earts bound and sink again with despair. For they were convinced
now that before night they would reach the ruins, where the blacks who
had made the first attack would be doubtless awaiting the portion of
their tribe who had been so successful in their raid after the escaped
party.

There was no doubt about it now, and as the boys walked together their
countenances showed the emotions that swelled their breasts.

At one time their hearts seemed to sink lower with despair, and when
this was at its worst, hope would come again as they marked portions of
the ruins which they had visited; clumps of trees that had afforded them
shade; plains that had never failed to furnish them with bucks when out
with the rifle.

Later on they caught again and again rays that darted, reflected from
the river which had supplied their fish. Several times too they sprang
coveys of the partridge-like birds that had been so welcome to their
table; and at such times as this, with the full intent of cheering up
the drooping spirits of Mark, little Dan had drawn his attention to a
drove of antelopes or a flock of birds, with some merry suggestion
connected with his old fire place--his kitchen, he termed it--at the
ruins.

Mark smiled feebly, and Dan shrank away to the side of Buck.

"I didn't do much good, messmate," he said, "but it's wonderful how he's
kept up. It's my belief, and I says it 'cause I know, and no one
better, what it was to be as weak as a cat and as sick as a dog after my
fever--it's these 'ere plains as does it. Soon as I had started up
country I began to grow. One day I was like a little kid--just a baby,
you know. Next day I was a toddler just beginning to walk. Next day I
was a little boy as could run; and so I went on breathing and growing
till--you know what I was like, feeling as if I was alive again, and I
was a man ready and willing for aught."

Buck grunted and frowned at the ruins they were approaching.

"What's the matter, messmate? Cheer up, can't you!"

"Can't, Dan. I'm a-thinking of my two span of bullocks."

"Oh, they'll be all right."

"Not they, Dan. I know what these blacks are. They will have sat down
for one of their great big gorges. But if they have eaten six-and-forty
of my bullocks I'll never forgive them--there!"

"Well, we shall soon see, messmate."

"I'm afraid, my lad, as we shan't see."

"Well, but I didn't finish," said Dan. "I was talking about Mr Mark.
The way in which