“Come on!”

The next moment Guy Oscard stood on the edge of the Plateau. He held up both arms as a signal to those within the stockade to cease firing, and then he came forward, followed by a number of blacks and Durnovo.

The gate was rapidly disencumbered of its rough supports and thrown open.

Jack Meredith stood in the aperture, holding out his hand.

“It's all right; it's—all right,” he said.

Oscard did not seem to take so cheerful a view of matters. He scrutinised Meredith's face with visible anxiety.

Then suddenly Jack lurched up against his rescuer, grabbing at him vaguely.

In a minute Oscard was supporting him back towards his tent.

“It's all right, you know,” explained Jack Meredith very gravely; “I am a bit weak—that is all. I am hungry—haven't had anything to eat for some time, you know.”

“Oh, yes,” said Oscard shortly; “I know all about it.”