"You were more frightened than hurt, boys," said the doctor, after
listening to their account, "and but for our guide your adventure might
have turned out badly."
"A horrible experience," said Sir James, shaking his head. "I don't
care how brave a man may be; there are times when he completely loses
his nerve. It is very plain that that was the case with our two boys."
"Yes," said the doctor, "and they would have done more wisely if they
had sat down at once and waited till Mak came to them. This he would
have done, of course. But it is wonderful what an instinct these people
born in the wilds display under such circumstances. But this is a
splendid slice of luck. One has heard and read of the pigmy inhabitants
of Africa--Pliny, wasn't it, who wrote about them?--and there were the
bushmen of farther south. I once saw one of them, a little tawny
yellow-skinned fellow, a slightly made little chap about as big as a boy
eleven years old, a regular pony amongst men, and as strong and active
as a monkey. But you say these miniature men you saw were black?"
"Oh, yes. They seemed in the darkness there darker than soot."
"Well, Sir James, we must have a look at them," continued the doctor.
"I wonder whether they are the same race as our explorers have
described."
"Oh, they may or may not be, sir. There's plenty of room in Africa for
such tribes. What do you think about them?"
"I am most interested," said Sir James, "and as the boys say that as
soon as the little fellows found that Mark's intentions were friendly
they were quiet enough--"
"Yes, father; in a dull, stupid, heavy sort of way they seemed quite
disposed to be friends. Besides, Mak seemed to do what he liked with
them."
"That's satisfactory," said Sir James. "We don't want to set the doctor
to work extracting arrows from any of us, and I am thoroughly averse to
our using our weapons against any of these people, big or little. We
had better have a halt here, doctor, for some hours, and make Mak
understand that we want to visit the tribe."
"Then you will come too, father?"
"Certainly, my boy; I shall go with the doctor and have a look at them
myself."
"Go with the doctor?"
"Yes. Well, I suppose you have seen enough of them?"
"No," said Mark; "I wanted to take Dr Robertson myself, and get him to
see if he could do anything for that poor little fellow's wound."
"I was thinking of that myself," said the doctor; "but from your
description, Mark, I am afraid that we are too late."
"Yes," said Dean gravely; "I think he's dying."
"Why too late?" said Mark. "It's only a wound."
"Only a wound," said the doctor, smiling. "It must have been a very bad
one."
"It's horrible," cried Dean.
"That's why I say that I'm afraid it's too late," said the doctor.
"These savage people, living their simple open-air life, heal up in a
way that is wonderful. Nature is their great surgeon."
"Then why didn't this one heal up?" said Mark.
"I am not a surgeon," replied the doctor, "and I do not know what may be
wrong, but I should say that the wild beast which seized him crushed
some bone, with the result that splinters are remaining in the wound,
causing it to fester. But we shall see."
"Then you will look, doctor?" cried Mark excitedly.
"Certainly, if I find our little patient amenable to treatment."
"Hurrah!" cried Mark. "When will you go?"
"The sooner the better. It rests with Sir James."
"Oh, I am ready," said Mark's father. "You had better see, boys, if Mak
has had his share of our dinner, and send him on to say we are coming."
"That won't do, uncle," said Dean decisively.
"Why not?" asked Mark sharply.
"Mak must go with us. I am _not_ going to let uncle tramp in amongst
those horrible trees without a guide."
"Quite right, Dean," said the doctor. "We must have Mak to lead the
way, and let him be our ambassador to this tribe of giants before we
approach too near. We don't want them to take fright."
"Oh, I don't think they will," said Mark.
"I think quite the contrary," said the doctor, "for I believe a little
tribe like this, who exist hiding in the forests, are always afraid of
persecution by stronger people. There is such a thing as slavery."
"Oh, yes," said Mark hastily. "Come along, Dean; let's hunt out Mak."
There was no difficulty about that, for the Illaka had had his share of
the dinner and was aiding his digestion by sleeping hard in the shade of
one of the great trees at the edge of the forest, quite regardless of
the cloud of flies that were buzzing about his head.
