that all my sins
are forgiven."

I pointed out to him the only way by which man's sins can be forgiven.
He turned his head from me, and said abruptly to Charley--

"You must be surprised at the change you perceive has come over me."

"For some reasons I am glad of it," answered Charley, "although I hope
it is not because you feel yourself suffering from illness."

"No," answered Captain Roderick, "I am as well as ever, still I believe
that my days are numbered. My enemies here have succeeded in destroying
my faithful dog Growler. While you were away I missed him while out
shooting, and after some time he crawled back to me with a poisoned
arrow sticking in his ribs. I drew it out, hoping that the flow of
blood would prevent the poison taking effect. In less than ten minutes
he was seized with violent convulsions, between the paroxysms of which
he endeavoured to lick my hand, and gasped out his last breath in the
attempt. He was the only friend I ever had in the world in whom I could
truly trust."

After sitting some time, Captain Roderick took up his gun and hat, which
he had placed by his side while enjoying the shade of the veranda, and
proceeded towards the house he inhabited, close to that occupied by the
king. Going in we told Harry what Captain Roderick had said.

"He exhibits very little true remorse and sorrow for his misdeeds," said
Harry; "like many men with fierce, ill-regulated minds, he is overcome
with superstitious fears, and probably his present temper will not last
very long. I only hope he will give us warning in due time, and enable
us to make our escape, we shall then have good reason to thank him."

We were now expecting the arrival of the witch-doctor, who, however, we
discovered lived at a considerable distance, and might not make his
appearance for two or three days. We scarcely supposed, however, that
he would accuse us of bewitching the queen. We felt, indeed, rather a
curiosity to see how he would proceed, than any fear of bad consequences
to ourselves. Soon after Captain Roderick's visit, Prince Kendo
appeared, and invited us to accompany him that evening on another
shooting expedition. Some elephants, he said, had been seen a short
distance off up the river, and as there was plenty of the food they
liked thereabouts they would not probably have gone away. As we were
glad of something to do, we accepted the offer, and all four of us, with
Aboh and Shimbo, set out with the