ing up from time to
time at his fellows with their prisoner.

I wanted to turn myself round and look in the direction whence the sound
came, for I felt now that it was no fancy, but that Gyp had been really
with me, and that this was he forcing his way to my side again.

I could not turn, though, without giving myself great pain, for now my
wrists and ankles were fearfully swollen and tender, so I lay still,
waiting and wondering why the dog was so long.

Then the rustling ceased altogether, and I was beginning to think that
the dog had failed to get through and would come round to the front,
when there was a faint rustle once more, and I was touched on the
shoulder.

But it was not by Gyp's paw; it was a small black hand laid upon me;
while, on looking up, there in the dim light was the face of the boy I
had encountered on the previous day, or whenever it was that I was
struck down.

He showed his teeth and pointed to the savage on guard, laying his hand
upon my lips as if to stay me from making any sound. Then he looked at
my wrists and ankles, touching them gently, after which he laid his hand
very gently on the back of my head, and I knew now why it was that I was
suffering such pain.

For, lightly as he touched me, it was sufficient to send a keen agony
through me, and it was all I could do to keep from crying out.

The boy saw my pain, and looked at me half wonderingly for a few moments
before stooping low and whispering in my ear.

I felt so sick from the pain that I paid little heed to his words; but
whisper or shout it would have been all the same, I could not have
understood a word.

So faint and strange a sensation came over me that all seemed dim, and
when I once more saw clearly I was alone and the crowd of blacks had
disappeared, taking with them Jimmy--if it had not all been a dream due
to my feverish state.

Just then, however, a couple of blacks came up with the boy straight to
the door of the hut, and while the latter stood looking on, the men
applied a roughly made plaster of what seemed to be crushed leaves to my
head, and then examined my wrists and feet, rubbing them a little and
giving me intense pain, which was succeeded by a peculiar, dull warm
sensation as they pressed and kneaded the joints.

While they were busy the boy went off quickly, and returned with a
handful of plum-like fruit, one of which he placed to my dry lips, and I
found its acid juice wonderfully refreshing.

T