ide him."

Before I could answer, I had proof of this last statement, for the great
yellow hound, Pharaoh, that had found us in the desert, hearing our
voices, emerged from some corner where it was hidden, and advanced
toward us, wagging its tail. As it passed Shadrach, it stopped and
growled, the hair rising on its back, whereon he hurled a stone at it
and hit its leg. Next instant Pharaoh, a beast of enormous power, was on
the top of him, and really, I thought, about to tear out his throat.

Well, we got him off before any harm was done, but Shadrach's face,
lined with its livid scars, was a thing to remember. Between rage and
fear, it looked like that of a devil.

To return. After this business I went to sleep, wondering if it were my
last rest upon the earth, and whether, having endured so much for his
sake, it would or would not be my fortune to see the face of my son
again, if, indeed, he still lived, yonder not a score of miles away--or
anywhere.

Toward evening I was awakened by a fearful hubbub, in which I
distinguished the shrill voice of Higgs ejaculating language which I
will not repeat, the baying of Pharaoh, and the smothered groans and
curses of an Abati. Running from the little tent, I saw a curious
sight, that of the Professor with Shadrach's head under his left arm,
in chancery, as we used to call it at school, while with his right he
punched the said Shadrach's nose and countenance generally with all his
strength, which, I may add, is considerable. Close by, holding Pharaoh
by the collar, which we had manufactured for him out of the skin of a
camel that had died, stood Sergeant Quick, a look of grim amusement
on his wooden face, while around, gesticulating after their Eastern
fashion, and uttering guttural sounds of wrath, were several of the
Abati drivers. Orme was absent, being, in fact, asleep at the time.

"What are you doing, Higgs?" I shouted.

"Can't--you--see," he spluttered, accompanying each word with a blow on
the unfortunate Shadrach's prominent nose. "I am punching this fellow's
beastly head. Ah! you'd bite, would you? Then take that, and that
and--that. Lord, how hard his teeth are. Well, I think he has had
enough," and suddenly he released the Abati, who, a gory and most
unpleasant spectacle, fell to the ground and lay there panting. His
companions, seeing their chief's melancholy plight, advanced upon the
Professor in a threatening fashion; indeed, one of them drew a knife.

"P