He sprang up at a touch from Mark, and seized his spear, but as soon as
he was aware of what was required of him, he followed the boys to where
the doctor and Sir James were waiting, the former having slung a little
knapsack from his shoulders, at which the boys looked enquiringly.
"Are we going to take anybody else?" said Sir James.
"No, I wouldn't, father," cried Mark. "We shan't want protecting. They
will know us again, and Mak will make them understand that you have come
in peace. Besides, we have got our rifles, and I know if there is any
danger Dean is such a fierce one that he could tackle the whole lot;
couldn't you, old chap?"
"Don't chaff," said Dean seriously. "Go on, Mak."
And the black led the way onward along the edge of the forest till he
reached the spot where he had dashed in after the pigmy.
"That isn't right," said Mark; but Mak only laughed and signed to them
to come on, gliding in among the huge columnar trees for about half an
hour, and in the most effortless way pressing on, looking back from time
to time to see that his companions were following him.
"Well, I don't believe he's right," said Mark; "eh, Dean?"
His cousin shook his head.
"I hope he is," said Sir James; "but we are quite at his mercy."
"Yes," said the doctor, "and I don't wonder at all, boys, at your losing
your way. I know I should have had to give up."
"It seems so far," said Dean, and he looked enquiringly at their guide,
who stood smiling and waiting for them to come on.
At last full proof of the black's accuracy was shown by his stopping
short and pointing forward.
"Well, what are you doing that for?" cried Mark, who was next to him.
"Yes, all right, father; there goes one of them."
"I don't see anything," said the doctor, who came next in the single
file in which they had pursued their way.
"I did; I saw a face peep round one of the trees and dart back again."
"Are you sure?" said the doctor. "I can make out scarcely anything in
this darkness. Ah! Can you see anything now?"
For Mak was smiling at them, and pointing with his spear.
"No," replied Mark; "but we had better go on."
Their guide, however, seemed to differ, and signed to them to stay where
they were, and then passed out of sight, leaving those he guided looking
nervously at one another.
"Well, we shall be in a pretty mess, Master Mark," said Sir James, "if
that Day and Martin fellow doesn't come back."
"Oh, he will come back, father," said Mark confidently.
"Yes," said the doctor, "I don't doubt that; only he may lose his way."
"Not likely," said Mark; "eh, Dean?"
"Well," said the latter, speaking rather nervously, "if we were back at
the waggon and you said that I should think just as you do, but now we
are here again I can't help feeling that nasty nervousness come back.--
Ah!" he ejaculated, with a deep sigh of relief, for one minute the
little party was anxiously peering about them in the deep gloom, looking
for a way in amongst the towering trees, the next their guide had
reappeared as if by magic, signing to them to come on. And five minutes
later the doctor and Sir James were uttering ejaculations of wonderment
not untinged with nervousness, as they found themselves in the circular
opening and in the presence of about a dozen of the pigmies with their
bows strung and arrows ready to be sent flying at an enemy. Every now
and then too they had a glance at a little shadowy form which glided
into sight for a moment and disappeared without a sound.
Meanwhile Mak had walked straight across to one of the little savages
and made signs to him and uttered a word or two, as he kept on turning
and pointing at the group he had led into the solitude, ending by
catching one of the little fellows by the shoulder. Then sticking his
spear into the damp earth he went through a pantomime which he intended
to suggest that there was a bad wound about the shoulders he pressed,
and pointed again and again at the doctor, and then in the direction
where the injured pigmy had been left.
"He won't be able to make him understand," said Dean impatiently. "Oh,
what a bother it is that we don't know their tongue!"
"I think it's all right," said Mark. "Look here," he continued, as
their stalwart black drew the dwarf he held towards his party.
"What does that mean?" said the doctor.
"I don't quite know," replied Mark. "These people are all so much
alike, but I think this is one I saw before, because he has got brass
wire rings round his arm. Yes, I am right," continued Mark eagerly, for
Mak raised his little prisoner's hand towards Mark and signed to him to
extend his own.
