Part 32 (1/2)

It was a wise addition to his speech, for d.y.k.e never looked much more miserable in his life; but there was enough in his aspect to make Emson smile faintly, and then close his eyes.

That brought back d.y.k.e to the responsibilities of his position, and he sprang up.

”Here! I've been letting you talk too much while you're so weak,” he cried excitedly.

Emson's lips parted to speak, but his brother laid a hand upon them.

”No,” he said, ”you mustn't: you'll have to get stronger first; and I've got to feed you up, old chap.”

Just at that moment a dark shadow crossed the doorway, and Tanta Sal's black face appeared looking in.

”Baas no go die,” she said. ”Jack tief. Baas Joe go get well. Look!”

She held out a rough basket, in which were half-a-dozen new-laid eggs.

”Jack find eggs,” said Tanta. ”Do so.”

She took one egg, gave it a tap, deftly broke the sh.e.l.l in two halves, let the white run out, and swallowed the yolk like an oyster.

”Here, hold hard!” cried d.y.k.e angrily. ”You mustn't do that.”

”No. Tant mussen. Jack find eggs, do so. Jack tief.”

”Well, I'm glad I know where the eggs went,” said d.y.k.e, taking the remainder. ”I thought our hens ought to lay some. But why didn't you tell us before?”

”Jack say killum,” replied the woman. ”Baas Joe hungry?”

”Not yet; I'll see to him,” said d.y.k.e, dismissing the woman, and he turned now to his brother with a strange dread creeping over him, for Emson lay back with his eyes closed, looking utterly exhausted, and as if the awakening from the long stage of delirium were only the flickering of the light of life in its socket. But by degrees d.y.k.e realised that it was the fever that had burned out, and Emson had only fallen asleep--a restfully, calm sleep, from which he did not awaken till toward evening, when d.y.k.e s.h.i.+vered with apprehension of the terrible attack that would come on about that time.

But there was no attack, and after talking feebly in a whisper, the invalid partook of a little food, then lay watching the glow in the west, and soon went off to sleep again as calmly as an infant. ”It's all right,” cried d.y.k.e excitedly; ”all I ought to do now is to keep on feeding him up with good, strengthening things, given a little at a time. I believe I was cut out for a doctor after all.”

He stood watching the sleeper for a few minutes, thinking of how perfectly helpless the strong man had become, and then a thought occurred to him. In an hour's time the guinea-fowl would be coming to roost in the trees beyond the kopje, and a couple of these stewed down by Tanta Sal would make a delicious kind of broth, the very thing for the sick man. Going out, he called to the Kaffir woman, and sent her to watch over Emson; while, gun in hand, he prepared to start for the kopje, so as to get into a good hiding-place before the guinea-fowl came home to roost.

His first act was to whistle for Duke, but the dog did not appear, and this set the lad wondering, for he remembered now that he had not seen it for hours.

But he was too intent upon the task he had in hand to think more of the dog just then, and hurried on past the kopje, and into the patch of forest growth which nourished consequent upon the springs which trickled from the granite blocks that sheltered the spring and fertilised a few dozen acres of land, before sinking right down among the sand and dying away.

d.y.k.e felt as if a complete change had come over his life during the past few hours. The golden light of evening had transformed the desert veldt, and everything looked glorious, while his spirits rose so, that had he not wanted the birds, he would have burst out shouting and singing in the exuberance of his joy.

”Who says Kopfontein isn't a beautiful place?” he said softly. ”I did, and didn't know any better. Why, it's lovely, and Joe and I will do well yet.”

A cloud came over his brow as he made for the patch of trees. His memory was busy, and he began to recall the past--his discontent, and how trying he must have been to his big, amiable, patient brother.

”But never again!” he said to himself. ”I didn't know any better then: I do now;” and, forgetting the dangers and troubles, or setting them aside as something of no consequence at all, d.y.k.e pa.s.sed on, and at last entered the trees just as there was a glint of something bright from which the sunset rays flashed.

But d.y.k.e did not see the glint, neither did he hear the bushes being parted as something glided through the low growth, and another something, and then another, and again another--four dark, shadowy figures, which glided softly away, and then seemed to drop down flat and remain silent, as if watching.

d.y.k.e saw nothing and thought of nothing now but the broth for his invalid, but picking out a good hiding-place, he c.o.c.ked his piece and waited for the birds; while at the _click, click_ of the gun-locks, something bright was raised about fifty yards from where he was hidden, and the bright thing quivered above the bushes for a few moments before it disappeared again.

That bright object, which was gilded by the sun's rays now flas.h.i.+ng horizontally through the trees, was the head of an a.s.segai, sharp and cruelly dangerous; but d.y.k.e's eyes were gazing straight away, over the desert veldt, while he felt as if he should like to whistle.