Part 24 (1/2)

So they ether It was a s starvation

”I ate every leaf and berry within my reach,” he told Eustace, ”or I don't think I should be alive to tell the tale Lucky for me, they were none of thes, but they didn't go far”

At last Eustace had no excuse to linger Very unwillingly he rose to do Bob's behest He had never heard of anything so awful as leaving him like this to his fate It see that he would be ashamed of all the days of his life

Bob made him take his watch and chain with the compass on it

”Keep the coive my love to every one”

Eustace turned sharply away; he could stand no more

”Good-bye,” he said thickly; ”I feel a beast”

He took two quick strides forward, and walked right into soreat native chief

CHAPTER XIII

A GREAT SURPRISE

Eustace thought he had never seen anything so wicked as the chief's grin when he looked down into his astonished face The black-fellow's teeth gleamed like a wolf's His whole expression seeht you in the very act You don't escape me so easily, you see” He evidently felt an exultant satisfaction in frustrating his departure, or he was rejoicing over having found hi consciousness of Bob's helplessness, Eustace ure, as if to shelter it

”What's up, old”You're not shi+rking, are you?”

The chief cae of the sick man's eyes, and Bob's face fell most unmistakably There was disappointment in every line of it

”Phew!” he whistled, ”we've lost our chance this time”

Exactly how crestfallen the pair was it would be impossible to describe Not that Bob had harboured any hope for himself He knew the natives would coet back with assistance, and finding hi spectacle, would probably dispatch hi hisin his rapid, unintelligible language, then turned,violently

Eustace dropped on his knees and hid his face on Bob's tattered shi+rt

”Buck up, old chap,” Bob said softly; ”one can only die once Let's show these black-fello a Christian and an Englishh; I'”

There was an advancing tra rapidly obeyed With a long shuddering sigh Eustace raised hi down on his hero

”That's right,” said Bob steadily, with his own genial s up his whole face, ”keep your eyes on mine; hold on to me if you like I shan't think you a muff, because I know you aren't one”

But the boy did not touch hiether in a supreme effort to be worthy of Bob's belief in him

He heard the new-comers halt The native spoke and moved aside

Then--