lf, for somehow, I cannot tell
you why--and perhaps after all it was fancy--I felt sure that we should
not be long now before we met with some adventure.

I did not like to say anything of this kind to the doctor, for I felt
that if I did he would laugh at me; but I took the first opportunity I
could find of confiding in Jack Penny.

He looked down at me and then seemed to wave himself to and fro, looking
at me in a curious dreamy fashion.

"Do you think that? do you feel like as if something is going to
happen?"

"Yes," I said hastily. "I don't ask you to believe it but I cannot help
thinking something about my curious feelings."

"Oh! I believe you," he said eagerly. "Oh! I quite believe you, Joe
Carstairs. I used to feel like that always on mornings when I woke up
first, and so sure as I felt that way father used to be going to lick
me, and he did. I should put fresh cartridges in my gun if I was you.
I'll keep pretty close to you all day and see you through with it
anyhow."

But Jack Penny did not keep his word, for somehow as we were journeying
on in the heat of the day looking eagerly for a spring or river to make
our next halting-place we were separated. I think it was Jack's back
wanted a rest. Anyhow I was steadily pushing on within shouting
distance of my companions, all of whom had spread out so as to be more
likely to hit upon water.

It was very hot, and I was plodding drowsily along through a beautiful
open part dotted with large bushes growing in great clumps, many of
which were covered with sweet smelling blossoms, when just as I was
passing between a couple of the great clumps which were large enough to
hide from me what lay beyond, I stopped utterly paralysed by the scene
some fifty yards in front.

For there in the bright sunshine stood a boy who might have been about
my own age intently watching something just beyond some bushes in his
front, and the moment after a small deer stepped lightly out full in my
view, gazed round, and then stooped its graceful head to begin browsing.

The boy, who was as black as ebony and whose skin shone in the sun,
seemed to have caught sight of the deer at the same moment as I, for he
threw himself into position, poising the long spear he carried, resting
the shaft upon one hand and bending himself back so that he might get
the greatest power into his throw.

I had seen Jimmy plant himself in the same position hundreds of times,
and, surprised as I