I stared at him a minute or two without answering, not understanding very clearly what was the matter with me, though having at the same time a vague impression that all was not quite right. Gradually I collected my ideas, and at length, when Browne repeated his question the third time, I had formed a pretty correct theory as to the cause of my present supine attitude, and the unpleasant sensations which I experienced. "I feel rather queer about the head and shoulders," I said, in answer to his inquiry: "I must have got a pretty severe blow. I suppose!" "Yes," said Max, whose uneasy look ill agreed with his words and manner, "see what it is to be blessed with a tough cranium; such a whack would have crushed mine like an egg-shell; but it has only enlarged your bump of reverence a little." "Nothing serious has happened, then--no one is badly hurt," said I, trying to look around; but the attempt gave my neck so severe a wrench, and caused such extreme pain, that I desisted. "No one has received any worse injury than yourself," answered Browne--"at least, none of us." "And the savages--what has become of them?" "We have nothing to apprehend from them at present, I think--they have been gone but a short time, and Morton is in the tree yonder, keeping watch for their return--do you feel now as if you can stand up and walk?" "Certainly, I can; with the exception of the pain in my head, and a stiffness about the neck and shoulders, I am all right, I believe." And in order to convince Browne, who seemed somewhat sceptical on the point, notwithstanding my assurances, I got up and walked about--carrying my head somewhat rigidly, I dare say, for it gave me a severe twinge at every movement. "Well," said he, "since that is the case, I think the wisest thing we can do is to leave this neighbourhood at once." While Max went to summon Morton from his post of observation, Browne gave me a brief and hurried account of what had occurred after I had been felled, as related. He, and the leader of the savages, whom I had last seen struggling upon the brink of the height, had gone over it together; the latter, falling underneath, had been severely bruised, while Browne himself received but little injury. Leaving his adversary groaning and, as he supposed, mortally hurt by the fall, he had climbed again to the higher ground, and reached it at a very critical moment. Morton was struggling at disadvantage with the same formidable antagonist from whom he had before been for a moment in such imminent danger; and Max was dodging about among the bushes, sorely pressed by another of the enemy with one of those long spears, against which he entertained so violent a prejudice. I had just been disposed of in the manner above hinted at, by the savage who had been wounded in the neck by Morton, at the very commencement of the affray, and he was now at liberty to turn his attention either to Max or Morton, each of whom was already hard bested.