Part 52 (1/2)

The remnant of Kara-Kara's beaten army hied them back to their own country, only to find it laid waste by fire and sword; so they fled away into the wilderness, and joined other tribes with whom they had been friendly before this.

Having both fought on one side, and both a.s.sisted each other in annihilating the unfortunate Kara-Kara, 'Ngaloo and Googagoo naturally became very friendly.

Both armies bivouacked that night on the battlefield, and the wounded were attended to. These, however, owing to the brutal customs of African warfare, were very few, for 'Ngaloo's men in the moonlight ran a-muck all across the blood-stained field, and ruthlessly slew all those who showed the slightest signs of life.

Next morning was a sad one for Harry, for his faithful Somali Jack, who had served him so long and so faithfully, who had nursed him in sickness, and more than once saved his life, breathed his last in his arms shortly after sunrise.

He had been terribly wounded in the battle, and nothing could save the poor fellow.

Quite conscious he was to the last, and conscious, too, that his end was drawing near, though neither he nor Harry knew it was so _very_ nigh.

Some duty or other demanded Harry's presence in another part of the field, but Jack said--

”Do not go and leave me now, dear master; stay with me a little time.”

”I will stay; I will not go--poor Jack,” replied Harry. And he sat down beside the dying Indian, and took his head in his lap.

Harry often thought of this last interview with his Somali servant afterwards, and how thankful he always felt, when he did so, that he had not gone away and left Jack. Had he done that he would not have seen the last of him, or heard his dying words.

These, however, were few, for Jack was weak and his voice feeble, and his breath coming in gasps. He lay some time quiet, then--

”I have so much to say,” he almost whispered; ”but I forget, and I am cold--_so_ cold.”

”I have a brother in Brava.”

Harry thought he said mother.

”You have a mother, Jack?”

”No; no mother--a brother. See him; tell him how I died, how I lived.

Tell him about heaven and all things good, as you have told me.”

”Raggy--he will miss poor Jack.”

There was a long interval of silence. Jack's eyes were closed now, and Harry thought he slept. But he opened them presently.

Then he put his cold damp hand in Harry's. ”Master,” he said, ”you have given me life.”

”Oh, Jack!” said Harry, ”I fear it is far beyond my skill to give you life.”

”But you have given me life--light and life. I was but a savage. You have told me of Him who can love even a savage.”

”Yes, yes, Jack; He loves you. He will receive you.”

”Say 'The Vale,'” Jack murmured.

Harry knew what he meant, and repeated a verse or two, in metre, of that beautiful psalm that has given comfort to many a soul in sorrow.

The last verse that Jack could have heard was the fourth: