"No, no," she answered with a smile; "drink half of it now and half at
midday, and the fever shall trouble you no more."

So soon as the stuff was cool enough Leonard obeyed, though with a
doubting heart.

"Well, mother," he said, setting the gourd down with a gasp, "if
nastiness is any proof of virtue your medicine should be good."

"It is good," she answered gravely; "many have been dragged from the
edge of death by it."

And here it may be stated, whether it was owing to Soa's medicine or to
other causes, that Leonard began to mend from that hour. By nightfall he
felt a different man, and before three days were over he was as strong
as he had ever been in his life. But into the ingredients of the draught
he never found the courage to inquire, and perhaps it was as well.

Shortly after he had taken his dose Leonard observed Otter walking up
the hill, bearing a huge lump of meat upon his shoulders.

"The old woman has brought us luck," said the dwarf as he loosed himself
from his burden. "Once more the bush is full of game; scarcely had I
reached it when I killed a young koodoo, fat, ah! fat, and there are
many of them about."

Then they prepared breakfast, and ate it, and when the meal was done
once more they talked.