"I was so near to capturing it," said he.
"We'll get it yet, sir," answered Jim. "Just now I had the shock of my life. I thought you had been killed."
"I'm all right," answered Harry. "I feel dizzy; that's all."
In a little time he was able to continue on his way. The bullet wound in his ear was nothing; it was scarcely painful.
That night they camped in the mountains, intending to march at daybreak towards the British camp. When the sun rose, however, they found to their surprise that the whole column was already on the line of march, moving towards the east in pursuit of the retreating enemy.
When they reached the scene of the bivouac the camp-fires were still burning, but no sign of life remained.
The British column had vanished into the bush; and only a few hospital-wagons were to be seen trundling slowly southward.
In the centre of the deserted bivouac stood a tall solitary tree, and it was under this that they rested throughout the heat of the day. Fernando, who had been dozing, rose to his feet, stretched and yawned. As he did so he caught sight of a star-shaped cut in the bark of the tree, and on the instant it was as if the man had become transfigured.
His eyes lit up, his lips smiled. Amazement, delight, and infinite pleasure were stamped on every feature of his face.
"What is it?" asked Harry, at a loss to explain the man's behaviour.