Part 81 (2/2)
”Eh? yes!--all right. That you, Mr Jack?”
”Yes. Hus.h.!.+” whispered the lad. ”Don't move; don't raise a hand.
Listen. Are you quite awake?”
”Yes, sir. What's the matter?”
”We're in danger, Ned.”
”Yes, sir, I knew that before I shut my eyes; but it was no use to holloa about it. What is it now?”
The call was repeated and answered before Jack spoke.
”Oh, that's it, is it, sir?” said Ned quietly. ”Pretty creatures.
After us again, eh? Well, if we lie still they won't see us, and--yes-- shadow's rising on the mountain, it will be dark directly. All we've got to do is to make out which way they go, and then go the other, so the sooner they show the better for us--I mean before it gets dark.
Such a stupid place too; there ain't no evening, it's dark directly.”
”There's more danger, Ned,” whispered Jack.
”Eh? what, ain't that enough, sir? Well, what is it?”
”Turn your head very gently, so that you can look at the fire.”
”Yes, sir.--Well, it's out.”
”Don't you see anything there?”
”Whoo!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the man in a tone full of horror, ”snakes, hundreds of 'em! Oh, we mustn't stand that, sir; they're waiting till it's cool enough, so as to get our 'taters.”
”Nonsense: after the warmth. Now you see, Ned. What's to be done?”
The man was silent for a few moments. Then softly--
”This is nice, Mr Jack; we can't get up and run away because of the n.i.g.g.e.rs, and we can't stop here because of the snakes. Yes; what's to be done?”
Jack was silent in turn for a few moments.
”Let's crawl a little way off, Ned.”
Jack set the example, and it was very willingly followed, till they were a dozen yards farther from the fire; but before half the distance was covered, the shouting of the blacks was heard again.
”I say, Mr Jack,” whispered Ned, as they subsided, ”you're a very clever fellow over your books.”
”Am I, Ned?” said Jack sadly.
”Oh, yes, I've often heard the guv'nor and Doctor Instow say so. Well then, there's me. I'm sharp enough over my work--sort of handy chap.”
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