“By Jove, Rad!” cried Tom, and his own eyes were not dry.  “I’m not going to be deserted by you in that way.  You’re just the same as ever to me, giant or no giant, and don’t you forget it!” and he patted the old man on the back affectionately.

“Praise de Lord fo’ heahin’ yo’ say dat, Massa Tom,” gasped Eradicate.  “Praise de dear Lord!”

And then, knowing that he still held a place in his young master’s heart, the colored man was content.  And from then on he rode on one side of Tom, while the giant, Koku, strode along on the other.  He had established himself as Tom’s bodyguard and even though Eradicate insisted on remaining, Koku would not go away.

“I guess I’ll have to keep ’em both,” said Tom, with a grin, “but I’m going to change Koku’s name.”

“What are you going to call him?” asked Ned.

“Let’s see, what month is this?”

“August,” said Mr. Damon.

“Then August is his name!” exclaimed Tom.  “Koku sounds too much like a cocoanut cake.  Here, August, shift that package on the white mule,” he called, “it’s cutting her back,” and the giant, with a pleased grin, did as he was bid.  And August he was called from then on.

But my story is getting too long, so I must bring it to a close.  And really there is not much to tell.  The march back to the coast was full of hardships, danger and difficulties, but they accomplished it.  The two giants seemed glad that they had left their own country behind and they were simple and affectionate beings.  Tom made up his mind he would let the circus man have one and keep the other for his personal attendant.

They traveled by day, and slept at night, shooting game as they needed it.  Several times they narrowly escaped getting mixed up in the native conflicts.  Tom had one striking evidence of his giant servant’s usefulness.  One day he was stalking a small beast, like a deer, when, from a tree overhead, a jaguar sprang down at him.  But Koku—­I beg his pardon—­August was at hand, and, like Sampson of old, the giant slew the beast bare-handed, choking it to death.

In fine time our friends reached a native town and the wonder caused by the giants was no less than the amusement of the big men at the things they saw.  They wondered more when they got to a city, and saw more marvels of the white man’s progress.

Then Tom and his friends reached the coast, and took a steamer for New York.  The giants created a great sensation, the more when it was known that Tom intended to keep one for himself.  With this arrangement Mr. Preston agreed, for he only wanted one as an attraction.

“Couldn’t have done it better myself!” the circus proprietor said to Tom when he heard the story, and this was high praise from Mr. Preston.

“And you rescued old Jake, too!  Well, well!  Couldn’t have done it better myself!  I really coudn’t!”