reely, and
the smoke rose up through the great crack in the rock above our heads,
and disappeared quietly amongst the trees. But we had one or two
scares: hearing voices of the blacks calling to each other, but they
were slight compared to the alarm to which I alluded above.

The men, I say, were back, having been more successful than usual--
bringing us both fish and a small wild pig. We had made a good meal,
and the doctor and I were lying on the armfuls of leafy boughs that
formed our couch, talking for the twentieth time about our plans for the
night, when all at once, just as I was saying that with a little brave
effort we could pass right through the sleepy village and bring away the
prisoner, I laid my hand sharply on the doctor's arm.

He raised his head at the same moment, for we had both heard the
unmistakable noise given by a piece of dead twig when pressed upon by a
heavy foot.

We listened with beating hearts, trying to localise the very spot whence
the sound came; and when we were beginning to breathe more freely it
came again, but faint and distant.

"Whoever it was has not found out that we are here," I whispered.

The doctor nodded; and just then Jack Penny, who had been resting his
back, sat up and yawned loudly, ending by giving Jimmy, who was fast
asleep, a sounding slap on the back.

I felt the cold perspiration ooze out of me as I glanced at the doctor.
Then turning over on to my hands and knees I crept to where Jimmy was
threatening Jack with his waddy in much anger, and held up my hand.

The effect was magical. They were silent on the instant, but we passed
the rest of that day in agony.

"I'm glad that we decided to go to-night," the doctor said. "Whoever it
was that passed must have heard us, and we shall have the savages here
to-morrow to see what it meant."

The night seemed as if it would never come, but at last the sun went
down, and in a very short time it was dark.

Our plans were to go as near as we dared to the village as soon as
darkness set in, place our men, and then watch till the savages seemed
to be asleep, and then, by Jimmy's help, seek out my father's prison,
bring him away to the cave, and there rest for a day or two, perhaps for
several, as I have said. But the events of the day had made us doubtful
of the safety of our refuge; and, after talking the matter over with the
doctor, we both came to the conclusion that we would leave the latter
part of our plan to