handkerchief, she asked Richard for his, which she soaked in a pool of
rain water just outside the cave. Then, having washed the hurt thoroughly,
she bandaged his arm with the handkerchief and bade him put on his coat
again, saying confidently that he would be well in a few days.

"You are clever," he remarked with admiration. "Who taught you to bandage
wounds?"

"My father always doctors the Kaffirs and I help him," Rachel answered,
as, having stretched out her hands for the pouring rain to wash them, she
took the biltong and began to cut it in thin slices.

These she made him eat before she touched any herself, for she saw that
the loss of blood had weakened him. Indeed her own meal was a light one,
since half the strip of meat must, she declared, be put aside in case they
should not be able to get off the island. Then he saw why she had made him
eat first and was very angry with himself and her, but she only laughed at
him and answered that she had learned from the Kaffirs that men must be
fed before women as they were more important in the world.

"You mean more selfish," he answered, contemplating this wise little maid
and her tiny portion of biltong, which she swallowed very slowly, perhaps
to pretend that her appetite was already satisfied with its
superabundance. Then he fell to imploring her to take the rest, saying
that he would be able to shoot some game in the morning, but she only
shook her little head and set her lips obstinately.

"Are you a hunter?" she asked to change the subject.

"Yes," he answered with pride, "that is, almost. At any rate I have shot