say, the unexpected that occurs, for all at once as the
prisoners were standing right in the middle of the kraal, surrounded by
fully a hundred of the gesticulating, yelling and spear-waving blacks,
there was the clattering of hoofs and a shrill and seemingly familiar
ear-piercing whistle.

"Look, look!" cried Mark wildly, as a feeling of rage pierced his
breast. "Look at him! The coward! He has come to join these wretches'
triumph!"

"Ah!" cried Dean excitedly.

"Then he arn't going to stop," growled Buck.

"No," added Dan savagely. "He just ketched sight of me. Oh, if I--"

He got no farther, but stopped in astonishment as great as that of the
surrounding blacks, for, whistling loudly as he galloped up on one of
the ponies, and followed by the other three, and apparently leading a
charmed life, careless too of the threatening spears, Dunn Brown swooped
at full speed into and round the kraal, and then away again out of the
opening towards the plain to join the advancing line of dust-clothed
helmeted men who, raising the genuine old English cheer, were led on by
a couple of mounted officers, and the next minute every stone and
hillock of the ruins was being occupied; a bugle sounded, and
then--_Crack! Crack! Crack_! every report being repeated scores of
times as it rattled amongst the ruined walls. The little peaceful home
of the explorers had become a miniature battlefield.

There was a wild yelling and the hurling of spears, as for a few minutes
a brave enough resistance was being offered by the savage tribe; but
soon there was the peculiar spirit-thrilling metallic rattle of bayonets
upon rifles, and then with black figures falling in all directions the
company of British infantry swept through the kraal and cleared the
little camp to line the great wall, and, taking up this commanding
position, to bring down the enemy as they fled.

It was only the work of minutes, and before long the wall at the back of
the camp had its coigns of vantage lined, and was sending forth its
little puffs of smoke, while Captain Lawton had sprung from his horse,
and cut free the prisoners, and was warmly shaking hands with each in
turn.

"Thank God, my lads, we are here in time!" he cried. "But your father--
the doctor--where are they?" he added. "Don't say that--"

"Hooray!" came faintly, quite a distant cheer, which was answered by the
men upon the wall and taken up by every British soldier within hearing,
and foll