s own tongue, then closed the door with a clang. Placing their
rifles against the wall, and throwing down the knapsacks which had been
recovered, the missionary's first act was to push the rude bolt, and
offer up fervent thanks for the protection vouchsafed them during their
late danger.

The water-buckets were put into use, the knapsacks rummaged, and then
the two sat gazing in silence over the river.

"We must manage a passage with our friend, Weber," said Wyzinski, at
last.

"I don't know how it is, I don't feel any interest in anything,"
languidly replied Hughes. "These shivering fits upset me. The fever
has its hold of me."

"I wonder whether they have any quinine? What a miserable, tumble-down
set of wretched hovels these Portuguese have here. A town of thirty
houses."

"The country looks fertile, and the colony should prosper," languidly
returned Hughes, shivering heavily from head to foot, and his face
flushing as he spoke. "Those are curiously-shaped sugar-loaf hills, the
river flowing between us and them. The thick forest stretches beyond,
and how beautiful the distant mountains seem."

"Those are the hills of the Morumbala range, but what interests me more
is yonder boat, swinging to her anchor. She is of English build, has a
small cabin, and pulls eight oars. I should like to drop down the
Zambesi to-morrow. There must be traders at Quillimane, sailing to
Natal or the Cape."

Here a prolonged, and painful shivering fit took possession of Hughes,
gradually and rapidly increasing to such an extent, as soon to
incapacitate him even from talking. That night the pulse was beating at
a fearful pace, the temples throbbed nearly to bursting, and the
terrible shivering fits shook his frame. The following day the brain
was affected and the sufferer went once more through the scenes he had
lately acted. The missionary dragged his cot to that of his sick
comrade, and Captain Weber shared his watch, but the resources of the
fort were very small, and but for his strong constitution the chances
were against recovery.

The morning of the third day, there was a great bustle within the walls
of the ruined fort. Weber came to say good bye. The Portuguese envoy
had arrived from Tete, the agreement had been made, and the captain of
the merchantman was to drop down the river that morning to finish his
preparations.

Hughes was wandering, and did not know him. "It shall go hard but that
you shall have