arose, he was better
able to resume the march, which lasted till towards evening, while about
noon they passed between the two kopjes, where they were allowed an
hour's rest, and as the afternoon grew older, familiar objects made the
boys' h