Part 32 (1/2)
There was no one near them as far as they could see, but above them, standing dimly silhouetted against the sky, was an immense Creuzot gun, looking like some gigantic animal crouching on all-fours.
”Keep a bright look-out!” Jack whispered, with his mouth close to Guy's ear. ”There must be a guard somewhere close at hand.”
”What is that?” Guy answered hoa.r.s.ely, pointing to the left. ”Surely those are men wrapped in blankets and asleep. Yes, I am sure of it.”
”Stay here a moment, and I will see,” said Jack; and a second later he was gone in the darkness, and was creeping towards the ill-defined figures which Guy had pointed out.
It was dangerous work, but he had had a good grounding in the duties of a scout, and now he put into practice all the cunning that Tom Salter and his own quick wits had taught him. Lying almost flat upon the ground, he wriggled his body between the boulders and rapidly advanced.
A few moments later he was sufficiently close, and, cautiously standing up behind a jagged ma.s.s of rock, peeped over the top.
The sight he saw filled him with satisfaction, for, wrapped from head to foot in blankets, were ten men fast asleep on the side of the hill.
”We ought to get past those fellows safely,” he muttered, ”and if there are no more of them we might even be able to make a fight of it. By George, there are their rifles stacked a few feet away from their heads!
It is worth the risk, and I will chance it.”
Once more crawling forward, he writhed amongst the boulders, and was soon within easy reach of the weapons, but with a boulder between himself and the rec.u.mbent figures. At that moment, despite all his care, the b.u.t.t of his rifle struck against the rock and gave rise to a sharp sound.
Jack immediately lay flat on the ground, and, placing his thumb on the magazine catch, prepared to shoot a cartridge into the breech, and keep the Boers from taking possession of their Mausers.
It was evident that one of the men was a light sleeper, for at the sound of the b.u.t.t striking the boulder he sat up on his elbow and looked suspiciously round. Then he rose to his feet, shook off the blankets, and strode towards the stack of rifles. Jack covered him and prepared to shoot, but, satisfied that here there was nothing wrong, the Boer again stopped, and then, evidently still suspicious, climbed up the hill to the gun.
Jack followed him, and again hid himself behind a boulder some ten feet away. As he did so, another ghostly-looking figure approached the Boer, and demanded, in somewhat quavering tones, what was the matter. Jack had no difficulty in following his words, for once again, with a start of surprise and an angry snap of his teeth which boded ill for the man should Jack find himself opposed to him, he recognised the voice of the fat little German, Hans Schloss, who had shown himself such a bitter hater of the English.
”That man is always coming across my path,” he muttered grimly to himself, ”but let him look out this time; for if he comes between me and my object I will put a bullet through his carca.s.s!”
Then he sat up and craned his head to listen.
”What is the matter, Gert?” the German asked in a trembling voice, which showed that sentry duty in front of these much-despised English was a task he had little liking for.
”Nothing is wrong, little man,” the Boer answered surlily, ”but I heard a sound, and came up here to see whether anything had happened. But these prisoners are evidently afraid of you, Hans Schloss. Ah! you are a gallant fighter, and to-morrow you shall help us to work this gun, and see the English sh.e.l.ls come bursting close at hand. It will be a fine sight for you to watch those prisoners blown to pieces by the very men they would wish to fight for!”
”Ha, ha, Gert! You were always funny,” Hans answered, with a husky laugh which had no merriment in it, ”but to-morrow I have other work to do. It is a misfortune, for I should dearly have loved to witness the execution of these traitors.”
”Well, keep a bright look-out, Hans,” the Boer replied brusquely, ”or else you may never live to see to-morrow's light.” Then he turned about, and swung down the hill past Jack, leaving the little German quivering with fear. Five minutes later the man addressed as Gert was once more wrapped in his blankets, and Jack was crawling back to join Guy.
”Come away over here,” he whispered when he had reached him. ”Now lie down flat, and I will tell you what I have seen.”
Then he detailed how ten Boers were sleeping upon the hill, and how Hans Schloss was keeping guard in front.
”With a little luck we shall manage beautifully,” he went on, ”but there is always the chance of one of those Boers waking up, or of Hans discovering us. I had intended removing the stacked rifles, but it was too risky a job when one of the men was only half-asleep. But we can do every bit as well by separating. Are you willing to do just as I suggest?”
”I'll do exactly as you order, Jack,” Guy answered. ”You're boss of this show, and had better continue to act as such. Too many cooks spoil the broth, old chap!”
”Very well, then, you will follow me, and I shall leave you behind a boulder close to the sleeping Boers. When you are safely hidden there, slip a cartridge into the breech and open the magazine. If there is an alarm, it will be your duty to keep anyone from using those rifles, and whatever happens you will stick to your post till I call you.”
”I understand. You can rely upon me,” Guy answered shortly.
”When you are in position,” Jack continued, ”I shall sneak up to the gun and cut the prisoners loose. I'd give you that part of the job, Guy, old boy, as your father is there, but I have already been up there and know the ground. When we are ready I will slip across to you, and tell you how matters have gone. Then we will all cut away down the hill, fetch Mrs Robb and the kid, and strike round into the camp. Is that all clear?”