ual incoherencies. But that's nothing. We're used to
it. In fact, we now and then take a turn at it ourselves when this
beastly up-country fever strikes us. Eh, doctor?"

"We do," answered Dr Ahern, turning away to attend to the unpacking and
examination of some scientific specimens, but not before he had added:--

"I wouldn't talk too much if I were you. It won't hurt you to keep
quiet a little longer."

A fortnight had gone by since the rescue of the solitary fugitive when
in his last and desperate extremity; and, indeed, nothing but the most
careful tending had availed to save his life even then--that, and his
own constitution, which, as Dr Ahern declared, was that of a bull.
Several days of raging and delirious fever had delayed the expedition at
the place where it had found him, and then it had moved on again, though
slowly, carrying the invalid in an improvised litter. At last the fever
had left him, and his wounds were healing; by a miracle and the
wonderful skill of the doctor he had escaped blood-poisoning.

The latter's back turned, the convalescent promptly started to disregard
his final injunction.

"I say," he went on, lowering his voice, "it won't hurt me to talk a
little, will it?"

The other, his tall frame stretched upon the ground, his hat tilted over
his eyes, and puffing contentedly at a pipe, laughed.

"I don't know. Doctor's orders, you see. Still--well, for one thing,
we've been wondering, of course, who you are, and how you got into the
hobble we found you in."

"Well, I'm Oakley, and I've been inland a year and a half in the
plant-hunting line."

"That so? I'm Haviland, and I've been up rather more than two years in
the bug-hunting line, as the Americans would call it. Ornithology,
too."

"So! Made a good haul?"

"Uncommonly. We've got some specimens here that'll make our names for
us."

"Let's see them," said the other eagerly. "I was--am, in fact--keen on
beetles, but I'm professionally in plants now."

And then these two enthusiasts set to work comparing notes. They clean
forgot about the circumstances of their meeting or knowing more about
each other; forgot recent perils and the brooding mysteries of the
wilderness, as they hammered away at their pet subject, and talked bird
and beetle to their hearts' content. In the midst of which a displeased
voice struck in:--

"I'd like to ask if that's what you call keeping quiet, now."

Both started guiltily.

"My