ne else, but he had no idea what,
till it was as if something cracked in each ear and he started with his
eyes wide open, to see that the sky above was all of a deep red glow,
and on looking round him there were faces and mules, and packs lying
just as if they had been taken off the mules' backs.

"He's coming round now," said a familiar voice, and then he started
again, to find that everything was clear, and that he was looking in the
doctor's face.

"Is he?" said Ned sharply, in a voice that he did not know for his own.
"Has he been very bad?"

"Worse than any of us, Ned, my boy," said another familiar voice.

"Is that you, father?" cried Ned.

"What's left of me, my boy. I began to think we should never shake
hands again. You two fellows saved our lives."

Ned was silent, and lay with his hand pressed to his forehead, waiting
till he could quite grasp that which seemed to be dancing strangely in
his brain.

"No, father," he said at length; "I recollect now. We did try, but we
couldn't. We broke down."

"Yes," said the doctor; "but just where we could find you when we were
struggling on and nearly at the last gasp."

"I don't understand you, Mr Lee.--Who's that--Griggs?"

"Yes, it's me," said the American, "but I'm feeling pretty thin, my lad,
I can tell you. May I shake hands?"

"Why, of course!" cried Ned.

"Come away from him now," said the doctor in a whisper. "I'm rather
troubled about his head."

"Oh, it don't ache now," said Ned sharply, "and things are not going
round now. But you said Chris was better?"

"Yes. He's sleeping under the tent. I kept you here because there is
more air."

"Where are we?" asked Ned anxiously.

"Just in the same spot as when we found you, with the mule broken-down
under the heavy load of water."

"Of course. I remember it all now," cried Ned excitedly. "I broke down
first, and after I got better it was poor old Chris. But he's all right
now?"

"He will be soon," said the doctor.

"Can you tell us how far it is to the water, Ned?" said Wilton, making
himself heard for the first time.

"No," said Ned thoughtfully, "but I'm afraid it's a long way. Why?"

"Because we've finished one of the barrels and half of the other, my
boy," said Bourne. "We must be getting on again, then, doctor?"

"Yes; as soon as they can sit their horses."

"Can't be very far, sir," said Griggs, "because of the time they were
away. Say, Ned, my lad, can you tell us w