some sacred fire, which it was our duty to keep constantly burning."

"All that, indeed!"

"Verily, brother! The possession of these storks is not only
important--it is essential to our safety. If they should die in our
hands, or escape out of them--even if one of them should die or get
away--we are lost. Our last hope lies in them. I am sure it is our
last."

"But what hope have you found in them?" interrogated Caspar--puzzled to
make out the meaning of his brother's words, and not without wonder at
their apparent wildness.

"Hope? Every hope. Ay, something more than hope: for in this singular
incident I cannot fail to recognise the finger of a merciful God.
Surely He hath at length taken compassion upon us! Surely it is He who
has sent these birds! They are messengers from Heaven!"

Caspar remained silent, gazing earnestly in the eyes of his brother,
that were now sparkling with mingled gratitude and joy. But although
Caspar could perceive this expression, he was utterly unable to
interpret it.

Ossaroo was alike puzzled by the strange looks and speeches of the Sahib
Karl; but the Hindoo gave less heed to them--his attention being almost
wholly taken up by the adjutants, which he fondled in turns--talking to
them and embracing them, as if they had been his brothers!

As soon as the cord had been looped round their ankles, and there was no
longer any danger of their getting away, Ossaroo cut up the fish into
slices convenient for their gullets; and proceeded to feed them with as
much fondness as he could have shown to a brace of human beings, who had
arrived from a long journey in a state of starvation.

The storks exhibited no signs of shyness--not the slightest. It was not
in their nature to do so. They gobbled up the morsels flung before
them, with as much avidity and unconcern, as if they were being fed by
the side of the great tank in the Garden at Calcutta.

The sight of Fritz alone had a disturbing influence upon them; but, by
the command of Karl, the dog was kept out of view, until they had
finished the meal with which Ossaroo had provided them.

Caspar, still in a cloud, once more interrogated the plant-hunter as to
his purpose.

"Ho, brother!" answered Karl, "you are not wont to be so dull of
comprehension. Can you not guess why I am so joyed by the presence of
these birds?"

"Indeed I cannot--unless--"

"Unless what?"

"You expect them to carry a rope up the cliff."

"Carry a