, and no
distinct consciousness where I was, I found Browne and Max bending over
me, my head being supported upon the knee of the former.

"Well, how do you feel?" inquired he.

I stared at him a minute or two without answering, not understanding
very clearly what was the matter with me, though having at the same time
a vague impression that all was not quite right. Gradually I collected
my ideas, and at length, when Browne repeated his question the third
time, I had formed a pretty correct theory as to the cause of my present
supine attitude, and the unpleasant sensations which I experienced.

"I feel rather queer about the head and shoulders," I said, in answer to
his inquiry: "I must have got a pretty severe blow. I suppose!"

"Yes," said Max, whose uneasy look ill agreed with his words and manner,
"see what it is to be blessed with a tough cranium; such a whack would
have crushed mine like an egg-shell; but it has only enlarged your bump
of reverence a little."

"Nothing serious has happened, then--no one is badly hurt," said I,
trying to look around; but the attempt gave my neck so severe a wrench,
and caused such extreme pain, that I desisted.

"No one has received any worse injury than yourself," answered
Browne--"at least, none of us."

"And the savages--what has become of them?"

"We have nothing to apprehend from them at present, I think--they have
been gone but a short time, and Morton is in the tree yonder, keeping
watch for their return--do you feel now as if you can stand up and
walk?"

"Certainly, I can; with the exception of the pain in my head, and a
stiffness about the neck and shoulders, I am all right, I believe." And
in order to convince Browne, who seemed somewhat sceptical on the point,
notwithstanding my assurances, I got up and walked about--carrying my
head somewhat rigidly, I dare say, for it gave me a severe twinge at
every movement.

"Well," said he, "since that is the case, I think the wisest thing we
can do is to leave this neighbourhood at once."

While Max went to summon Morton from his post of observation, Browne
gave me a brief and hurried account of what had occurred after I had
been felled, as related.

He, and the leader of the savages, whom I had last seen struggling upon
the brink of the height, had gone over it together; the latter, falling
underneath, had been severely bruised, while Browne himself received but
little injury.

Leaving his adversary groaning a