"Yes!" I cried excitedly. "I'm ready!"

"Stop for your lives!" said a voice at our elbow, and turning I saw Mr
Francis, with his swarthy face lit up by the fire. "You could not get
near the hut now without being seen. If you had acted at the moment the
alarm began you might have succeeded. It is now too late."

"No, no!" I cried. "Let us try."

"It is too late, I say," cried Mr Francis firmly. "The village is on
fire, and the blacks must see you. If you are taken now you will be
killed without mercy."

"We must risk it," I said excitedly, stepping forward.

"And your father too."

I recoiled shuddering.

"We must get away to a place of safety, hide for a few days, and then
try again. I shall be stronger perhaps then, and can help."

"It is right," said the doctor calmly. "Come, Joe. Patience!"

I saw that he was right, for the fire was leaping from hut to hut, and
there was a glow that lit up the forest far and wide. Had anyone come
near we must have been seen, but the savages were all apparently
congregated near the burning huts, while the great sparks and flakes of
fire rose up and floated far away above the trees, glittering like stars
in the ruddy glow.

"Go on then," I said, with a groan of disappointment, and Mr Francis
took the lead once more, and, the doctor following, I was last.

"But Jimmy!" I said. "We must not leave him behind."

"He will find us," said the doctor. "Come along."

There was nothing for me to do but obey, so I followed reluctantly, the
glow from the burning village being so great that the branches of the
trees stood up clearly before us, and we had no difficulty in going on.

I followed more reluctantly when I remembered Gyp, and chirruped to him,
expecting to find him at my heels, but he was not there.

"He has gone on in front," I thought, and once more I tramped wearily
on, when there was a rush and a bound and Gyp leaped up at me, catching
my jacket in his teeth and shaking it hard.

CHAPTER FORTY.

HOW JIMMY CRIED "COOEE!" AND WHY HE CALLED.

"Why, Gyp," I said in a low voice, "what is it, old fellow?"

He whined and growled and turned back, trotting towards the burning
village.

"Yes, I know it's on fire," I said. "Come along."

But the dog would not follow. He whined and snuffled and ran back a
little farther, when from some distance behind I heard a rustling and a
panting noise, which made me spring round and cock my gun.

"Followed