"That is true, Sir," I replied, "and I have no desire for either one nor the other. If I had but a rifle and a few rounds of powder and ball, I would not fear, Crusoe-like, living on these shores, despite the animals and those black dancers, till I could hail a ship; but the ocean is not so kind to us as to him, and has not cast up chests containing just the things we want. Still, as to joining those gentlemen in undress below there, I confess I am rather of Jack's opinion, for those frantic movements with the spear, and demoniacal yells scarcely look friendly." "You are probably right, Galbraith; yet were I alone it would be my duty as a true soldier of my Master's cross to go among them, and try to sow in these ignorant minds the seeds of His Word, and so I would do, only I will not lead others into the danger I would run myself, for if I have not read the disposition of you two wrongly, were I to go you would follow." "That we would," echoed Jack, and I also responded in the affirmative. "But see!" continued Thompson, "what are they after?" I looked back to the spot from which my attention had been momentarily withdrawn, and perceived the chief had arisen, and with a waddling gait was moving to the hill opposite, followed by the other Kaffirs, some of whom had lifted up and were carrying the slaughtered game. As quickly as the slow pace of the fat chief would permit, they crossed the hill and vanished over the other side. When the last black fellow had gone, Mr Ferguson said-- "They are returning to their dwellings, called here Kraals, which no doubt are pretty near at hand." "Which is sartain," put in Thompson, "or that little fat man of theirs will have to be carried as well as the game." "Well, then, let us stay here till the sun sets, and when the night--as it does in all tropical countries--quickly follows, we will track them and reconnoitre more closely as to their vicinity." Agreeing upon this, the minister and I--for Jack's arm having grown stiff and sore, would not allow him to make himself useful--set about procuring bananas, nuts, and other edible fruits to stay our hunger. Even had we come across another rock rabbit I doubt whether we should have ventured to kill it, being, as we were, in such close quarters with the natives. Thompson once or twice argued that we should make again for the shore, and I half agreed with him till Mr Ferguson, overhearing a few of his whispered remarks, convinced me to the contrary by asking-- "If we did make directly back, and build a hut of rock as Jack proposed, how first should we catch the fish he mentions, and how should we obtain water? without which we must in this hot climate inevitably die of thirst and madness." This sensible reasoning convinced Jack and me also, when the minister continued--