ght in sight of a second encampment.

"Keep the dog quiet if you can, lad," whispered the major, peering among
the trees. "Can't see their attap [see note 1] huts, but there are
plenty of fruit-trees."

"Have they seen us?" whispered Mark.

"Impossible to say. You go along first between those trees bearing to
the right. Stoop. I don't want you to get a notice to quit in the
shape of a spear."

Mark obeyed, and went on as swiftly and as silently as he could, so as
to reach the path they had made in coming, and to this end he had to
quit the denser shade and pass through a clump of foliage plants and
flowering bushes of the loveliest hues.

The way seemed easy, and the bushes were not so closely together, but
the ferns were enormous, their fronds stretching out in all directions
and having to be pressed aside.

"Never mind me," whispered the major, as Mark held an unusually large
frond aside. "Bear down more to the right and strike the stream. We
mustn't leave those pigeons."

Mark forced his way on, with the growth completely hiding him from his
companion, while the heat seemed to be more and more oppressive. It was
a dank stewing heat, very different to the scorching of the sun out in
the more open parts, and both were longing to get to a spot where they
could breathe more freely, when Mark, who was about six yards ahead,
leaped down into a little hollow to save himself from a fall, his feet
having given way as he trod upon the rotten roots of a large fern.

It was a matter of a few instants, for as the lad alighted he found that
it was upon something soft and elastic, and at the same moment there was
a disturbance among the undergrowth and a sharp angry hiss.

He bounded back with a faint cry of horror, turned, and taking rapid aim
at the spot where he had leaped fired downward.

"Quick! load again," said the major.

"A great serpent," panted Mark, obeying with nervous fingers.

"Killed him?"

"Don't know, sir," said Mark, staring down among the ferns and arums
which filled the hole.

"Must have killed him, for he does not move. Squat down. We don't want
the savages to see us. They are sure to come."

"Let's run."

"What? The gauntlet? No, thank you, my boy. We are safer here.
Hist!"

They crouched there listening for the sounds of the enemy's approach,
but all remained silent. Mark could hear his heart beating with
excitement, and he found himself wondering why it was that he, with