The next moment Mark was holding the little black, boyish hand in his
and pointing in the direction where the injured pigmy was nestled in his
skin bed.
"Come," said Mak. "Doctor come;" and leaving Mark holding on by the
pigmy's hand, he led the way as if quite at home, passing between the
trees, while first one and then another of the little tribe glided away
to right and left, seen for a moment, and then disappearing in the deep
shade, till their stalwart guide stopped short and waited till the whole
of the party had closed up. Then, as if satisfied that he had done his
part, he drew back a bit and pointed downward.
"Well, Mark, what next?" said the doctor.
"That's the spot where the little wounded fellow is lying," said Mark.
"But I can do nothing here in this darkness," said the doctor. "We must
have a light."
"Oh," cried Mark excitedly, "how stupid! Here, I know; Mak shall tell
them to make a fire in the opening, and he must carry the poor little
fellow out."
"Oh, I have provided for that," said the doctor, and swinging round his
knapsack he took it off and opened it, and in a very few minutes he had
struck a match, which blazed up brightly and brought forth a low murmur
of excitement from the hidden pigmies who evidently surrounded them.
"Never saw a match before," said Mark, as if to himself, while directly
after as the wick of a little lamp burned up brightly behind the glass
which sheltered its flame, there was another murmur of astonishment and
a faint rustling sound as of a tiny crowd collecting to see this wonder
which gave light like a brand taken from a fire.
It was but a small flame, but sufficient to find reflectors in many eyes
which peered behind the trees, and as by the light of this little
illumination the doctor went down on one knee beside the wounded pigmy,
who gazed up at him in wonder, he drew off the white handkerchief, the
one with which Dan had supplied Mark clean washed that morning.
"Come closer, Mark," said the doctor. "I want you to hold the lamp."
Mark released the hand of the little savage, which clung to his tightly,
and went round behind the injured pigmy's head, meeting the wondering
eyes, and laying his hand upon the little fellow's head with a friendly
touch, before gazing anxiously down and watching the doctor's movements.
There was a faint gasp to follow the doctor's first touch, and a low
thrilling sound arose, evidently from a group of watchers behind the
trees.
"Medical men go through strange experiences, Mark," said the doctor, in
a low tone, "but not many have such a case as this."
"'Tis rather horrid," said Mark.
"Hold the light lower, so as to throw it just upon his shoulder."
Mark obeyed.
"Well, I suppose I had better go on," said the doctor quietly, "and hope
that I shall not have half a dozen spears stuck into me if my patient
shrieks out."
"Shall you hurt him much?" said Mark.
"I shall hurt him," said the doctor, upon whose busy fingers the light
now played.
"What a horrid wound!" said Mark.
"Bad enough to kill him from mortification!" said the doctor softly.
"Yes, just as I expected. Here's a long splinter of the bone festering
in this great wound--I should say small wound, poor little chap! I'm
afraid mine is going to be rough surgery, but this piece must come out.
What's to be done?"
"Take it out," said Mark.
"Do you dare hold his arm up?"
"Yes," said Mark, "if it's to do him good."
"It is, of course; but these people looking on don't know. Ah, lucky
thought--tell Mak to bend over and hold the light. Then you raise the
poor little fellow's arm, and I'll do the best I can."
The change was made, the doctor busied himself, and in the course of his
manipulations there was a bright flash of light as the little lantern
played for a few seconds upon the keen blade of a small knife which the
doctor took from his case, while consequent upon its use a faint cry
escaped from the wounded black, and there was a low murmur, which
sounded ominous to Mark's ears.
"Ah," said the doctor, in the most unruffled way, "no wonder the poor
fellow's in such a state. Here, Mak--water--water. Let the arm sink
down now, Mark, and take the light again. I want water, and I ought to
have a basin and sponge. What can you get the water in? I don't want
to wait while he is going back to the waggons. I can manage if you will
only bring the water."
There was probably some spring in the forest known to the pigmies, and
after some little time two good-sized gourds were brought full of the
refreshing fluid.
"Now, Mark, send Mak to get some of that fresh green moss from off the
trees."
