“Look at that, Dean,” cried Mark. “Faithful and true to us as ever, even when those three men have forsaken us.”
“They have not,” said Dean. “Look.”
Startled by his cousin’s tones, Mark turned from the little black, to realise the fact that the three men whom they had left must have taken a circuitous course under the pigmy’s guidance, cut them off by the scattered stones where they were resting, and were now coming straight towards them.
“Then you have repented, Buck?” cried Mark eagerly.
“No, sir.”
“Then why are you here?” said the boy, starting to his feet, and catching at his cousin’s arm, for his weakness seemed to be returning.
“Because we think, Dan and I, that we have let you go on in your own way long enough. It won’t do, Mr Mark, and you must come back with us; eh, Dan?”
“That’s right, Mr Mark, sir. I never started mutiny before, but I am in for it now. We have ris’ against our officers, and you are both prisoners.”
“Prisoners!” cried Mark wildly. “You will not dare—”
“Yes, my lad.”