hris breathlessly.

"Oh yes, my lad, as I said before; but no one had ever heard of any
coming back to be rich. I didn't go. Hadn't pluck enough, I s'pose, or
else you might have seen me come back like that poor chap there. Don't
look very rich, do he?"

"No: horrible," said Chris again. "Look, Ned; father's doing something
to him."

"Yes," said the American grimly, "and I expect we shall all have to do
something to him soon."

"What?" cried Ned excitedly.

"Dig," replied the American, almost in a whisper, and the boys looked
about at the beautiful scene spreading around, and shuddered as they
felt the full meaning of their neighbour's words.

"Ah, 'tain't nice to think about, is it, lads?" continued the American;
"much better to stop here and grow yellow oranges--not that I've found
it so," he continued, with a sigh. "It's all been one horrible
disappointment. Still one is alive and well, while that poor fellow--"

"But he's very, very old," said Chris.

"Old? Awful. Looks old too, from what he's gone through. I should say
he has starved, and been dried-up with thirst, and been hunted by those
brutes of plain Indians, and had all his seven senses driven out of him.
But maybe I'm all wrong, after all."

"Oh no: I think you're right," said Chris eagerly. "You must be."

"Must, eh? P'raps it's all my fancy."

"How could a man come like that, then?" cried Ned.

"That's what we've got to learn, my lad; but most likely we shall never
know, for, take my word, that poor chap has found his way to this place
at last as a quiet spot where he may lie down and die."

"And my father won't let him," cried Chris excitedly. "Look, he's going
to do something for the poor fellow now."

The little group moved towards where the doctor was bending over his new
patient; but he motioned to them to keep back, and all waited, watching
him for the next ten minutes, when he beckoned to Mr Bourne, who
stepped forward, to find the stranger lying motionless and with his eyes
closed.

"Dead?" he whispered in awe-stricken tones, as he gazed down pityingly
at the wasted object before him.

"As near to it as he can be to remain alive," replied the doctor. "I
can't let him lie here. Ask Wilton to help you bring the loose door
from the long shed, and we'll get him upon it and carry him there."

"Yes," said Mr Bourne quickly, and he hurried back to the others.

"Come for the physic?" said the American, smiling; but on he