“They heard me mention tobacco, and now they are begging for some.  They love the needful as well as I do;” and Smith proceeded to fill his pipe, and then coolly replaced the tobacco in his pocket, much to the disappointment of the natives, who had followed his motions with anxious eyes.

“Give them a piece,” I said, quick to trace disappointment in their expressionless faces.

“Not I,” returned Smith.  “If I want them to-morrow to run after my cattle, I shall have to give them more, for they would not recollect that I had supplied them to-night without compensation.”

“Then I’ll stand treat,” cried Fred, handing a small piece of the needful to the nearest native, who grunted, but whether as an expression of thanks, or disappointment that it was not larger, is unknown.

The glittering eyes of the gorged natives were instantly fastened upon the fortunate possessor of the tobacco, greatly to the injury of their broiling meat.  But the native upon whom the present was bestowed showed no signs of making a dividend.  He carefully concealed the tobacco in a small pouch at his girdle, and after sitting a few minutes in silence, staggered to his feet, and waddled off.

“‘It is get all you can and keep what you get,’ with them,” said Smith, as he watched the native enter his hut.

The water in the sauce pan at this moment gave indications of boiling, and as we all felt hungry, we determined to have supper before stretching our forms under the shelter of the cart.  Our stock of coffee was produced, the pork and bread unpacked, and while the convict busied himself frying slices of the former, we soaked cakes of the latter in a pan of water, and sliced a few potatoes to add a relish to our meal.

At length our supper was cooked; when seated within the light of the blazing fire, we prepared to enjoy ourselves and perhaps emulate the natives in their feasts.

“How do you like your coffee?” asked Smith, as I raised my tin pot to my mouth.

Before I could reply, my attention was directed to a blaze that suddenly enveloped one of the huts, and which threatened to extend to the others.  As the materials of which it was built were light and dry, but few minutes’ time would be necessary to consume it; so I started up, intending to assist in extinguishing the flames.

“Let it burn,” exclaimed Smith, leisurely sipping his coffee, and watching the progress of the fire; and even the natives kept their places, and appeared unmoved at the sight.

“There may be somebody in the hut,” cried Fred, rising.

“Then let them get out the best way they can,” answered Smith.  “If these dirty scamps can’t assist a comrade, I don’t see why we should bother our heads.”

We waited to hear no more, but rushed towards the flames; and our steps were quickened by hearing what we thought was the cry of a child.

We seized the dry branches, of which the hut was built, and tore them from their fastenings, scattering the leaves that formed the roof, and, regardless of the heat, continued to work; the flames were too powerful for us, and we were obliged to beat a retreat.