I wish you'd look, doctor, and see if he bit me," said Jack, speaking
disconsolately. "I lay down as you told me, and put my head right on
that snake."

"Don't you know whether it bit you?" said the doctor anxiously.

"No, not the least idea," said Jack, shaking his head. "I think it must
have bit me, I was so close."

"I don't believe it did," I said. "Why, you must have known."

"Think so?" said Jack dismally. "I say, doctor, is it best, do you
think, to lie right down?"

"Yes, if you look first to see whether there is danger from snakes.
There, lie down, my lad, and rest."

Jack obeyed him very reluctantly, and after Gyp and Jimmy had both
re-curled themselves, the doctor and I lay down to talk in a low voice
about our prospects, and then as I lay listening to his words, and
wondering whether I should ever succeed in tracing out my father, all
seemed to become blank, till I started up on being touched.

"Had a good nap?" said the doctor. "Then let's get on again."

We started once more, with the ground now becoming more difficult.
Trees were fewer, but rocks and rugged patches of stony soil grew
frequent, while a pleasant breeze now played about our faces and seemed
to send vigour into our frames.

Gyp and the black were wonderfully excited, bounding about in front of
us, and even Jack Penny stepped out with a less uncertain stride.

Higher we climbed and higher, and at every pause that we made for breath
the beauty of the great country was more impressed upon me.

"What a pity!" exclaimed the doctor, as we halted at last upon a rugged
corner of the way we were clambering, with the glistening summit far
above our heads, while at our feet the wild country looked like some
lovely green garden.

"What is a pity?" I said wonderingly, for the scene, tired and hot as I
was, seemed lovely.

"That such a glorious country should be almost without inhabitant, when
thousands of our good true Englishmen are without a scrap of land to
call their own."

"Hey, hi!" cried Jack Penny excitedly. "Look out! There's something
wrong."

Jimmy and the dog had, as usual, been on ahead; but only to come racing
back, the former's face full of excitement, while the dog seemed almost
as eager as the black.

"Jimmy find um mans, find. Quiet, Gyp; no make noise."

"Find? My father?" I cried, with a curious choking sensation in my
throat.

"No; no findum fader," whispered Jimmy. "Get um gun. Findum black
fellow