mong
the tree stems in the distance, as if to avoid the strong light of the
fire.

Knowing that one man with a gun could make certain of shooting the whole
party if he chose, and that he would not be more likely to attempt
violence if trust in his generosity were displayed, Will Osten, with
characteristic impetuosity, suddenly walked into the full blaze of the
firelight and made signals to the stranger to approach. Larry and the
others, although they disapproved of the rashness of their young leader,
were not the men to let him face danger alone. They at once joined him,
and awaited the approach of the apparition.

It advanced slowly, taking advantage of every bush and tree, and keeping
its piece always pointed towards the fire. They observed that it was
black and partially naked.

Suddenly Muggins exclaimed--"I do b'lieve it's--" He paused.

"Sure, it's the nigger--och! av it isn't Bunco!" cried Larry.

Bunco it was, sure enough, and the moment he perceived that he was
recognised, he discarded all precaution, walked boldly into the
encampment, and shook them all heartily by the hand.

CHAPTER SIX.

BUNCO BECOMES A FRIEND IN NEED AND INDEED, AND LARRY "COMES TO GRIEF" IN
A SMALL WAY.

"Sure yer face is a sight for sore eyes, though it _is_ black and ugly,"
exclaimed Larry, as he wrung the hand of the good-humoured native, who
grinned from ear to ear with delight at having found his friends.

"Wot ever brought ye here?" inquired Muggins.

"Mine legses," replied Bunco, with a twinkle in his coal-black eyes.

"Yer legses, eh?" repeated Muggins in a tone of sarcasm--"so I supposes,
for it's on them that a man usually goeses; but what caused you for to
desart the ship?"

"'Cause I no want for be pyrit more nor yourself, Mister Muggles--"

"Muggins, you lump of ebony--don't miscall me."

"Well, dat be all same--only a litil bit more ogly," retorted Bunco,
with a grin, "an' me no want to lose sight ob Doctor Os'n here: me come
for to show him how to go troo de forest."

"That's right, my good fellow," cried Will, with a laugh, slapping the
native on the shoulder; "you have just come in the nick of time to take
care of us all, for, besides having utterly lost ourselves, we are quite
ignorant of forest ways in this region--no better than children, in
fact."

"True for ye, boy, riglar babes in the wood, as I said before," added
Larry O'Hale.

"Well, that being the case," continued Will, "you had bette