Part 24 (2/2)

”Both of them!” exclaimed a familiar voice ”Thank God for that”

Eustace sank back in a heap on the ground and stared up

”Father!” cried Bob in astonishment

It was Mr Cochrane indeed, and with hi day's march

It seemed little short of a miracle that they should appear at such a juncture, yet the explanation proved siht to the spot There was no sort of nobility in the act: thereward Bob he did not know; but when Eustace appeared on the scene he recognized the boy as belonging to theplantation, whoh the Bush Mr Orban was out with Mr

Cochrane hbourhood when the chief arrived, and he would communicate his business to no one else Not that it is likely any one else would have understood him or followed hie was unintelligible to both reat anxiety, they made out that the chief could lead the of interest to themselves They had not dared to hope he knew the whereabouts of both their sons, or to speculate which they should find; they did not even knohether they were being taken to the living or the dead

”I' me home,” said Bob; ”I'm as stiff as a board, and can't move hand or foot”

Then he told his story, and how Eustace had found him, and to all intents and purposes saved his life

”And you, Eustace,” said Mr Orban--”how did you come here?”

When Eustace ca coo-ee on the banks of the creek, Mr Orban interrupted him

”That was only an echo I knew there was one there, but I never thought of telling you”

”Thank God you didn't,” said Mr Cochrane, ”and that he made the mistake We should never have found Bob but for that”

”Father,” Eustace said anxiously, ”you won't forget poor old Bolter, will you? This black-fellow has got hiotten him,” Mr Orban said; ”and we shall need hi a little distance back Bytowards the horses, and then in the direction of the camp--the chief was made to understand anted; and after a little dely

The journey back to the plantation was one that none of the party could ever forget The difficulty of conveying the helpless Bob, the suffering he so bravely tried to endure, and the terrible time it took, were indescribable

It had of course been necessary to tell both mothers of the loss of their sons Mrs Cochrane and Trixy had gone i news

Mr Orban dispatched one coolie from the plantation for the doctor, who lived fifteen miles away Another o with a note preparing his wife for their arrival, and the whole white-faced party was out waiting for it as the slow procession--Bob on a stretcher in the midst--wound its way to the house

The joy of the ht of in the anxiety, for Bob was by this time delirious with pain, Eustace so weak that he was nearly fainting

For the next ten days the house was no better than a hospital--its central interest the condition of the two patients within its walls; but the first day Bob and Eustace were brought out on to the veranda--thite-faced shadows of thely called it the convalescent ho was, as Nesta expressed it, horrid; but when Bob was about again, even if his voice eaker, his laugh a ghost of itself,together enjoying the cool of the evening

”What I can't understand,” said Nestapause, ”is why the black-felloouldn't let Eustace answer father's coo-ee”

”It is quite siiven strict orders he was not to be allowed to go in his absence, and they were afraid we should coot no reward”

”What I can't understand,” said Peter, who never reround, ”is why the black-fellows didn't cut Bob down It icked of them”