Part 42 (1/2)

”Come on and bring the lamp!” he shouted, running down the steps.

d.i.c.k followed, but left the lamp alone. He did not know who had fired the shot and it might be imprudent to make himself conspicuous. Jake, who was a few yards in front, boldly took a narrow path through the brush, which rose to their shoulders. The darkness was thickened by the mist, but after a moment or two they heard somebody coming to meet them. It could hardly be an enemy, because the man wore boots and his tread was quick and firm. d.i.c.k noted this with some relief, but thought it wise to take precautions.

”Hold on, Jake,” he said and raised his voice: ”Who's that?”

”Payne,” answered the other, and they waited until he came up.

”Now,” said Jake rather sharply, ”what was the shooting about?”

”There was a breed hanging round in the bushes and when he tried to creep up to the veranda I plugged him.”

”Then where is he?”

”That's what I don't know,” Payne answered apologetically. ”I hit him sure, but it looks as if he'd got away.”

”It looks as if you'd missed. Where did you shoot from?”

Payne beckoned them to follow and presently stopped beside the heap of ironwork a little to one side of the shack. The lighted veranda was in full view of the spot, but there was tall brushwood close by and behind this the gra.s.s.

”I was here,” Payne explained. ”Heard something move once or twice, and at last the fellow showed between me and the light. When I saw he was making for the veranda I put up my gun. Knew I had the bead on him when I pulled her off.”

”Then show us where he was.”

Payne led them forward until they reached a spot where the brush was broken and bent, and Jake, stooping down, struck a match.

”I guess he's right. Look at this,” he said with shrinking in his voice.

The others saw a red stain on the back of his hand and crimson splashes on the gra.s.s. Then d.i.c.k took the match and put it out.

”The fellow must be found. I'll get two or three of the boys I think we can trust and we'll begin the search at once.”

He left them and returned presently with the men and two lanterns, but before they set off he asked Payne: ”Could you hear what we said on the veranda?”

”No. I could tell you were talking, but that was all. Once you kind of raised your voice and I guess the fellow in front heard something, for it was then he got up and tried to crawl close in.”

”Just so,” d.i.c.k agreed and looked at Jake as one of the men lighted a lantern. ”He was nearer us than Payne. I thought Adexe would draw him.”

They searched the belt of gra.s.s and the edge of the jungle, since, as there were venomous snakes about, it did not seem likely that the fugitive would venture far into the thick, steamy gloom. Then they made a circuit of the camp, stopping wherever a mound of rubbish offered a hiding-place, but the search proved useless until they reached the head of the track. Then an explanation of the man's escape was supplied, for the hand-car, which had stood there an hour ago, had gone. A few strokes of the crank would start it, after which it would run down the incline.

”I guess that's how he went,” said Payne.

d.i.c.k nodded. The car would travel smoothly if its speed was controlled, but it would make some noise and he could not remember having heard anything. The peons, however, frequently used the car when they visited their comrades at the mixing sheds, and he supposed the rattle of wheels had grown so familiar that he had not noticed it.

”Send the boys away; there's nothing more to be done,” he said.

They turned back towards the shack, and after a few minutes Jake remarked: ”It will be a relief when this business is over. My nerves are getting ragged.”

CHAPTER XXVII