is head.

"How can any _man_ stand in my place, or take my punishments?" he said,
in a tone savouring almost of contempt. "As far as I can see, every man
will have enough to do to answer for himself."

"That's just what come into my mind too, when I heard Master Burns
speak," returned the other; "but he cleared that up by explainin' that
Jesus is God as well as man--`God with us,' he said."

"That do seem strange," rejoined the sick man, "and if true," he added
thoughtfully, "there's somethin' in it, Grummidge, somethin' in it to
give a man comfort."

"Well, mate, I'm of your mind about that, for if God himself be for us,
surely nobody can be agin us," said the seaman, unconsciously
paraphrasing the word of Scripture itself. "Blow high or blow low, that
seems to me an anchor that you an' me's safe to hang on to."

The conversation was interrupted at this point by the sudden entrance of
Jim Heron with an arrow sticking in the fleshy part of his back.

"Attacked by savages!" he gasped. "Here, Grummidge, lend a hand to haul
out this--I can't well reach it. They came on us behind the big store,
t'other side o' the settlement, and, after lettin' fly at us took to
their heels. The lads are after them. I got separated from the boys,
and was shot, as you see, so I came--hah! pull gently, Grummidge--came
back here that you might haul it out, for it's hard to run an' fight
with an arrow in your back."

"Stay here, Jim," said Grummidge, after hastily extracting the shaft.
"You couldn't do much with a wound like that. I'll take your place and
follow up the men, and you'll take mine here, as nurse to Swinton. We
mustn't leave him alone, you know."

Eager though Jim Heron was at first for the fray, the loss of blood had
reduced his ardour and made him willing to fall in with this proposal.

"Good-bye, Grummidge," cried Swinton, as the former, having snatched up
his knife and bow, was hastening to the door.

"Good-bye--good-bye, mate," he responded, turning back and grasping the
proffered hand. "You'll be all right soon, old chap--and Jim's a better
nurse than I am."

"I like what you said about that anchor, mate, I'll not forget it" said
Swinton, sinking back on his pillow as Grummidge sallied forth to join
in the pursuit of the savages.

The stout seaman's movements were watched by some hundreds of glittering
black eyes, the owners of which were concealed amid the brushwood of the
adjoining forest.

Meanwhil