ace that I had forgotten it.

"What's that, my lad?" he whispered; "is that bush moving, or are my
eyes playing me false. It must be on the move. It is some trick. Fire
at once and stop it, or we shall be taken in the flank."

I raised my gun as I saw the bush moving slowly on towards us, now
coming a yard or two and then stopping; but I was so giddy and confused
that I lowered it again, unable to take aim. This took place again and
again, and at last I lay there scanning as in a nightmare the coming of
that great green bush.

The doctor was watching with bloodshot eyes the enemy on his own side,
Jack Penny was busy on the other, and the command of this treacherous
advancing enemy was left to my gun, which seemed now to have become of
enormous weight when I tried to raise it and take aim.

"It's all a dream--it is fancy," I said to myself, as I tried to shade
my eyes and steady my gaze; but as I said this the bush once more began
to glide on, and the black patch I saw beneath it must, I felt, be the
leg of the savage concealed behind.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

HOW JIMMY TURNED UP A TRUMP.

Even then I could not shoot, but remained staring, helplessly fascinated
for a few minutes by the coming danger. At last, though, I turned to
Ti-hi, leaning back and touching him where he crouched, busily seizing
upon the arrows that came in his way and sending them back.

He crept up to me directly and I pointed to the bush.

His eyes glistened, and bending forward he drew an arrow to the head,
and was about to send it winging into the very centre of the bush when
we suddenly became aware of some strange excitement amongst the savages,
who undoubtedly now caught sight of the bush for the first time and sent
a flight of arrows at it.

The effect of this was that he who had been making use of it for a
shield suddenly darted from behind it and made for our shelter.

"Aroo, Aroo!" exclaimed the men with us, yelling with delight, while to
cover his escape we all fired at the savages, who had come out of their
concealment, but only to dart back again, for one after the other three
large stones came bounding down the mountain side, scattering the enemy
to cover, and the duel once more began, with our side strengthened by
the presence of a brave fighting man, and refreshed, for Aroo had his
water calabash slung from his shoulders, containing quite a couple of
quarts, which were like nectar to us, parched and half-dying with
thi