ws, the rowing was slackened a little, just as, to the
great delight of all, Pomp showed signs of recovery.

I was bending over him after dipping the tin full of water once more,
and began to trickle a little water on his forehead, when _flip_, the
tin went flying, the water sparkling in the sun, and a quantity of it
sprinkling Hannibal where he sat, while it was all so sudden that I
burst out laughing, for Pomp's familiar voice rang out sharply and
angrily--

"Don't do dat."

Then memory must have come back like a flash, for the boy's hands seized
me as I bent over and touched him, his eyes opened and glared at me, he
showed his teeth viciously, and then let his hands drop, and he sank
back.

"Mass' George!" he said, feebly. "Ah, Pomp know all de time. Mass'
George play trick. Pash water, and--" Then with a sudden fierce change
of manner--"Run, Mass' George--run--quick--what gone long dem Injum?"

He looked round wildly.

"They are gone, Pomp," I said; and I shivered a little as I spoke.
"We're quite safe now. Drink a little water."

I raised his head, and held the refilled water-can to his lips, when he
drank with avidity.

"Are you better?"

"Eh? Better, Mass' George? Injum cotch Pomp, and 'tuff mouf full.
Couldn't holler. Tie um all up tightum. No move, no breve, no do
nuffum."

"Yes; don't talk now. We found you. No; lie still. What do you want?"

"Go kill all de Injum."

"Sit still," I said, with another little shiver, as I recalled the scene
of the struggle.

"No; Pomp won't sit 'till."

He rose to a sitting position and began rubbing his wrists, staring at
his father the while, as the latter rowed steadily on with his arms
bandaged and showing stains.

"What matter wif yo' arm?"

Hannibal said something to the boy in his own tongue, and Pomp leaned
forward, still rubbing his numbed wrists softly, and evidently listening
intently till his father had done, when he clapped his hands together
and uttered a harsh laugh.

"Ah," he cried; "dat a way. Dey no come try kill Mass' George 'gain."

Then reverting to his own injuries, he felt all his teeth gently with
thumb and finger, as if to try whether they were loose.

"'Tick 'tuff, great big dirty bit blank in Pomp mouf," he said, angrily.
"No couldn't breve."

He gave himself another rub or two, worked his head about, rubbed behind
his back, and opened and shut his jaws softly. Then giving himself a
final shake, he exclaimed--