uld have wakened me, and I would have relieved him
for half the watch."

The doctor was still in the shed, but he joined the rest when breakfast
was ready, and answered the inquiries of his companions.

"A hopeless case, I am afraid," he said, "but I shall fight it out to
the last.--What? Is he sensible?" continued the doctor, in response to
a question from Wilton. "At times, but for the most part he keeps
wandering about thirst and heat, and wanting to sleep. The poor fellow
has evidently suffered terribly."

After breakfast the doctor returned to the shed, while the others found
business to do about the blighted plantations, but working in a dull,
despondent fashion, for the recollection of their previous day's
consultation about giving up was still strong in their minds.

"There, let it all go for the present," said Wilton, at last. "It's no
use to talk about future plans without Lee being here."

But the doctor was too busy with his patient to do more than join them
at dinner, with no better report, for he felt that the man was gradually
sinking. It was the same too at the evening meal, when the necessity of
some one sharing the night watch came up for discussion, the doctor
consenting to Mr Bourne taking the first half of the night while he
snatched a few hours' sleep.

The arrangement was carried out, with Doctor Lee ready and alert to take
his position by the sufferer's bed at midnight, when Bourne announced
that the patient had only moved once, to ask for water.

"I think he seems to be better. He is fast asleep now," said Bourne,
after saying "Good-night!" and then he left the doctor to himself.

It was getting on towards morning when, making a faint rustling amongst
the Indian corn-husks, the doctor bent over and laid his cool hand upon
his patient's brow.

"Who's that?" came in a harsh voice.

"The doctor."

"Water."

This was supplied, and the sufferer lay very quiet for another hour, and
then, just as the first faint streaks of dawn appeared, the man asked
who was there in a stronger voice, and upon being told, said--

"Yes, that's right; come nearer. I want to speak to you."

The doctor bent over his patient, whose voice as he spoke gradually grew
stronger and more emphatic, and he went on speaking eagerly till long
after sunrise, when he was silent for a few minutes, but only to begin
talking uneasily again.

But there was silence in the long shed that morning when Chris took in a