For some little time we did nothing but lie there blackened and half
choked, blinded almost, listening to the sound that came up that rift,
for the question now was whether the savages would know that we were
there, or would attribute the roar to that of some fierce beast that
their fire and smoke had destroyed.
The voices came up in a confused gabble, and we felt that if the blacks
came up the rift we could easily beat them back; but if they came round
by some other way to the rocky patch of forest where we were, our state
was so pitiable that we could offer no defence.
Jimmy had been applying cool leaves to his legs for some minutes as we
lay almost where we had thrown ourselves, seeming to want to do nothing
but breathe the fresh air, when all at once he came to where the doctor
and I now rested ourselves upon our elbows and were watching the smoke
that came up gently now and rose right above the trees.
"Jimmy no hurt now. Roast black fellow," he said grinning. "Jimmy know
powder go bang pop! down slow."
"Yes," said the doctor. "I was trying to get that last canister when I
was overcome by the smoke, and just managed to reach the bottom of the
rift. Who was it saved me?"
"Jimmy-Jimmy!" said the black proudly.
"My brave fellow!" cried the doctor, catching the black's hand.
"Jimmy come 'long Mass Joe. Haul Mass doctor up. Mass doctor no wiggle
Jimmy 'gain, eat much pig."
The doctor did not answer, for he had turned to me and taken my hand.
"Did you come down, Joe?" he said softly.
"Of course I did," I replied quietly, though I felt very uncomfortable.
"Thank you!" he said quietly, and then he turned away.
"Black fellow hear powder bang," said Jimmy, grinning. "Tink um big
bunyip. All go way now."