Part 32 (2/2)
Ingleborough rose to his knees, and at a glance grasped the meaning of his companion's troubled look.
”Going to adopt our little Basutos for their own use, eh?” he said coolly. ”Well, I wonder they haven't done it before! Bah! There are plenty more horses about! What worries me is how I'm to get a couple of rifles and the ammunition. I was rather too c.o.c.k-a-hoop about that when I talked to you, for these beloved Dutch cuddle up their pieces as if they loved them with all their hearts.”
West smiled.
”Oh, don't do that because I said cuddled.”
”I smiled because I see the way to get a couple of rifles as soon as it's dark,” said West, and he told what he had noted.
”Then there's no reason for you to look glum. I'll get a couple of horses somehow if you'll get the guns. Here, I'd whistle or sing if I were not afraid of taking the sentry's attention. We're all right, lad, and that bit of sleep has taken away the miserable pain in my head which I keep on having since my fall. Now then, what are they going to do with those ponies?”
Sitting well back, the prisoners watched all that went on, and saw the ponies mounted and put through their paces by a couple of big Boers of the regular heavy, squat, Dutch build.
”Bah! What a shame!” whispered Ingleborough; ”it's murdering the poor little nags. A regular case for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Those fellows want a couple of dray-horses to carry them.”
”Yes, and they've found it out,” said West softly.
For as they looked on they saw the two Boers pull up after a canter up and down the full length of the laager, and then drop clumsily off, with the result that the ponies spread out their legs and indulged in a good shake which nearly dislodged their saddles.
Then a couple more of the onlookers tried the little mounts, but stopped after one trot up and down, and a general conversation ensued, resulting in the ponies being led off and tied up again in the same place, making West's heart beat as fast as if he had been running hard, while all the time he tried to crush down a feeling of elation, lest he should be premature in his hopefulness and be met with a fresh disappointment, for, though he saw the reins fastened in the same places, there was plenty of time before dark for the ponies to be removed.
Just then their examination of the Boers' proceedings was brought to an end by one of their captors bringing the roughly-prepared portion of food that was served out to them every day.
It was rough, but good of its kind, for the Boers seemed to like to live well, and they did not stint their prisoners, who, at a word from Ingleborough, fell to at once.
”Appet.i.te or no appet.i.te, eat all you can,” he said. ”We may have to work very hard to-night, and shall need all our strength.”
There was a fair amount left after they had done, and this was carefully tied up ready for taking with them if they were successful that night.
After this there was nothing more to be done but to wait till darkness fell, and they sat back watching while the sentry was again changed, when the fresh man visited the wagon, to climb in, look carefully round, and eye them suspiciously before returning to his post.
”Does that fellow suspect anything?” whispered West.
”Of course; but nothing fresh. He comes on duty under the full impression that we mean to escape if we can, and he feels that if we attempt it his duty is to send a bullet through each of us.”
”Then you don't think he suspects that we are going to make an attempt to-night?”
”Pooh! How could he? But look! There goes Anson! Not coming here, is he?”
”No: going to his own wagon! I say, Ingle, do you think he has any illicit-diamonds with him?”
”I'm sure of it! He could not, according to his nature, have come away without robbing the company somehow. I only wish I had the searching of his wagon! I suppose Norton did not have a chance!”
”Yes, look! He has gone to his wagon. Where should you search if you had the chance?”
”Not quite sure yet!” said Ingleborough gruffly. ”But don't talk to me.
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