"What is it?" they demanded, in one and the same breath.
"A snake," said Crouch. "I'm bitten in the leg."
[CHAPTER VI--CROUCH ON THE WAR-PATH]
Both Cæsar and Edward hastened to the captain's side. Sure enough, upon the calf of his leg, were two small drops of blood, about a quarter of an inch apart, where the fangs of the reptile had entered.
Crouch looked up at Cæsar. His voice was perfectly calm.
"Where's the kitchen?" he demanded.
The tall Portuguese appeared suspicious.
"The kitchen is quite near at hand," said he. "Do you want to go there?"
"Yes," said Crouch. "Lead the way. There's no time to lose."
They passed out and entered a smaller hut, from which a column of smoke was rising through a hole in the roof. In the centre of the floor was a large charcoal brazier, at which a man was squatting in the characteristic attitude of the East. Crouch lifted his eyebrows in surprise when he saw that this man was an Arab.