Large tears stood in the Queen’s eyes. She would have braved any superstitious terrors to render assistance to her white friend, but, like Sir Francis, Harry, and Freddy, she felt how forlorn was the hope of being able to track Topsie in that dense, dark jungle before her.
Suddenly a rustling and panting sound struck upon their ears. It came nearer and nearer. It brought hope to the sinking hearts of Sir Francis and the two boys, who strained their eyes to catch a sight of the animal from which the sounds proceeded. They were successful at last, as out of the forest came bounding the huge, rough form of the noble Shag, who, with great red tongue hanging out and covered with foam, was galloping nose to the ground, on the heel of his own tracks.
“Shag, Shag!” shouted Harry; and at the sound of the boy’s voice the Labrador raised his head and cocked his ears. On perceiving Harry and the others, he bounded forward to meet them with a low yelp of delight. As he did so, and as he came full at them, they perceived that two arrows were sticking in his side.
“Good God!” burst from Sir Francis’s lips. “Oh! where is my poor Topsie?”
At once Shag began to behave in a very strange manner. First of all he whined piteously, then he put his nose to the ground, and galloping forward towards the forest came to a sudden halt, looked back at the others, and gave two or three sharp, distressed barks, and then a long, melancholy howl.
“Oh, Uncle Francis! he knows where Topsie is; depend upon it he does,” cried Harry excitedly. “I know the dear old dog well. I know he would never leave her unless she sent him, or unless something has happened which he can’t remedy, and so has come to look for us. You can trust him, indeed you can. Let us follow him and find my darling sister.”
“Harry, you must be calm, my boy, and remember in all difficulties never to lose your head,” answered his uncle gravely. “To begin with, those arrows must be cut out of Shag’s side and the wounds dressed, or he may die, and our last hope of tracking Topsie will be gone. I plainly see that she is a captive in some unknown tribe’s hands, and if we are to rescue her we must proceed with great caution and care. It is a most terrible position, but let us keep our heads clear, and put our trust in God.”
All this time Shag was howling, and barking, and wagging his tail, and doing all he could to attract the others forward.
“Come here, Shag,” called out Sir Francis, and the noble beast at once obeyed. “Lie down, Shag,” again commanded the baronet; and as the dog stretched himself out on his left side Sir Francis bent over him to examine where the arrows had penetrated.
One proved to be a mere flesh wound, the arrow having entered the flank, and it was easily extracted, for Sir Francis had practised in surgery, and understood the art well.