It was that same night again beneath the stars, and with the walls of the camp guarded--now by military sentries, though there was not the slightest fear of a return of the severely punished and scattered tribe. The two boys were seated with Sir James and the doctor, Captain Lawton having retired with his officer to one of the waggons which had been given up to them, worn out as they were with their forced march made under the guidance of Dunn Brown, when Dan made his appearance to say that Peter Dance and Bob Bacon would be glad if Sir James would see them for a minute. "Oh, yes, of course," was the reply, and directly afterwards the two men made their appearance. "Well, Dance? Well, Robert," said Sir James. "What is it?" The two men looked at one another, then at their master, ending by grinning at Mark and Dean. "Oh," said Sir James good-humouredly, "it was them you wanted to see, was it?" "Well, Sir James--" began the elder keeper, and then stopped and looked at Bob. "Oh, don't hesitate to speak," said Sir James. "Boys, these two brave fellows fought for us like heroes." "No, no, Sir James," grumbled Peter. "It was Bob Bacon." "Nay, Sir James," cried Bob sharply. "It was Peter." "It was both of them," said Sir James sharply, for he was worn out with the excitement of the day. "Peter, after we had got away--the doctor and I both wounded--nursed us both as tenderly as a woman." "Beg your pardon, Sir James," growled Peter; "not as a woman, sir." "Well, as good as a woman; and as for Robert Bacon, we should have starved over and over again but for the clever way in which he stole down of a night from the cavern, and never came back without food in some shape or another; eh, doctor?" "Invariably," replied the gentleman addressed. "Oh, it warn't anything to make a fuss about, Sir James," said Bob, changing from one foot to the other, and looking very uncomfortable. "I stole lots of it from the waggon." "Yes," said the doctor, "and risked being speared by the enemy." "Oh, no, sir, begging your pardon," said Bob modestly. "It was much too dark for that; and the two forelopers as the blacks kept to look after the bullocks always saved me a snack or two for you when one of the beasts was killed." "Well, thanks to you both, my lads, we did well. Yes, Peter; what is it?" "I only wanted to say, Sir James," said the keeper, "that--that is, Sir James--here, go on, Bob; you know what we want to say." "Yes, mate, but now it's come to the point I don't like to say it." "My good men," said Sir James, "I am too old and tired for all this shilly-shallying. So now then, Robert, tell me what it is you both want to say." "Yes, Sir James. I will try, Sir James. But you see you have been a good master to us, and now it comes to the point, though we settled it all right together, it don't seem quite fair just now for us to give you warning."