ained."

"I will at once fetch some for him then," said Mangaleesu; and taking
the two empty bottles, he started away in the direction of some rocks
seen in the distance.

Percy continued murmuring, "Water, water!"

"It will come soon, and you'll be all right, old fellow," said Denis,
sitting by his side, and supporting his head while he fanned his face.

Raff was, in the meantime, smelling round and round the rhinoceros, and
would evidently have liked to get at the meat, but the tough hide
resisted his efforts.

With deep thankfulness Denis observed Mangaleesu returning, this time
accompanied by another person, whom he recognised, when they got nearer,
as Kalinda. She seemed much concerned at seeing the condition in which
poor Percy lay, and placing herself by his side, she fanned his face,
while Denis poured the water down his throat. She continued tending him
while he went to help Mangaleesu cut into the rhinoceros. A supply of
meat was soon obtained, and Denis proposed to light a fire and cook it.
To this, however, Mangaleesu objected.

"In this open spot we may be seen, for we cannot tell what enemies there
may be in the neighbourhood," he observed. "Let us at once move on to
the place where I concealed Kalinda. It will hold us all, and we shall
there be safer than we are here, while there is water at hand, and we
can light a fire in a hollow, without risk of its being seen in the
distance."

It was very evident, however, that poor Percy, although somewhat
revived, was utterly unable to walk. "Kalinda and I will carry him
then," said Mangaleesu, "while you take his gun."

"But I cannot impose that task on you, for I ought to assist in carrying
him myself," said Denis.

"No, no, you are not strong enough; we will easily manage it."

Mangaleesu and his wife set to work to construct a litter, which they
quickly formed with some poles, and fastened together by creepers. They
then placed Percy on it, and set off, stepping along at a brisk rate,
showing that they considered him alight burden. Denis carried his gun;
and Raff, to whom he had given some water, as well as an ample supply of
meat, trotted after them perfectly revived. Reaching the rocks, they
passed through a narrow defile, into which another smaller one opened,
and at its farther extremity they came to some thick bushes, which
Mangaleesu pulling aside, the mouth of a cavern was discovered.

"Here no one is likely to find us, and if they