“Ow!” came in a dismal yell, followed by a furious barking, as we saw Jack make a tremendous jump, and then disappear.
“Help, help!” came from among some dense green growth, and hurrying forward we at last came in sight of our companion, at least in sight of his head and shoulders, and we could not approach him, for the ground gave way beneath our feet, the bright green moss almost floating upon a treacherous bog.
“Hold on!” shouted the doctor; “we’ll help you directly;” and taking out his big knife he began to hack at some small bamboos which grew in thick clumps about us.
“Make haste,” moaned Jack, “I’m sinking;” and we could see Gyp, who was howling furiously, tearing at the soft moss as if to dig his master out.
“Give Jimmy knife,” said the black, who was grinning and enjoying Jack Penny’s predicament.
I handed him mine, and he too cut down armfuls of the young green bamboo, the carriers coming up now and helping, when, taking a bundle at a time, Jimmy laid them down, dancing lightly over them with his bare feet, and troubling himself very little about danger, as he made a sort of green path right up to Jack.
“His black fellow pull up,” shouted Jimmy; but I ran up to where he was, and each taking one of Jack’s hands he gave a wriggle, floundered a bit, and then we had him out covered with black mud; and though we were standing up, he would not trust himself just then erect, but crept after us on hands and knees, the soft bog beneath us going up and down like a wave.
As soon as he was quite safe there was a hearty laugh at Jack Penny’s expense; and the doctor drily asked for the butterfly.
“Oh, I caught him,” said Jack; “but I lost him when I trod on that great beast.”
“What great beast?” I said.