ess of his position came upon Dyke,
and he sat there listening to his brother's wild words, trying to fit
them together and grasp his meaning, but in vain. He bathed the burning
head and applied the wet bandages, but they seemed to afford no relief
whatever; and at last growing more despondent than ever, he felt that he
could not bear it, and just at dusk he went outside the door to try to
think, though really to get away for a few minutes from the terrible
scene.

Then his conscience smote him for what he told himself was an act of
cowardice, and he hurried back to the bedside, to find that, short as
had been his absence, it had been long enough for a great change to take
place.

In fact, the paroxysm had passed, and the poor fellow's brow was covered
with a fine perspiration, his breathing easier, and he was evidently
sinking into a restful sleep.

Dyke stood watching and holding his brother's hand till he could
thoroughly believe that this was the case, and then tottered out once
more into the comparatively cool evening air, to find Jack or his wife,
and tell them to bring something for him and the dog to eat, for he had
seen nothing of either of them for many hours.

He walked round to the back, but there was no fire smouldering, and no
one in the narrow, yard-like place; so he went on to the shed in which
the servants slept, and tapped at the rough door.

But there was no answer, and upon looking in, expecting to see Jack
lying there asleep, neither he nor his wife was visible.

How was that? Gone to fetch in fuel from where it was piled-up in a
stack? No: for there was plenty against the side of one of the sheds.

What then--water? Yes, that would be it. Jack and Tanta Sal had gone
together to the kopje for company's sake to fetch three or four buckets
from the cool fresh spring, of whose use he had been so lavish during
the past day. They had gone evidently before it was quite dark; and,
feeling hungry and exhausted now, he walked round to where the wagon
stood, recalling that there was some dry cake left in the locker, and
meaning to eat of this to relieve the painfully faint sensation.

He climbed up into the wagon, and lifted the lid of the chest, but there
was no mealie cake there; Jack or Tant must have taken it out. So going
back to the house where Emson was sleeping quietly, the boy dipped a
pannikin into the bucket standing there, and drank thirstily before
going outside again to watch for