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story was monstrous； and only worthy of the
superstitious days in which it was written。 At any
rate I was very sure that I would not attempt to
attain unending life。 I had had far too many worries
and disappointments and secret bitternesses during my
forty odd years of existence to wish that this state
of affairs should be continued indefinitely。 And yet I
suppose that my life has been； comparatively speaking；
a happy one。
And then； reflecting that at the present moment there
was far more likelihood of our earthly careers being
cut exceedingly short than of their being unduly
prolonged； I at last managed to get to sleep； a fact
for which anybody who reads this narrative； if anybody
ever does； may very probably be thankful。
When I woke again it was just dawning； and the guard
and bearers were moving about like ghosts through the
dense morning mists； getting ready for our start。 The
fire had died quite down； and I rose and stretched
myself； shivering in every limb from the damp cold of
the dawn。 Then I looked at Leo。 He was sitting up；
holding his hands to his head； and I saw that his face
was flushed and his eye bright； and yet yellow round
the pupil。
〃Well； Leo；〃 I said； 〃how do you feel？〃
〃I feel as though I were going to die；〃 he answered；
hoarsely。 〃My head is splitting； my body is trembling；
and I am as sick as a cat。〃
I whistled； or if I did not whistle I felt inclined
toLeo had got a sharp attack of fever。 I went to
Job； and asked him for the quinine； of which
fortunately we had still a good supply； only to find
that Job himself was not much better。 He complained of
pains across the back； and dizziness； and was almost
incapable of helping himself。 Then I did the only
thing it was possible to do under the circumstances
gave them both about ten grains of quinine； and took a
slightly smaller dose myself as a matter of
precaution。 After that I found Billali； and explained
to him how matters stood； asking at the same time what
he thought had best be done。 He came with me； and
looked at Leo and Job （whom； by the way； he had named
the Pig； on account of his fatness； round face； and
small eyes）。
〃Ah；〃 he said； when we were out of earshot； 〃the
fever！ I thought so。 The Lion has it badly； but he is
young； and he may live。 As for the Pig； his attack is
not so bad； it is the little fever which he has； that
always begins with pains across the back； it will
spend itself upon his fat。〃
〃Can they go on； my father？〃 I asked。
〃Nay； my son； they must go on。 If they stop here they
will certainly die； also； they will be better in the
litters than on the ground。 By to…night； if all goes
well； we shall be across the marsh and in good air。
Come； let us lift them into the litters and start； for
it is very bad to stand still in this morning fog。 We
can eat our meal as we go。〃
This we accordingly did； and with a heavy heart I once
more set out upon our strange journey。 For the first
three hours all went as well as could be expected； and
then an accident happened that nearly lost us the
pleasure of the company of our venerable friend
Billali； whose litter was leading the cavalcade。 We
were going through a particularly dangerous stretch of
quagmire； in which the bearers sometimes sank up to
their knees。 Indeed； it was a mystery to me how they
contrived to carry the heavy litters at all over such
ground as that which we were traversing； though the
two spare hands； as well as the four regular ones； had
of course to put their shoulders to the pole。
Presently； as we blundered and floundered along； there
was a sharp cry； then a storm of exclamations； and；
last of all； a most tremendous splash； and the whole
caravan halted。
I jumped out of my litter and ran forward。 About
twenty yards ahead was the edge of one of those sullen
peaty pools of which I have spoken； the path we were
following running along the top of its bank； that； as
it happened； was a steep one。 Looking towards this
pool； to my horror I saw that Billali's litter was
floating on it； and as for Billali himself； he was
nowhere to be seen。 To make matters clear I may as
well explain at once what had happened。 One of。
Billali's bearers had unfortunately trodden on a
basking snake； which had bitten him in the leg；
whereon he had； not unnaturally； let go of the pole；
and then； finding that he was tumbling down the bank；
grasped at the litter to save himself。 The result of
this was what might have been expected。 The litter was
pulled over the edge of the bank； the bearers let go；
and the whole thing； including Billali and the man who
had been bitten； rolled into the slimy pool。 When I
got to the edge of the water neither of them were to
be seen； and； indeed； the unfortunate bearer never was
seen again。 Either he struck his head against
something； or got wedged in the mud； or possibly the
snake…bite paralyzed him。 At any rate； he vanished。
But though Billali was not to be seen； his whereabouts
was clear enough from the agitation of the floating
litter； in the bearing cloth and curtains of which he
was entangled。
〃He is there！ Our father is there！〃 said one of the
men； but he did not stir a finger to help him； nor did
any of the others。 They simply stood and stared at the
water。
〃Out of the way； you brutes；〃 I shouted in English；
and throwing off my hat I took a run and sprang well
out into the horrid； slimy…looking pool。 A couple of
strokes took me to where Billali was struggling
beneath the cloth。
Somehow； I do not quite know how； I managed to push
this free of him； and his venerable head； all covered
with green slime； like that of a yellowish Bacchus
with ivy leaves； emerged upon the surface of the
water。 The rest was easy； for Billali was an eminently
practical individual； and had the commonsense not to
grasp hold of me as drowning people often do； so I got
him by the arm； and towed him to the bank； through the
mud of which we were with difficulty dragged。 Such a
filthy spectacle as we presented I have never seen
before or since； and it will perhaps give some idea of
the almost superhuman dignity of Billali's appearance
when I say that； coughing； half…drowned； and covered
with mud and green slime as he was； with his beautiful
beard coming to a dripping point； like a Chinaman's
freshly oiled pigtail； he still looked venerable and
imposing。
〃Ye dogs；〃 he said； addressing the bearers； as soon as
he had sufficiently recovered to speak； 〃ye left me；
your father； to drown。 Had it not been for this
stranger； my son the Baboon； assuredly I should have
drowned。 Well； I will remember it；〃 and he fixed them
with his gleaming though slightly watery eye； in a way
I saw they did not like； though they tried to appear
sulkily indifferent。
'As for thee； my son；〃 the old man went on； turning
towards me and grasping my hand； 〃rest assured that I
am thy friend through good and evil。 Thou hast saved
my life： perchance a day may come when I shall save
thine。〃
After that we cleaned ourselves as best we could；
fished out the lit