lower, till she gradually
disappeared altogether at the break of day. As the light increased I
found myself on the borders of a forest, denser than any I had yet seen
in Africa; while to the north the wide plain over which I had passed lay
stretched out before me. I looked out anxiously for any figure which
might prove to be that of Selim. Strange birds flew overhead, and a
herd of deer went bounding by at no great distance. Had I possessed a
more efficient weapon than my clumsy pistol, I should have tried to
shoot one of the latter, in the hope of being able to manufacture shoes
or sandals out of the hide to protect my lacerated feet, which were so
swollen that I felt it would be almost torture to proceed further
without some protection for them. As soon as there was sufficient
light, however, I employed myself in picking out the thorns, with which
they were full; after which operation I felt some slight relief. I then
looked around for water in which I might cool them, but no stream or
pool was in sight--though I knew, from the appearance of the vegetation,
that water could not be far-off; and I felt sure that if I could but
drag myself to it, I should soon be able to proceed.

As the sun rose, his rays threw a bright glare across the plain, almost
roasting me where I lay. To avoid the heat, I moved round to the
western side of the tree, in the cool shade of which I stretched myself
out at my length to rest my weary limbs, and turned my anxious eyes
northward--from which direction I expected Selim would come. At length
some one appeared on the top of a small hillock in the far distance, and
stopped and looked about him. It must be Selim, I thought; and yet,
until I was certain, I did not like to show myself. I anxiously watched
the person. "Yes, it must be Selim," I exclaimed aloud. My fear was
that, not seeing me, he might go off to the east or west. I knew that
my voice could not reach him at that distance. I tried to drag myself
up by means of the trunk, so as to lean against it when I was on my
feet; but I could stand with difficulty even then. The only means I had
of drawing Selim's attention was to fire off my pistol, but I was
unwilling to throw away any of the ammunition. The person was by this
time about to descend the hillock. With great pain and difficulty I got
round the tree into the sunlight, and fired. Immediately the person
began to run towards me; when, unable longer to stand, I sank