two of the corners, and the lads, who were utterly worn out, threw
themselves down, and were almost instantly asleep.

The sun was high when the mat at the entrance was drawn aside, and
Hassan entered, followed by four of his followers. One carried a great
water jar and two calabashes, with some cotton cloths and towels; the
other brought fruit of several varieties, eggs, and sweetmeats, together
with a large gourd full of steaming coffee.

"Hassan come again," the chief said, and left the hut with his
followers. The lads poured calabashes of water over each other, and
felt wonderfully refreshed by their wash, which was accomplished without
damage to the floor, which was of bamboos raised two feet above the
ground. When they were dressed they fell to at their breakfast, and then
went out of doors. Hassan had evidently been watching for them, for
he came out of his house, which was next to that which they occupied,
holding his little girl's hand. She at once ran up to them, saluting
them by their names.

"Bahi very glad to see you," she said, "very glad to see good, kind
officers." The child had picked up, during her month on board the
ship, a great deal of English, from her constant communication with the
officers and crew.

"Bad men wound Dick," she went on pitifully. "Wicked men to hurt him."

"Bahi, will you tell your father how much we are obliged to him for
having come to our rescue. We should have been killed if he had not
come."

The child translated the sentence. The chief smiled.

"Tell them," he said, "that Hassan is glad to have been able to pay back
a little of the obligation he was under to them. Besides, Sehi Pandash
was my enemy. Good thing to help friends and kill enemy at the same
time. Tell them that Hassan does not want thanks; they did not like him
to thank them for saving you."

The child translated this with some difficulty. Then he led the
midshipmen round the village, and showed them the strong palisade which
had evidently just been erected, and explained, through the child, that
it had only been built before he left, as but fifteen men were available
for guarding the place in his absence.

The next four days were spent in shooting expeditions, and although they
met with no wild beasts, they secured a large number of bird skins for
the doctor. On the fifth day a native ran in and said that boats with
white men were coming. The midshipmen ran down to the bank, and saw the
ship's two c