one day that I was a puppy."

"I say, don't, little un. You're growing too clever, and attempts at
jokes like that don't seem to fit out here in this hungry desert. Mind
what you are about, or you'll spoil the tooth."

"I'm minding; but what did you mean about your _Nil desperandum_?"

"That I'll never despair. When we've tried everything we can out here,
and failed, we'll go back home and settle in London. Something always
turns up, and you're so handy, that we'll start as dentists, and you
shall extract all the teeth."

"All right, Joe. My word! this is a tight one. But people wouldn't
have their teeth taken out with hammer and chisel."

"You could use laughing gas."

"They wouldn't laugh much, gas or no gas," cried Dyke, "if I got hold of
their teeth with the pincers, like this. I say, this is a tough one.
He never had toothache in this. You have a go: your muscles are
stronger than mine."

"No; have another try."

"But it makes me so hot."

"Never mind. Remember my crest and motto--doubled fist for
determination, and `Never despair.'"

"Who's going to despair over a big tooth?" cried Dyke, holding on to the
pincers with both hands, giving a good wrench, and tearing out the tusk.
"That's got him. Phew! it was a job. I say, they'll look well as
curiosities."

"Yes, they're a fine set," said Emson, taking out his little double
glass, and beginning slowly to sweep the plain.

"See anything?" asked Dyke, as he rose to his feet, and put the hammer,
chisel, and pincers in a leather case buckled behind his saddle, and
washed his hands, drily, in sand.

"Not yet."

"Oh, do see something! We must get a buck of some kind to take home
with us."

"Yes, we ought to get something, or Jack will forsake us because we are
starving him; and take away his wife. You'll have to cook then, little
un."

"Won't matter, if there's nothing to cook," said Dyke sharply. "But, I
say, Joe, you do think we are getting on better with the birds? Only
two chicks have died since we took home those eggs."

"Only two," said Emson, rather bitterly. "That's one a week. Easily
calculate how long we shall be in getting to the end of our stock."

"I say, what about your motto? Who's looking on the black side?"

"Guilty, my lord. Come along; jump up. We will have something or
another to take back for a roast."

Dyke sprang upon his horse, the dog gave a joyful bark, and they
cantered off, Dyke placing his rifle o