Part 11 (1/2)
”I believe the fellow is asleep,” said Lionel ”Yes! listen, I can hear hi If that's the way he keeps guard, I think I can play him a trick; and the chances are the rest of the fellows are asleep also It is now nearly dark outside
In a little time the whole camp will have lain down We could easily h for uards don't catch ”
”A capital idea,” said Denis ”I don't think there will beit out”
”But you would run a fearful risk of having an assegai sent through you if you were discovered,” exclaimed Percy ”For your own sake I had much rather you did not make the attempt”
”I aood care not to be caught I know the ways of the people, where they are likely to be sleeping, and where their guards are posted The chances are they will be asleep in a short ti as doorkeeper to us If I can e to reach our camp, Hendricks will soon come and set you free”
”But suppose you were to meet a lion or leopard, as you have no rifle, hoould you defend yourself?”
”I would keep out of his way, and shout and shriek at the top of my voice, you may depend upon that,” he answered
Percy was at last induced, though not very willingly, to consent to Lionel'sthe atteround to talk over the reed that it would not be wise to coht
Fortunately Percy had a match-box, for the Zulus had not rifled their pockets, and striking a light, he ascertained that it was about eleven o'clock
”We cannot have a better time,” said Denis, ”so we'll set to work iuard of ours should open his ears and suspect so as if holding so way to a hearty laugh
Percy tried to imitate hily anxious about Lionel's undertaking, which he thoughtno tools except their knives, the operation was a long one They cut through the lower part of the twigs, and had to scrape away the earth with their hands Only two could work at a ti near the door to hide his couard awake and look in
”We shall be through in another minute!” exclaimed Lionel ”Hurrah, it is done now!” he cried out soon afterwards ”I can be through in a moment What is the old fellow at the door about?”
”He is still snoring away,” answered Percy
”Well, then, do you and Denis keep talking and laughing, and I'll slip out”
”But do co your way to the horses,” said Percy ”It would be far better that we should submit to whatever the prince intends than that you should run the risk of being killed”
”No fear,” answered Lionel, as he shook hands with his companions
”Depend upon it, I shall be safe with Hendricks before the h the opening He stopped, however, before he was quite through, and backing in said, ”Re, so that, if possible, the Zulus ot out”
”I'll do h the opening Not the slightest noise was uards at the entrance of the hut, even if they had not been asleep, would not have heard hione, lay doith his head to the opening to listen No sound reached his ears He then crept partly through, but could see nothing Not a person was stirring, not even a dog barked ”Lionel will get clear, I hope,” he said, as he drew back into the hut ”He is a wonderfully sharp, clever little fellow As he lived so long a the Zulus, he knows all their ways Even if heZulu, provided it is still dark, though of course his dress would betray hione too,” said Denis ”If he succeed, so ht we”
”Not so sure of that,” observed Percy ”Three objects round would be more likely to be discovered than one; and if I were addressed, I, at all events, could not pretend to be a Zulu boy, whatever you ot free; but then, ould have becoe Depend upon it, iser to re, and may find it necessary to co to hear Lionel's voice Time went on, but he did not ht venture to stop up the opening; so he began shovelling in the earth and replacing the twigs; he kneever, should any one examine the outside, it must be discovered that a hole had been ht not be observed, and he a that if so how puzzled the Zulus would be to account for the disappearance of Lionel
”I'll pretend not to knohat has become of hihing ”I'll suggest that he h the roof, or that he was not put in at all, or that he has evaporated, although, to be sure, they won't knohat that means, and I don't kno I could well explain it, as the Kaffir tongue has nothing equivalent to the term However, I'll do my best to mystify them”
”I would rather not ht to tell the truth and stand the consequences,” said Percy ”He had a perfect right to run away, and he exercised that right I would rather you said what had happened, and that he had gone only for our sakes, to let our friends knohat has becos turn out,” said Denis ”Are you not beginning to feel hungry?”
”Indeed I am, and sleepy too,” answered Percy ”I would rather have so we can do is to go to sleep I'll try, although our couches are not of the most luxurious description”