t out thoroughly.
"It is quite clean now for Master Koodoo," he observed.

"Now, boys, take off your new pet, and try how quickly, by gentle
treatment, you can tame it."

"I must ask Chickango and Igubo to get me one," exclaimed Bella. "I
should like to have a beautiful creature like that for a pet, and I am
sure I could soon make it love me."

"That must depend on whether one happens to jump into a pit," said Leo.
"That was the way this one was caught. The mother managed to scramble
out, but was shot while attempting to help her young one."

"Yes, and it seemed very cruel to kill the creature at such a moment. I
should not like to have done it," observed Natty.

"That I am sure of," whispered Bella. "Natty would never wish to hurt
any creature."

The boys now led off the little koodoo. Stanley soon afterwards
arrived, followed by Jack, with some beautiful birds and several
rock-rabbits which they had shot. They congratulated me warmly on being
so much better. I caught sight also of Timbo, Igubo, and his two sons.

"What has become of Chickango?" I asked, afraid, from not seeing him,
that some accident had happened.

"The faithful fellow has gone to Walfish Bay with Senhor Silva," said
Stanley. "We attempted in vain to find a native who would carry our
message, and at last our Portuguese friend, though knowing the fearful
risks he will run, undertook the journey, when Chickango insisted on
accompanying him."

"Well, Mr Crawford, I am main glad you are getting well again,"
exclaimed Jack, when the rest of the party had retired. "I would have
given my right hand for your sake, and often when I thought you were
going to slip your cable, I was ready to burst out a-crying; but, as
Timbo says, God is very merciful, and now I hope you will come round
pretty quickly, since you have weathered the worst point, where, so to
speak, there were most rocks and shallows, and are now in smooth water."

I saw Timbo watching at a distance, and as soon as Jack had gone, he too
came up.

"Oh, Massa Crawford, it do my heart good to see your eye bright again,
and colour come back to de cheek. Me now no fear. You soon all right.
I pray God night and day dat you get well, dat I do, and I go on praying
still, for God hear de prayer of de black fellow, just as he hear de
white man. Oh, Massa Crawford, it a great t'ing to be able to pray. If
I no do dat I t'ink my heart sink down to the bottom of de river where
de croco