This was done, the wound carefully cleansed and dried, a piece of lint
saturated with some of the contents of a bottle the doctor took from his
case, and the moistened antiseptic linen was applied to the wound, the
whole being carefully bandaged and secured, before the doctor rose from
his knees.
"There," said he, "this is a curious experience."
"But will he get better now, doctor?"
"I can't say. I don't know. What I do know is that I don't think he
would have lived another week with his arm in that state. It was all
going bad, from shoulder to elbow. I must dress it again to-morrow, and
then we shall see."
"Then that means that we are not going on to-morrow," said Sir James.
"I am at your orders, sir."
"No," said Mark's father; "you are captain, doctor, and I don't think we
ought to be in such a hurry to get on. I should like to see a little
more of the habits of these people and how they live. There must be a
great deal to interest us, so certainly we will stay for a day or two,
and see how your patient is."
"Well, now let's get back to the waggons," said the doctor. "I suppose
they won't try to stop us."
So far from it, the little people seemed less shy and retiring, many
more than they had seen before pressing forward to get a glimpse of the
doctor's lamp, and a low sigh as of astonishment escaped from their lips
as the light was extinguished, while a peculiar silence afterwards
reigned as under the guidance of Mak the little party started back for
the waggons.
"I wonder what they think about it all, father," said Mark, as soon as
they had reached the edge of the forest, for very few words had been
spoken while they were threading their way through the depressing
darkness, while a feeling of light-heartedness and of relief came over
all as they gazed around at the soft refulgent glow of the sunset.
"Well," said Sir James, "they ought to be very much obliged, and I
suppose they must think that we have done the little fellow good. But I
couldn't help noticing--I don't know what you thought, doctor--that
there was a something wanting in them. There was more of the animal and
less of the ordinary human being about them. Why, they were degrees
lower in the scale of humanity than our friend the Illaka."
"Yes," said the doctor, "and they seem quite to lookup to him as a
superior being. I fancy that, driven by the oppression of superior
tribes to take refuge in the gloom and moisture of this great forest,
they have never had the opportunity of making any further advance than
has come to them naturally for the supporting of their ordinary animal
wants."
"I daresay you are right, doctor," said Sir James, "but I have never
studied these things. What you say is very reasonable, and I am sure of
one thing--they displayed more timidity, more fear, than you would find
in such a race as that fellow Mak came from."
"Yes, that must be it, father; and I think we should feel just the same
if we were always shut up in that great forest."
The next morning it was arranged that the boys should be out at daybreak
to pay a visit to the roosting trees of the guinea-fowl, under the
guidance of Mak, while the doctor and Sir James were to be out with Bob
Bacon across the plain to try for a buck or two, Peter Dance being still
very unwell and stiff, and evincing a strong desire to keep away from
the boys and his master, a fact which brought forth the following remark
from Dean:
"I say, Mark," he said, after a deep fit of thinking, "both Buck and
Dunn Brown were quite right."
"What about?"
"That letting the fire out."
"Why do you say that?"
"A guilty conscience needs no accuser. He's horribly uncomfortable for
fear uncle should speak to him about it."
"Yes, but he needn't be afraid; we shan't say anything. He has been
punished enough."
It was still dark, and Dean was sleeping heavily after rather an uneasy
night. It had been a long time before he could get to sleep, and then
his dreams were tinged with a nightmare-like feeling of being forced to
go on journeying through hundreds of miles of forest where the tall
trunks of the trees were so crowded together that he could hardly force
his way between them; and when utterly breathless and exhausted he lay
down to rest he could not enjoy that rest for the trouble he had to go
through with the little thin, weird, sickly looking black, who had got
hold of his toe and kept on pulling at it to make him get up and come to
dress his wound.
"You must wait till the doctor comes," he muttered. "You must wait till
the doctor comes," he muttered again, "and--who's that? What is it?" he
exclaimed, quite aloud.
"What's the matter with you?" cried Mark, who had been roused by his
cry.
