advantage of every open part of the forest that was not
likely to show traces of our passage, and obliged blindly to trust to
Mr Francis as to the way.

It was weary work, but no one seemed to mind, each, even Jack Penny,
taking his turn at the end of one of the bamboos; and when at last the
morning broke, and the bright sunshine showed us our haggard faces, we
still kept on, the daylight helping us to make better way till the sun
came down so fiercely that we were obliged to halt in a dense part of
the forest where some huge trees gave us shade.

Mr Francis looked uneasily about, and I caught his anxious gaze
directed so often in different directions that I whispered to the doctor
my fears that he had lost his way.

"Never mind, lad," replied the doctor; "we have the compass. Our way is
south towards the coast--anywhere as long as we get beyond reach of the
blacks. No, don't disturb him, let him sleep."

I was about to draw near and speak to my father, in whose careworn
hollow face I gazed with something approaching fear. His eyes were
closed, and now, for the first time, I could see the ravages that the
long captivity had made in his features; but, mingled with these, there
was a quiet restful look that made me draw back in silence from where
the litter had been laid and join my companions in partaking of such
food as we had.

Watch was set, the doctor choosing the post of guard, and then, lying
anywhere, we all sought for relief from our weariness in sleep.

As for me, one moment I was lying gazing at the long unkempt hair and
head of him I had come to seek, and thinking that I would rest like
that, rising now and then to see and watch with the doctor; the next I
was wandering away in dreams through the forest in search of my father;
and then all was blank till I started up to catch at my gun, for some
one had touched me on the shoulder.

"There is nothing wrong, my lad," said the doctor--"fortunately--for I
have been a bad sentry, and have just awoke to find that I have been
sleeping at my post."

"Sleeping!" I said, still confused from my own deep slumbers.

"Yes," he said; "every one has been asleep from utter exhaustion."

I looked round, and there were our companions sleeping heavily.

"I've been thinking that we may be as safe here as farther away,"
continued the doctor; "so let them rest still, for we have a tremendous
task before us to get down to the coast."

Just then Jimmy leaped up stari