menced supper without waiting for them. Grace and I sat down, but
could eat nothing. Oliver had scarcely recovered his strength, and I
was afraid that he might have been seized with the same sort of attack
as he was a short time ago. It grew darker and darker, and very rapidly
night came down upon us. Still no sign of the missing ones. Mr Tarbox
proposed going out to search for them with torches. Roger Trew and
Potto Jumbo agreed to accompany him. A supply of dammar torches was
soon manufactured, and each carrying a bundle on his back, with one in
one hand and a gun in the other, they sallied forth. As long as they
could find their way, there would be less danger moving through the
forest at night with torches than in the day-time, as savage beasts and
snakes avoid the light, and only harmless moths and bats fly against it.
In my eagerness I should have liked to have gone with them, but they
would not hear of it. Merlin, however, having performed his duty in
watching over us, when he saw them going out, quickly followed, and of
course he was likely to be of use in searching for the lost ones. Mr
Hooker and the mate were not so strong as they were before their
illness, and were therefore easily persuaded to stay behind. They tried
to keep up my spirits, and reminded me that my uncle was so well
acquainted with the country, that he was not likely to have got into any
danger himself, or to have allowed his companions to do so.

Often Grace and I ran out to the verandah to watch for them, hoping to
see the bright light of the torches re-appearing along the path. How my
heart bounded when at length I heard a shout and saw a gleam of light in
the distance! It grew brighter and brighter, and then I could make out
several people carrying torches. I tried to count them. I saw three,
and then a fourth figure. There ought to have been six. I could
distinguish my uncle from his tall figure and peculiar dress. Then it
seemed to me as if they were carrying something between them. In vain I
looked for Oliver, whom I should have known by his being shorter than
the rest. We ran down the steps to welcome them, and inquired what had
happened.

"Don't be alarmed, Miss Emily," I heard Roger Trew, who came first,
exclaim. "Your uncle is all right, but Oliver--" Oh, how my heart sank.
"Well, he has been somewhat hurt. He will come round, though; don't be
afraid, miss. Poor Tanda, it has been a bad job for him."

Befor