f, I bade him sit
down while I cut branches to form a hut, and collected wood for a fire.
As I could not tell what wild animals might be roaming about around us,
I determined to make our hut sufficiently strong to resist an attack.

I selected a tree of a considerable diameter, which served as a back to
the hut. I stuck the uprights in the soft ground among the roots.
There were plenty of vines, with which I bound the cross-pieces to the
trunk and to the uprights. The intervening spaces I filled up with
light perpendicular poles. While I was gathering a further supply, I
found that Natty had interwoven them with branches and vines, thus
forming tolerably substantial walls. Some of the boughs thrown over the
top served for a roof, which, however, would not have kept out a
tropical shower; but there was no fear, we thought, of rain. Darkness
was now coming rapidly on, but I had not yet a sufficient supply of wood
to keep up our fire all the night; and I told Natty to make it up and
light it while I went to collect more broken branches, of which there
were numbers lying about, torn off probably by a hurricane. While I was
engaged, I saw the fire blaze up, and hoped that Natty would have some
venison roasted by the time I had finished my work. Having brought a
couple of loads and placed them down by the side of the hut, I went away
for a third. I had got as many branches as I could carry, and returned
with them towards our encampment, expecting to hear Natty hail me as I
drew near; but as I approached the fire I could not distinguish him. I
called, but no answer came. My heart sank within me. I was afraid that
some accident had happened. Again and again I called. Throwing down
the branches, I hurried on towards the hut, when what was my grief to
see him extended on the ground at the entrance, and some little way from
the fire! I knelt down by his side and put my hand to his heart. It
beat, though feebly. I examined him, but could find no wound. He had
swooned, apparently from exhaustion. Our waterbottles were full, as we
had replenished them at the last stream we passed, knowing that we might
afterwards have to go many miles without finding more. His whole dress
was so loose that there was no necessity to undo any part of it; but I
sprinkled his face with water, and then poured a few drops down his
throat. Still he lay without moving.

"Natty, my dear Natty, what has happened to you? Speak to me! Speak