"Let go of my toe, and I will tell you," cried Dean angrily, and he
tried to draw it up, but only to suffer a sharp jerk.
"Bother your old toe!" said Mark drowsily. "What's the matter?"
"Now, none of your silly games," cried Dean, making a vain effort to
kick. "Be quiet, or you will wake uncle and the doctor directly."
"You mean you will," growled Mark drowsily. "Go to sleep."
"Go to sleep! Why--oh, it's you, is it?"
"Get up; get up. Come back--come back!" came from just outside the
waggon, and Dean was fully awake now to the fact that Mak was leaning
over the hind waggon chest and reaching in to try this novel way of
waking him up to carry out the arrangement made overnight.
"All right, Mak. Coming. Rouse up, Mark, or we shall be too late."
"Eh? Yes; all right."
A few minutes later the boys were off, double guns on shoulders and a
plentiful supply of number five cartridges in their belts, with the
dimly-seen figure of Mak striding away in front.
"I did feel so sleepy," said Mark.
"I didn't," said Dean. "I could do nothing but dream about trying to
get through the forest. Ugh!" he added, with a shiver. "It was
horrid!"
"What was horrid?"
"Being lost."
"Yes; it wasn't nice. I wonder how that poor little chap is this
morning. I hope he will get well; and I say--I wish Bob Bacon was
coming with us instead of going after the buck. He would just have
enjoyed this."
"Yes, and made black Mak jealous. He doesn't like it when he's left
behind. I say, shan't we be too late?"
"N-no, I think not," replied Mark. "Mak knows best about this sort of
thing; only we had better step out, for we ought to take back a few
brace for the larder. I say, what a lot we do eat!"
Half an hour after the grove-like edge of the forest was reached, and
waiting for a chance the boys let drive with both barrels right into a
spot where they could see the birds of which they were in search
clustering together quite low down upon some nearly leafless boughs, and
for a few minutes the Illaka was busy enough picking up the dead and
chasing the wounded runners, and tying their legs together so as to make
a bundle of the toothsome birds.
Then tramping on along the edge of the forest in search of another
resting-place, they tramped in vain, for the pintados for some reason or
another were exceedingly wary that morning, flock after flock going
whirring off before their persecutors could get within shot.
"Well," said Mark, at last, "it is no use going any farther, so we may
as well get back with what we have shot. My word, it is a poor lot! I
wonder whether the doctor has had better luck. If he hasn't, with so
many mouths to feed we shall be running short. Well, let's get back;"
and in spite of invitations from Mak to "Come, shoot," the boys shook
their heads and trudged back in a rather disappointed frame of mind.
"It never rains but it pours," grumbled Mark, as they reached the
waggon, for he was greeted by the doctor, who had been back some time,
with, "Is that all you have got?"
"Yes," said Mark sourly, for he wanted his breakfast. "How many
springbok have you shot?"
"Ah, you may well ask that. I made three misses, your father two, and
then Bob Bacon had a turn, and he says he hit, but the last I saw of the
one he shot at was when it was going like the wind."
"I say," said Mark, "what's to be done, doctor? Father said we were to
lay up game enough to last two days, and--bother! Here's Dan coming up
grinning, to ask what he's to cook this morning."
"I don't know," said the doctor; "but hallo! Whom have we got here?"
"The pigmies!" cried Mark excitedly. "Oh, doctor, I hope they haven't
come to tell us that your little patient is dead!"
"Well, it's plain enough that they have not," replied the doctor. "I
say, you mustn't talk of their being animal-like and not far removed
from the apes. Why, boys, they take me for a real surgeon, and have
come to bring me my fees."
For to the surprise of all, the little party of their find of the
previous day marched boldly up to where their white friends were
standing, two of them walking in front with their little spears over
their shoulders, and bows in hand, while they were followed by four of
their companions, each pair of the latter bearing a fair-sized buck
slung from a spear which rested on their shoulders.
There was a half-shrinking, timid look upon their sombre countenances,
but they came close up, lowered down the bucks at Mark's feet, slipped
out the spears, and then turned and fled, plunging in amongst the
bushes, and then under the pendant boughs of the outer lines of the
trees, and were gone.
