t across Emson's
brow and temples, leaving it there for a few minutes, while he prepared
the other. The minutes were not many when he took off the first to find
it quite hot, and he replaced it with the other, which became hot in
turn, and was changed; and so he kept on for quite an hour, with the
result that his brother's mutterings grew less rapid and loud, so that
now and then the boy was able to catch a word here and a word there.
All disconnected, but suggestive of the trouble that was on the sick
man's mind, for they were connected with the birds, and his ill-luck,
his voice taking quite a despairing tone as he cried:

"No good. Failure, failure--nothing succeeds. It is of no use."

And then, in quite a piteous tone:

"Poor Dyke! So hard for him."

This was too much. The tears welled up in the boy's eyes, but he
mastered his emotion, and kept on laying the saturated bandages upon his
brother's brow, watching by him hour after hour, forgetful of
everything, till all at once there was a loud, deep barking, and Duke
trotted into the house, to come up to the bedside, raise himself up, and
begin pawing at the friend he had not seen for so long.

"It's no good, Duke, old chap," said Dyke sadly; "he don't know you. Go
and lie down, old man. Go away."

The dog dropped down on all-fours at once, and quickly sought his
favourite place in one corner of the room, seeming to comprehend that he
was not wanted there, and evidently understanding the order to lie down.

The coming of the dog was followed by the approach of the wagon, and the
lowing of the bullocks as they drew near to their familiar quarters; the
cows answered, and Duke leaped up and growled, uttering a low bark, but
returned to his corner as soon as bidden.

At first Dyke had felt stunned by the terrible calamity which had
overtaken his brother; but first one and then another thing had been
suggested to his mind, and the busy action had seemed to clear his
brain.

This cool application had certainly had some effect; and as he changed
the handkerchief again, he saw plainly enough what he must do next.

Wiping his hands, he sought for paper and pencil, and wrote in a big
round hand:

"_I came home and found my brother here, at Kopfontein, bad with fever.
He does not know me. Pray send to fetch a doctor_."

He folded this, then doubled it small, and tied it up with a piece of
string, after directing it to "Herr Hans Morgenstern, at the Store."