CHAPTER FORTY.
HOW JIMMY CRIED "COOEE!" AND WHY HE CALLED.
"Why, Gyp," I said in a low voice, "what is it, old fellow?"
He whined and growled and turned back, trotting towards the burningvillage.
"Yes, I know it's on fire," I said. "Come along."
But the dog would not follow. He whined and snuffled and ran back alittle farther, when from some distance behind I heard a rustling and apanting noise, which made me spring round and cock my gun.
"Followed!" I said to myself, as I continued my retreat, but only tostop short, for from the direction in which we had come I heardwhispered, more than called, the familiar cry of the Australian savage,a cry that must, I knew, come from Jimmy, and this explained Gyp'sappearance.
"_Cooey_!"
There it was again, and without hesitation I walked sharply back, Gyprunning before me as he would not have done had there been an enemynear.
There was the panting and rustling again as I retraced my steps, withthe light growing plainer, and in less than a minute I came upon Jimmytrudging slowly along with a heavy burden on his back, a second glanceat which made me stop speechless in my tracks.
"Mass Joe! Jimmy got um fader. Much big heavy. Jimmy got um rightfas'."
He panted with the exertion, for he tried to break into a trot.
I could do no more than go to his side and lay my trembling hands uponthe shoulder of his burden--a man whom he was carrying upon his back.
"Go on!" I said hoarsely. "Forward, Gyp, and stop them!"
The dog understood the word "Forward," and went on with a rush, while Ilet Jimmy pass me, feeling that if he really had him we sought he wasperforming my duty, while all I could do was to form the rear-guard andprotect them even with my life if we were pursued.
Either the dog was leading close in front or the black went on by a kindof instinct in the way taken by our companions. At any rate he wentsteadily on, and I followed, trembling with excitement, ten or a dozenyards behind, in dread lest it should not be true that we had succeededafter all.
The light behind us increased so that I could plainly see the benthelpless load upon our follower's back; but the black trudged steadilyon and I followed, panting with eagerness and ready the moment Jimmypaused to leap forward and try to take his place.
The fire must have been increasing fast, and the idea was dawning uponme that perhaps this was a plan of the black's, who had set fire to oneof the huts and then seized the opportunity to get the prisoner away.It was like the Australian to do such a thing as this, for he wascunning and full of stratagem, and though it was improbable the idea wasgrowing upon me, when all at once a tremendous weight seemed to fallupon my head and I was dashed to the earth, with a sturdy savagepressing me down, dragging my hands behind me, and beginning to fastenthem with some kind of thong.
For the moment I was half-stunned. Then the idea came to me of helpbeing at hand, and I was about to _cooey_ and bring Jimmy to my side,but my lips closed and I set my teeth.
"No," I thought, "he may escape. If any one is to be taken let it beme; my turn will come later on."
My captor had evidently been exerting himself a great deal to overtakeme, and after binding me he contented himself by sitting upon my back,panting heavily, to rest himself, while, knowing that struggling wouldbe in vain, I remained motionless, satisfied that every minute was ofinestimable value, and that once the doctor knew of the black's successhe would use every exertion to get the captive in safety, and then hewould be sure to come in search of me.
Then I shuddered, for I remembered what Mr Francis had said about thepeople being infuriated at such a time, and as I did so I felt that Iwas a long way yet from being a man.
All at once my captor leaped up, and seizing me by the arm he gave me afearful wrench to make me rise to my feet.
For some minutes past I had been expecting to see others of his partycome up, or to hear him shout to them, but he remained silent, and stoodat last hesitating or listening to the faint shouts that came from theglow beyond the trees.
Suddenly he thrust me before him, shaking his waddy menacingly. Thenext moment he uttered a cry. There was a sharp crack as of onewar-club striking another, and then I was struck down by two menstruggling fiercely. There were some inarticulate words, and a snarlingand panting like two wild beasts engaged in a hard fight, and then aheavy fall, a dull thud, and the sound of a blow, as if some one hadstruck a tree branch with a club.
I could see nothing from where I lay, but as soon as I could recovermyself I was struggling to my feet, when a black figure loomed over me,and a familiar voice said hoarsely:
"Where Mass Joe knife, cut um 'tring?"
"Jimmy!" I said. "My father?"
"Set um down come look Mass Joe. Come 'long fas. Gyp take care Jimmyfader till um come back again again."
As Jimmy spoke he thrust his hand into my pocket for my knife, while Iwas too much interested in his words to remind him that there was mylarge sheath-knife in my belt.
"Come 'long," he said as he set me free, and we were starting when hestopped short: "No; tie black fellow up firs'. No, can't 'top."
Before I knew what he meant to do he had given the prostrate black asharp rap on the head with his waddy.
"Jimmy!" I said; "you'll kill him!"
"Kill him! No, makum sleep, sleep. Come 'long."
He went off at a sharp walk and I followed, glancing back anxiously fromtime to time and listening, till we reached the spot where he had setdown his burden, just as the doctor came back, having missed me, andbeing in dread lest I had lost my way.
I did not speak--I could not, but threw myself on my knees beside thestrange, long-haired, thickly-bearded figure seated with its backagainst a tree, while the doctor drew back as soon as he realised thatit was my father the black had saved.