hem well over his
shoulder, got up slowly by a great effort and essayed to start, then
reeled, and recovered himself, reeled again, and fell headlong with his
load.

He raised himself slowly to his knees, and looked pitifully from one to
the other, and then at his load.

"I'm no good," he said in a whimpering tone. "I never was no good to
nobody, and I never shall be."

"Bah! stuff!" cried the major. "Here, untie them, and tie two, two, and
four together, Mark. I'll take four, and you a pair each."

"Let's make Bruff carry two," said Mark, as soon as the birds were
freshly disposed, and hanging a pair pannier fashion over the dog's
back, leaving thus a pair apiece, they started, after a vain attempt on
the part of the stowaway to obtain permission to carry four.

Bruff protested at first, and seemed to consider it to be his duty to
lie down and get rid of his load; then when it was replaced, with stern
commands to him to carry it, he took upon himself to consider that it
must be carried in his jaws, when Jack bounded to his side and began to
pick out the feathers.

But after a little perseverance the teachable dog bore his load well
enough, and the little party trudged back over the firm sand. They made
a pause by the clear water for refreshment and then went on again, but
only slowly, for the stowaway was very weak and the heat great, while it
was piteous to see the brave effort he made to keep up with his load.
This at last was plainly too much for him, and he was relieved, Mark and
the major taking it in turns.

But even then it was all the poor fellow could do to keep on walking,
and the journey back proving longer than they had imagined, it was night
and quite a couple of miles away when Jimpny broke down.

"I don't mind, gentlemen," he said; "I shall be so near the camp that I
sha'n't mind."

"Near the camp!" cried the major; "why, we are nearly an hour's walk
away."

"Yes, sir; but that can't matter now. I know that there's someone in
the place and that my trouble's over, so I can lie down here in the soft
sand and go to sleep till morning, and then I shall be able to come on."

"Here, Mark," said the major decisively, "pick out a comfortable spot
somewhere. Here, this will do--by this point. We'll settle down here.
Leave the birds, my lad, and go on with the dog. Ask the captain to
send three men to help us back into camp. I'll stay with Jimpny till
they come."

"No, no, sir. I shouldn'