covered to proceed. In a short time not an
animal was to be seen. However, the incident greatly raised my spirits,
especially as Leo was evidently getting better. Mango and I therefore
went on building a hut, and collecting wood for a fire. We meantime
propped up Leo with the baggage and some piles of wood. While thus
employed, I saw a couple of parrots on a bough near, and fortunately
killed them; and by the time our fire was burned up, Mango had plucked
them, and they were soon roasting before it.

Night came on; but Leo was very restless, and declared that he could not
sleep. I did everything I could to soothe him, but in vain. At length
the moon rose and lighted up the whole landscape. "Me t'ink good time
go on," said Mango. I thought so too; indeed, I had become very anxious
about Leo. The camp, I hoped, was at no great distance, and I thought
it would be better to obtain assistance for him, rather than take a long
rest and have to travel during the heat of the day. Accordingly,
rousing our patient ox, which had lain down near the fire after cropping
the abundant grass, I mounted and lifted Leo up, holding him in my arms.
Mango carried my rifle, and led the animal, that I might be more at
liberty to support my young friend. On we went over the plain. We had
gone some distance, when I felt Leo resting more heavily on my arm. I
asked him what was the matter. He did not answer. I feared that he had
fainted. Telling Mango to stop, we bathed his temples, and I poured a
few drops of water down his throat. I had no other remedy. It slightly
revived him, for he opened his eyes and spoke a few words; but his
condition made me more than ever anxious to discover the camp, if such
was indeed to be found. I had already gone through a great deal of
anxiety, but nothing to equal what I suffered at present. It seemed so
sad to think that Leo might die when succour was so near at hand.
Eager, however, as I was to proceed, Leo's condition prevented me from
allowing the ox to go out of a steady walk. Still, even thus, without
any jolting, he got quickly over the ground. On and on we went, looking
about in every direction for the light of a fire which might indicate
the situation of the wished-for camp. I say wished-for, for I was not
certain that our friends were actually in the neighbourhood. Perhaps
the horsemen I had seen had come from a considerable distance, and were
in light hunting order, with merely sa