h a man who
had never been from his civilised fellows.

He went steadily on, the doctor next, and I followed the doctor; the
rest of our little party gliding silently through the forest for quite
three hours, when Mr Francis stopped, and it was decided to rest and
refresh ourselves a little before proceeding farther.

The doctor had settled to leave Mr Francis here, but he quietly
objected to this.

"No!" he said; "you want my help more now than ever. I am weak, but I
can take you right to the hut where Carstairs is kept a prisoner. If
you go alone you will lose time, and your expedition may--"

He stopped short and lay down upon the earth for a few minutes, during
which the doctor remained undecided. At last he bent down and whispered
a few words to his patient, who immediately rose.

Orders were then given to the blacks, who were to stay under the command
of Jack Penny, and, followed by Jimmy, and leaving the rest of our party
in the shade of an enormous tree, we set off once more.

The excitement made the distance seem so short that I was astounded when
a low murmur told us that we were close to the village, and, stepping
more cautiously, we were soon close up behind a great hut.

"This is the place," whispered Mr Francis. "He is kept prisoner here,
or else at the great hut on the other side. Hist! I'll creep forward
and listen."

He went down in a stooping position and disappeared, leaving us
listening to the continuous talk of evidently a numerous party of the
savages; and so like did it all seem to the last time, that no time
might have elapsed since we crouched there, breathing heavily with
excitement in the shade of the great trees that came close up to the
huts.

It was a painful time, for it seemed that all our schemes had been in
vain, and that we might as well give up our task, unless we could come
with so strong a body of followers that we could make a bold attack.

I whispered once or twice to the doctor, but he laid his hand upon my
lips. I turned to Jimmy, but he had crouched down, and was resting
himself according to his habit.

And so quite an hour passed away before we were aware by a slight rustle
that Mr Francis was back, looming up out of the darkness like some
giant, so strangely did the obscurity distort everything near at hand.

"Here!" he said in a low voice; and bending down we all listened to his
words, which came feebly, consequent upon his exertions.

"I have been to