tall savage entered hurriedly in
company with my guard and half a dozen more, and by signs informed me
that if I made signals again my life would be taken.

It was very easy to understand, for spears were pointed at me and
war-clubs tapped me not very lightly upon the head.

As soon as I was left alone I sat thinking, and before long came to the
conclusion that this was probably the reason why I had not heard any
signal from Jimmy, who had perhaps been obstinate, and consequently had
been treated with greater severity.

I longed for the night to come that I might have some fresh message from
the doctor, but somehow I could not keep awake, anxious as I was, and I
was sleeping soundly when a touch awoke me with a start.

I threw up my hands to catch Gyp by the collar, but to my consternation
I touched a hand and arm in the darkness, and there was something so
peculiar in the touch, my hand seeming to rest on raised lines of paint,
that I turned cold, for I knew that one of the savages was bending over
me, and I felt that it must mean that my time had come.

I should have called out, but a hand was laid over my lips and an arm
pressed my chest, as a voice whispered in good English:

"Run, escape! You can't stay here!"

"Who is it?" I whispered back, trembling with excitement. "I know!" I
added quickly; "you are the tall savage--the doctor!"

"Yes--yes!" he said in a low dreamy tone. "The tall savage! Yes--tall
savage!"

"But you are an Englishman!" I panted, as a terrible thought, half
painful, half filled with hope, flashed through my brain.

"Englishman! yes--Englishman! Before I was here--before I was ill!
Come, quick! escape for your life! Go!"

"And you?"

He was silent--so silent that I put out my hands and touched him, to
make sure that he had not gone, and I found that he was resting his head
upon his hands.

"Will you go with me to my friends?" I said, trembling still, for the
thought that had come to me was gaining strength.

"Friends!" he said softly; "friends! Yes, I had friends before I came--
before I came!"

He said this in a curious dreamy tone, and I forced the idea back. It
was impossible, but at the same time my heart leaped for joy. Here was
an Englishman dwelling among the savages--a prisoner, or one who had
taken up this life willingly, and if he could dwell among them so could
my father, who must be somewhere here.

"Tell me," I began; but he laid his hand upon my lip