His skin, already bronzed by many years at sea, had become nearly of a true Kaffir hue, while his fur clothing very much resembled a herald's tabard, only it was longer to the knee, not so high at the throat, and was joined at each side; from this garment emerged his brown muscular bare legs and arms, while it was surmounted by his weather-beaten face, topped by grizzled hair, and covered half-way up by a large, unkempt, iron grey beard. "Well, Jack," I exclaimed, my own language sounding strangely in my ears, "'pon my life I don't see what you had to laugh at in me, for your toggery is no better." "No, my stars, it ain't; but who'd ever have believed to have seen another Christian dressed out like myself? But it's all compulsion, Dick--it's all compulsion; and if heaven wills it to be so, as the young minister says, I oughtn't to have any objection." "Ah, that reminds me," I interrupted quickly; "where is Mr Ferguson? I hope that he, like us, is safe. You can't tell, Jack, how often I have thought, during the last twelve months, about his words, even to trying a little bit of his business myself." "What; preachifying! You don't mean to say you've turned missionary?" "Not quite," I laughed; "but any man with religion in his heart would try, I am sure, to cast some seeds among these benighted people, hoping that they might take root. But where is Mr Ferguson--I am so anxious to see him; you can't tell how anxious? Remember you have always had a companion to talk to, while I have been alone." "True, Jack, true," responded Thompson, again affectionately wringing my hand. "Come along; I'll lead you to his hut, where I trust to find he's come safely out of the dangers of this terrible night. Why, how did those black fiends manage so to surprise us?" "About the same way," I said, "that the tribe you are with would have managed it the other night, if, fortunately through my means, we had not been prepared for them. But do come along and I'll tell all about this afterwards, for I want to know if Mr Ferguson is safe; you cannot imagine how I have grown to like him." "Yes, I can, for I feel the same, Dick; that young missionary can do what he likes with me, else I think I should have long ago given some of these black fellows such a drubbing that I shouldn't have been permitted to live many minutes afterwards. I should have sought him out directly I could have got rid of the ruins of the hut, had it not been for my joy at seeing you." Thompson now moved quickly on, and proceeded to a small hut a little way off, which he entered, but instantly re-appeared, his face indicating much alarm--for he had found the place empty. "I can't tell where he's gone," he said, "but he's not there. We must seek him. If none of those bloodthirsty fiends you brought--" "_I_ brought, Jack!" "Well, who brought you; if they haven't hurt him, none of our tribe would I am sure, for they respect him too much."