The Yale expositor., 1900-08-10
CHAPTER YI.-(Contlnuedl


AS they walked toward the door
Rayburn's eyes fell on the dark bulk
o. the dead hyena beside it. A curl
GUS expression passed over his face.
He touched the dead beast with hi1
foot
Whats this, Cleland-a dead dog?'
Rather a dangerous kind of dog,
answered Cleland, smiling. 1T is a
hyena, and would have made short
work of me if had not happened to
be beforehand with my rifle,
Lucky for you. l thought l heard
a shot as l came round; but fancied
had made a mistake afterwards, "
said the other, with peculiar inton-
ton. can ugly customer to deal
It'll, and you're lucky to have es-
capped. Well, are you ready?"
They went out into the moonlit
night. Cleland led the way up from
the camp.
Il was tempted by another fellow to
take a look around before we turned
in" he said, as they walked on as
quickly as the sand would permit. 1--WE
thought we might happen to fall on
some traces of the Baggara. We got
into a jungle, and had the greatest
difficulty in finding our way out. In
the thickest part of it the other fellow
tripped and ell, his rife went off, and
he shot himself right through the
shoulder It's a nasty wound, and,
though l did the best could to ban
dage it, I'm rather afraid he won't be
able to keep it still. ran all the way
back, and have not reused anyone, |
was in such hurry to get you up to
nim."
Cleland thought this account a little
inconsistent with the leisurely way in
which he had seen Major Rayhlrn
wandering round the camp; but he
said nothing, and the two men hur-
ried on together
The ground became less arid as they
did so. An occasional mimosa-bush
dotted the sand. Presently they came
in view of what was evidently the
jungle.
You are done up, l can see," said
Rayburn suddenly pausing to look at
the other. 81 have a flask with me.
Will you take little?"
81 am all right, thank you," said
Cleland, quietly. II do not take alco-
hol, you know"
The other made no remark, but
stepped on, Cleland following. In a
few minutes they were in the very
heart of the scrub. An almost impene-
trable jungle it was, whose sharp mi
mosa-spears caught the incautious
traveller by the clothing, pierced it
through, and pierced the flesh with q
thousand sharp, thorny pricks, over
whose rough half-grass his feet STUN
bled and tripped at every step, and
whose huge twisted ropes of creeper
flung down struggling tendrils over
his neck and shoulders so that he was
caught like a fly in spiders web.
This is becoming almost impassa.
bel" Cle.and exclaimed. Where is
your wounded man, Major Rayburn ?
Is he anywhere near here?"
I'VE were quite as far as here, but
looks to me as if l had lest my bear
ings," said Rayburn. He paused and
seemed lost in thought; then started
suddenly. "Ah, see now! This
pam tree was our guide, remember
that. This is the way DR.. Cleland."
He turned aside to the left, leading
Cleland more into the heart or the
jungle than ever; then he paused
again.
will you stay here for a few min
utes while run on in this direction.
doctor, and see if there is any trace OF
my poor companion? 1 begin to feel
quite uneasy. slave a cigar while !
am away; they are the best Havanas. -
Cleland agreed, and stood waiting
while the other went on, and soon dis
appeared from sight. Cleland heard
him calling "Vanburgh! Vanburgh!
where are you, MANI" for a few min
utes; then his voice died away and
there was complete 81 ence all around