“Look here, my man,” said the major, “how far is it to the ship?”
“I don’t know, sir. I’d come a long way when I heard guns, and walked on till I saw you; and I thought I should have dropped when I lost sight of you again.”
“Ah, you’re very weak,” said the major.
“’Taint only that, sir; for it’s enough to frighten a man to death or send him mad to be all alone here in a place like this.”
“Why, it’s a very beautiful place, Jimpny.”
“Yes, sir, to look at; but as soon as you go into the woods to find fruit there’s things flies at you, and every now and then in the night there’s a great bull roaring thing that makes a horrid noise.”
“Indeed!” said the major, exchanging glances with Mark.
“Yes; something dreadful, sir.”
“Ah, well! we needn’t talk about that now,” said the major. “We will not go on to the ship, but get back to camp—eh, Mark?”
“Yes, sir: the news will be glorious,” cried Mark.