natives, and almost their only
weapons for defence or attack. We seized those, and charging on the fire
as though it was an enemy, we poked away branch after branch, until we
had made an entrance sufficiently large to admit one of us, when Smith,
reckless of the heat, rushed forward and entered the hut.

We waited anxiously for his reappearance, and when he did emerge from
the smoke and flames, instead of carrying a child in his arms, he was
dragging the inanimate form of the native whom Fred had made happy with
a present of tobacco a short time before.

The native was apparently insensible; but as Smith dragged him along the
ground, and let his body drop when beyond reach of the fire, he uttered
a groan, as though half disposed to remonstrate against being saved.

"Well, of all the lazy scamps that I ever saw, he is the worst," cried
Smith, wiping his brow with his hand, and looking towards us for a
confirmation of his words.

"At least you have the gratification of knowing that you have saved his
life," cried Fred, almost inclined to laugh at the rueful look of the
convict.

"His life?" repeated Smith; "why, if I had let him roast he would have
been much more gratified than he will be when he awakes. He is going
through with a fit of digestion now, and is as torpid as a toad in
winter. Ah, you brute, eat until you can't move another time, will you?"

The convict hit the native a kick with his foot, and then went to finish
his supper, grumbling as he did so at being disturbed.

The natives, who had retained their positions around the fire in spite
of the burning hut, and danger of their comrade, uttered a low grunt
when they saw Smith drag the brute from the flames; but whether that
expression was intended for satisfaction or regret, I was too little
acquainted with the customs of the tribe to tell. They took no further
notice of either their torpid companion or our party, until suddenly an
idea appeared to enter the head of one, smarter looking than his
fellows. He got with difficulty upon his feet, leaving his burning meat
upon the coals, and waddling towards the insensible native, knelt beside
him.

"Look!" cried Fred, suspending the operation of eating supper to call
attention to the fact. "Look, and never say that the natives are
destitute of feeling again."

Fred intended to be particularly severe upon Smith; but that worthy
merely glanced in the direction indicated, and, after a brief shrug of
his sho