"Here, hi! Hi! Hi!" cried Mark, as he ran after them; but he came back
at the end of a few minutes, out of breath. "Never got another sight of
them," he said.
"Good job!" cried Dean. "I was afraid you'd get lost again amongst the
trees."
"Were you?" said Mark. "You see, I knew better: I wanted my breakfast
too badly. I say, doctor, think of this! Where's that Dan? Hot steaks
for breakfast! But did you know that little pigmy again?"
"No. Which one?"
"One of those that came in front with a spear over his shoulder. I knew
him again by the brass rings on his arms, and--I didn't notice it
yesterday--he'd got them on his ankles too."
"No," said the doctor, "I did not notice that; but I did see that he had
a brass ferrule at one end of his spear, and another to fix in the
blade."
"He must be a sort of chief," said Mark. "Oh, here, Mak--see what your
little friends have brought!" and the boy pointed to the two small-sized
slender-legged bucks, the sight of which made the black's countenance
expand in a grin of satisfaction.
"Here, call up Dunn Brown. He will be seeing to the ponies. Send him
here, and tell Bob Bacon to come too. They will help Dan to skin and
break up the game."
It was a long speech for the black to interpret, but the names of his
camp companions and the sight of the bucks were quite sufficient, and
Mak stalked off.
It was decided to stay that day, and towards noon, when it was turning
very hot, the doctor proposed that they should shoulder their guns, take
Mak for guide and Bob Bacon as bearer of any game they might shoot, and
then walk along the edge of the forest beneath the shade of the trees.
Sir James declined to accompany them, saying that he was sure that it
would be too hot, so after explaining to the black what they intended to
do, the party started off, getting a shot or two at large turkey or
bustard-like birds, till without orders Mak turned into the forest and
led the way in amongst the trees.
"Hi! Stop! Where are you going?" cried Mark. "Let him alone. Never
mind. I meant to go into the pigmies' little camp towards evening and
see how my patient is. Mak evidently thinks we mean him to go there
now." It proved that they were some distance beyond where they had
entered the woody labyrinth on the previous day, but their guide was at
no loss, and after about an hour's walking the black set up a long, low,
penetrating, owl-like cry, which before long was answered from
apparently a great distance, but which must have been close at hand, for
before a couple of minutes had elapsed a pair of the pigmies glided into
sight, turned and led the way back from which they had come, guiding the
party through many devious windings amongst the trees, right to their
amphitheatre-like camp.
And now there was no display of bent bow and arrow drawn to the head,
but the members of the little tribe stood waiting between the trees in
solemn silence, watching their visitors to see what they would do.
"Water, Mak," cried the doctor. "Tell them what I want. You have been
here twice, Mark, and can guide me to the spot where the little fellow
lies."
"Yes, all right," said Mark eagerly, and he made one or two attempts to
find the place he wanted, but gave up, with a look of annoyance. "You
see, we came in a different way yesterday, and that has bothered me,
because the trees are all alike right round, and--here, one of you--I
mean you," he continued, beckoning to the little fellow he supposed to
be a chief. "Wounded pigmy--bad arm--doctor's come to see him. Come,
surely you can understand that?"
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Dean. "I say, Mark, you are getting on badly with
the language! I could have managed it as well as that."
"Well, go on; why don't you manage?" cried Mark. Dean accepted the
challenge, took a step or two, caught the little chief by the arm,
pointed in amongst the trees, and then put his hand to his own face and
closed his eyes as if sleeping.
The little chief watched him attentively, and then led them in between
the trees at the opposite side to where Mark had made the attempt, and
the two boys and their little leader disappeared just as Mak and a
couple more of the tribe joined the doctor with the two gourds of the
previous day re-filled with clear spring water.
The boys found the place where the injured little black was lying, as
dark as ever, but they made out that his eyes were closed, and that he
was sleeping heavily, for he had not heard their approach, and Mark was
bending down watching him intently when the doctor, guided by Mak,
silently approached.
