The day was breaking when Tom Flinders was awakened by a violent blow on the legs. Jumping to his feet, he seized his rifle and looked over the breastwork; his appearance was immediately hailed by a loud chattering, and a volley of stones and other missiles came whizzing about his ears. "Niggers!" Tom exclaimed, bringing his rifle to the "ready;" "but where the dickens are they?" "Hi! what on earth are you about?" he shouted, as a big piece of rock knocked off his hat. "You're an uncommon good shot, no doubt," he went on, ducking down in order to escape another stony "projectile;" "but if I catch a glimpse of you, I'll let you know that it is not a rook you're pegging at." As the boy spoke he caught sight of a dark active form swinging itself from tree to bush on the opposite side of the ravine; without a moment's thought, he raised his rifle and pulled the trigger, and down came the figure by the run. "There!" cried Tom angrily, for his temper was considerably ruffled. "I'll teach you to make a cock-shy of me!" But now the ravine resounded with ear-splitting cries, and to Tom's utter amazement a whole troop of baboons appeared amongst the trees and bushes; and, after gibbering and grimacing round their deceased brother for a few seconds, they suddenly scampered off, springing from rock to rock, from tree to tree with marvellous agility, until they were lost to view. "Why, hang it all! I must have bowled over a monkey!" was the boy's exclamation. "Poor brute! I wish I hadn't been quite so ready with my rifle." The next moment Major Flinders and Black William appeared in sight, and with a wild shout of delight Tom jumped over his barricade and ran to meet them. The Major looked very grave when he examined poor George's wounds, for he at once saw that they were of a serious, if not of a highly dangerous, character--such, in fact, as called for skilled treatment. If the boy's life was to be saved, it would be necessary to procure medical assistance as soon as possible. Now the nearest place where Major Flinders could make certain of finding a surgeon was Fort Crause, a small town and military post situated some thirty-five miles to the east-north-east: and to Fort Crause he resolved to carry the lad without any delay. "We must start at once, you and I, Tom," said the Major, as he scribbled a few hasty lines on a leaf torn from his pocket-book. "William will take this note back to Weston; I have briefly related what has occurred, and told him to join us at Fort Crause." "And what is to become of Patrick Keown and the horses, father? Are they to follow us, or wait until we return to the Gamska?" "Keown will come on with Weston, and we shall have to change our route, and return home by the upper road to Tulbagh. Now, my boy, jump up, and we will place George in your arms; you must hold him in as easy a position as you can. There--now raise his head a little more; that will do! I will lead the horse."