These last few days, he's been positively hilarious. Yesterday he was cracking jokes with the natives. DICK. [_Dryly._] Scotch jokes. I daresay they sound funny in an African dialect. DOCTOR. I've never seen him more cheerful. I said to myself: By the Lord Harry, the chief thinks we're in a devil of a bad way. DICK. Thank Heaven, it's all over now. We've none of us had any sleep for three days, and when I once get off, I don't mean to wake up for a week. DOCTOR. I must go and see the rest of my patients. Perkins has got a bad dose of fever this time. He was quite delirious a while ago. DICK. By Jove, I'd almost forgotten. How one changes out here! Here am I feeling happy and comfortable and inclined to make a little jest or two, and I've forgotten already that poor Richardson is dead and Lord knows how many natives. DOCTOR. Poor chap, we could ill spare him. The fates never choose the right man. DICK. What do you mean by that? DOCTOR. If we had to lose some one, it would have been a damned sight better if that young cub had got the bullet which killed poor Richardson. DICK. George Allerton? DOCTOR. He wouldn't have been much loss, would he? DICK. No, I'm afraid he wouldn't. DOCTOR. Mackenzie has been very patient with him. I wonder he didn't send him back to the coast months ago, when he sacked Macinnery. DICK. Poor George, everything has been against him. DOCTOR. Some men have got natures so crooked that with every chance in the world to go straight they can't manage it. The only thing is to let them go to the devil as best they may. DICK. Alec was bound to give him another chance. [ALEC MACKENZIE _comes in_.] Hulloa, Alec! Where have you been? ALEC. I've been going the round of the outlying sentries. DICK. All serene? ALEC. Yes. I've just seen a native messenger that Mindabi sent to me. DOCTOR. Anything important? ALEC. [_Curtly._] Yes. How's the arm, Dick? DICK. Oh, that's nothing. It's only a scratch. ALEC. You'd better not make too light of it. The smallest wound has a way of being troublesome in this country. DOCTOR. He'll be all right in a day or two. ALEC. How are the others? DOCTOR. They're going on pretty well on the whole. Perkins, of course, will be down for some days longer. And some of the natives are rather badly hurt. Those devils have got explosive bullets. ALEC. Any one in great danger? DOCTOR. No, I don't think so. There are two men who are in rather a bad way, but all they want is rest. ALEC. I see. DICK. I say, have you had anything to eat lately? ALEC. [_With a laugh._] Good Lord! I quite forgot. I wonder when the dickens I had some food last. DICK. [_Smiling._] You've had nothing to-day, have you? ALEC. No, I don't think so. Those Arabs kept us so confoundedly busy. DICK. You must be devilish hungry. ALEC. Now you mention it, I think I am. And thirsty, by Jove! I wouldn't give my thirst for an elephant tusk. DICK.