The Bad Roads of Angola

           AtthismomentlittleJackawoke,andputhisarmsaroundhismother’sneck.Hiseyeslookedbetter.Thefeverhadnotreturned.

           "Youarebetter,mydarling,"saidMrs.Weldon,pressingthesickchildtoherheart.

           "Yes,mama,"repliedJack,"butIamalittlethirsty."

           Theycouldonlygivethechildsomefreshwater,ofwhichhedrankwithpleasure.

           "AndmyfriendDick?"hesaid.

           "HereIam,Jack,"repliedDickSand,comingtotaketheyoungchild’shand.

           "AndmyfriendHercules?"

           "Herculesishere,Mr.Jack,"repliedthegiant,bringingnearerhisgoodface.

           "Andthehorse?"demandedlittleJack.

           "Thehorse?Gone,Mr.Jack,"repliedHercules."Iwillcarryyou.WillyoufindthatItrottoohard?"

           "No,"repliedlittleJack;"butthenIshallnolongerhaveanybridletohold."

           "Oh!youwillputabitinmymouth,ifyouwish,"saidHercules,openinghislargemouth,"andyoumaypullbacksolongasthatwillgiveyoupleasure."

           "YouknowverywellthatIshallnotpullback."

           "Good!Youwouldbewrong!Ihaveahardmouth."

           "ButMr.Harris’sfarm?"thelittleboyaskedagain.

           "Weshallsoonarrivethere,myJack,"repliedMrs.Weldon."Yes,soon!"

           "Willwesetoutagain?"thensaidDickSand,inordertocutshortthisconversation.

           "Yes,Dick,letusgo,"repliedMrs.Weldon.

           Thecampwasbrokenup,andthemarchcontinuedagaininthesameorder.Itwasnecessarytopassthroughtheunderwood,soasnottoleavethecourseoftherivulet.