ebewilderedSummerleebythearm,andtheybothrantowardsus.TwooftheirguardsboundedafterthemandfelltotwobulletsfromLordJohn.Weranforwardintotheopentomeetourfriends,andpressedaloadedrifleintothehandsofeach.ButSummerleewasattheendofhisstrength.Hecouldhardlytotter.Alreadytheape-menwererecoveringfromtheirpanic.Theywerecomingthroughthebrushwoodandthreateningtocutusoff.ChallengerandIranSummerleealong,oneateachofhiselbows,whileLordJohncoveredourretreat,firingagainandagainassavageheadssnarledatusoutofthebushes.Foramileormorethechatteringbruteswereatourveryheels.Thenthepursuitslackened,fortheylearnedourpowerandwouldnolongerfacethatunerringrifle.Whenwehadatlastreachedthecamp,welookedbackandfoundourselvesalone.
Soitseemedtousandyetweweremistaken.Wehadhardlyclosedthethornbushdoorofourzareba,claspedeachother'shands,andthrownourselvespantinguponthegroundbesideourspring,whenweheardapatteroffeetandthenagentle,plaintivecryingfromoutsideourentrance.LordRoxtonrushedforward,rifleinhand,andthrewitopen.There,prostrateupontheirfaces,laythelittleredfiguresofthefoursurvivingIndians,tremblingwithfearofusandyetimploringourprotection.Withanexpressivesweepofhishandsoneofthempointedtothewoodsaroundthem,andindicatedthattheywerefullofdanger.Then,dartingforward,hethrewhisarmsroundLordJohn'slegs,andrestedhisfaceuponthem.
"ByGeorge!"criedourpeer,pullingathismoustacheingreatperplexity,"Isay—whatthedeucearewetodowiththesepeople?Getup,littlechappie,andtakeyourfaceoffmyboots."
Summerleewassittingupandstuffingsometobaccointohisoldbriar.
"We'vegottoseethemsafe,"saidhe."You'vepulledusalloutofthejawsofdeath.Myword!itwasagoodbitofwork!"
"Admirable!"criedChallenger."Admirable!Notonlyweasindividuals,butEuropeansciencecollectively,oweyouadeepdebtofgratitudeforwhatyouhavedone.IdonothesitatetosaythatthedisappearanceofProfessorSummerleeandmyselfwouldhaveleftanappreciablegapinmodernzoologicalhistory.Ouryoungfriendhereandyouhavedonemostexcellentlywell."
Hebeamedatuswiththeoldpaternalsmile,butEuropeansciencewouldhavebeensomewhatamazedcouldtheyhaveseentheirchosenchild,thehopeofthefuture,withhistangled,unkempthead,hisbarechest,andhistatteredclothes.Hehadoneofthemeat-tinsbetweenhisknees,andsatwithalargepieceofcoldAustralianmuttonbetweenhisfingers.TheIndianlookedupathim,andthen,withalittleyelp,cringedtothegroundandclungtoLordJohn'sleg.
"Don'tyoubescared,mybonnieboy,"saidLordJohn,pattingthemattedhea