g to pick up bits and
scraps of their language, so as to be able to make my way about among
the people when we were left alone.

I found the doctor was also trying hard to master the tongue; and at the
same time we attempted to make the chiefs understand the object of our
visit, but it was labour in vain. The blacks were thoroughly puzzled,
and I think our way of pointing at ourselves and then away into the bush
only made them think that we wanted fruit or birds.

The time sped on, while the captain was carrying on his trade, the
blacks daily returning from the ship with common knives, and hatchets,
and brass wire, the latter being a favourite thing for which they
eagerly gave valuable skins. My wound rapidly healed, and I was eager
to proceed up the country, our intention being to go from village to
village searching until we discovered the lost man.

"And I don't know what to say to it," said the captain just before
parting. "I'm afraid you'll get to some village and then stop, for the
blacks won't let you go on; but I tell you what: I shall be always
trading backwards and forwards for the next two years, and I shall coast
about looking up fresh places so as to be handy if you want a bit of
help; and I can't say fairer than that, can I, doctor?"

"If you will keep about the coast all you can," said the doctor, "and be
ready, should we want them, to supply us with powder and odds and ends
to replenish our stores, you will be doing us inestimable service.
Whenever we go to a coast village we shall leave some sign of our having
been there--a few words chalked on a tree, or a hut, something to tell
you that English people have passed that way."

"All right, and I shall do something of the kind," said the captain.
"And, look here, I should make this village a sort of randy-voo if I was
you, for you'll always be safe with these people."

"Yes; this shall be headquarters," said the doctor. "Eh, Joe?"

I nodded.

"And now there's one more thing," said the captain. "Six-foot Rule; I
suppose I'm to take him back?"

"If you mean me," drawled Jack Penny, entering the hut with Gyp, "no,
you mustn't take him back, for I ain't going. If Joe Carstairs don't
want me, I don't want him. The country's as free for one as t'other,
and I'm going to have a look round along with Gyp."

"But really, my dear fellow," said the doctor, "I think you had better
give up this idea."

"Didn't know you could tell what's best here,"