"Asleep, eh?" he said. "Come, that's a good sign. Quite calmly too.
That's a proof that he's not in pain." But perhaps from a feeling that
others were present, the little fellow awoke with a start and stared up
at his watchers with rather a scared look till he recognised who had
come, when, though no muscle of his serious little countenance betokened
the dawning of a smile, his eyes thoroughly laughed as they encountered
those of the doctor, who knelt down by his side.
"Well, monster," said the latter good-humouredly, "you are better,
that's plain."
The pigmy raised his right hand, passed it across and gently stroked the
white bandage the doctor had secured about the wounded limb.
"Yes," said the doctor. "It's rather soon, and I'm half disposed to
wait till to-morrow."
"Better not," said Mark. "Father may have said we had better get on."
"H'm!" said the doctor, as he softly drew the little hand away and then
laid his own upon the bandage. "Rather hot," he said gently. "No
wonder, after what I had to do yesterday. Yes, it can't do any harm to
re-dress it;" and to Mark's surprise he drew out a little bundle of lint
and a roll of bandage from his breast-pocket, setting to work at once,
laying bare the terrible wound, which he bathed and cleansed, and then
after drying it tenderly he applied a fresh piece of lint soaked with
the antiseptic drops from the little bottle, which also made its
appearance from the doctor's pocket.
"I didn't know you had come prepared, doctor," said Mark, as he
supported the arm so that his companion could easily apply the fresh
bandage; and when this was done he laid it gently back by the little
savage's side, looking at him admiringly the while, for he had not even
winced.
"There," said the doctor, "I begin to think nature will do the rest for
you; but I will come in and see you again. Why, hallo!" he continued.
"I didn't know we had such an audience as this."
For every tree seemed to have a little face peering round it watching
what was going on, and some of the grave, serious-looking eyes were
undoubtedly those of the little women, none of whom now shrank away as
the doctor moved back towards the amphitheatre.
"There, Mak," cried Mark, "tell this little chief that we are much
obliged for the two springboks."
The black stared at him.
"How stupid!" said Dean. "Much obliged!"
"Well, you try," said Mark angrily. "I wasn't going to pretend to chew
and lick my lips as if the steaks were very good."
"Why not?" said Dean mockingly. "You know they were."
"Well, aren't you going to tell him better?" said Mark scoffingly.
"No, I'm not. Come on."
They made their way back, to find an early supper of venison awaiting
them, and that night the boys lay talking in the waggon about the
doctor's patient and the next day's visit, till Dean dropped off to
sleep, but only to be woke up directly by Mark.
"Don't begin snoozing yet," he said.
"Bother! What did you wake me up for?"
"I want you to practise pigmy, and teach me how to say, `Thank you; much
obliged for the venison.'"
"You go to sleep; and if you wake me like that again I'll kick you out
of bed."
"Can't; we haven't got one."
"Old Clever!"
"But I say, seriously; isn't it a pity the doctor doesn't know Illakee,
or whatever they call it? I fancy he will soon be able to make Mak
understand."
"Yes," said Dean drowsily. "Who would ever have thought he could play
at surgeon like that? I believe he could do anything if he liked."
"Yes. I will tell him you said so when we are on our way to Wonder Wood
to-morrow morning."
But Mark did not, for they did not go to Wonder Wood, as the boy called
it, for the simple reason that a strange surprise awaited them just as
Dan had announced that breakfast was ready.
"What is for breakfast this morning?" said Mark.
"Flapjack, sir, buck bones stooed, and tea."
"Tea, and no milk!" said Mark grumpily. "Why, if we had thought of
it--"
"Yes, sir," said Dan, catching him up sharply, "I did think of it, only
last night, when I was wondering what I should get ready for breakfast."
"Why, what did you think of?" said Mark sharply.
"That it would have been as easy as easy, sir, to have had half a dozen
bullocks less in the teams, and--"
"Why, what difference would that make?" said Mark. "What good would
that do?"
"Why, we could have had cows, Mr Mark, sir, and then there would have
been butter, and milk for the tea and coffee every day."