Later on they caught again and again rays that darted, reflected from the river which had supplied their fish. Several times too they sprang coveys of the partridge-like birds that had been so welcome to their table; and at such times as this, with the full intent of cheering up the drooping spirits of Mark, little Dan had drawn his attention to a drove of antelopes or a flock of birds, with some merry suggestion connected with his old fire place--his kitchen, he termed it--at the ruins. Mark smiled feebly, and Dan shrank away to the side of Buck. "I didn't do much good, messmate," he said, "but it's wonderful how he's kept up. It's my belief, and I says it 'cause I know, and no one better, what it was to be as weak as a cat and as sick as a dog after my fever--it's these 'ere plains as does it. Soon as I had started up country I began to grow. One day I was like a little kid--just a baby, you know. Next day I was a toddler just beginning to walk. Next day I was a little boy as could run; and so I went on breathing and growing till--you know what I was like, feeling as if I was alive again, and I was a man ready and willing for aught." Buck grunted and frowned at the ruins they were approaching. "What's the matter, messmate? Cheer up, can't you!" "Can't, Dan. I'm a-thinking of my two span of bullocks." "Oh, they'll be all right." "Not they, Dan. I know what these blacks are. They will have sat down for one of their great big gorges. But if they have eaten six-and-forty of my bullocks I'll never forgive them--there!" "Well, we shall soon see, messmate." "I'm afraid, my lad, as we shan't see." "Well, but I didn't finish," said Dan. "I was talking about Mr Mark. The way in which he has pulled up has been just like me, and he'd be just wonderful only he's so low-sperrited about his governor--and no wonder. Young Mr Dean too's just as bad, and he arn't got the pluck left in him to do his cousin no good. Heave to alongside of him and say a word or two." "All right; but who's to heave to with his arms and legs all tied together behind him like a market calf?" "Well, it arn't worse for you, messmate, than it is for me. I don't like it a bit, and it's all very well to call a fellow's arms his feelers, but there arn't a bit of feel left in mine." "No," said Buck, "and I don't feel as if I'd got any. Just look and see." "Oh, they are all right, messmate. I did think of setting to and gnawing through them canes last night; but they would only have tied them up again, and tighter too." Buck nodded, giving his companion in misfortune a friendly look, and as he was about to approach closer to Mark, he stopped to whisper, "I don't know what to say, mate, for whenever I look at the poor plucky chap and think about all he's gone through, I feel as if I should like to sit down and howl. But there, that will do. I have thought on it now."