as he spoke, began throwing
the great birds behind a clump of rocks.

"But they have taken so much trouble to get," panted Mark.

"And I'm so hungry that I feel like a dog with a bone," snapped the
major. "I won't give 'em up without a fight. Come in here, my boy, and
I'll have a good try for it. We've plenty of ammunition, and perhaps a
peppering with small-shot will scare the blackguards away."

Mark obeyed, and the next moment, with their birds, they were snugly
ensconced in a little natural fortification, open to attack only on one
side, the others being protected by the rocks and the dense jungle.

This movement took them out of sight of their pursuer, who was hidden
now by the trees.

"Now, my boy, lay out some cartridges, and keep down out of sight. You
reload, and keep on exchanging guns. I'm a soldier, and will do the
fighting. I meant to run and leave our dinner, undignified as it may
be; but hang me if I do at the sight of a half-naked savage with a
spear."

"But there must be a whole tribe of them behind, sir," whispered Mark.

"Yes; that's the worst of it. But never mind, I'll pepper their skins,
and perhaps that will stop them. But look here, my boy, if matters
begin to look very ugly you are not to hesitate for a moment."

"Yah!"

A pause.

"Yoy-oy-oy-oy!"

This last in a different tone, but both yells were of a most savage,
highly-pitched nature.

"Another of them," whispered the major; and then, as the sounds were
repeated faintly a long way off, "There's the main body coming on.
Mark, my lad, never mind me. I didn't know what I was saying before.
Here, shake hands, and God bless you, boy! I don't suppose I shall
hurt. Run for it at once, and I'll cover your retreat."

Mark sprang up, placed one foot on the rocks, shook hands with the
major, and in his excitement and dread, as another yell rang out much
nearer, gathered himself up to spring clear of the rough scoria that lay
about, and then turned sharply round and leaped back in his place.

"What now?" cried the major sharply.

"Who's to reload if I go?" said Mark hoarsely; and he looked very white.

"I can, boy. Quick! there's no time to lose."

Mark hesitated for a few moments. On the one side seemed to be safety;
on the other, perhaps death from a set of spear-armed savages. Then he
ground his teeth, and stood fast.

"Well, why don't you go?"

"I won't be such a coward," cried Mark in a hoarse whisper.

"It is