Part 33 (1/2)

I want to think of something better than diamonds.”

”You mean liberty?”

”That's right. And now, once for all, we don't want to make any more plans: each knows what he has to do, and as soon as it is dark he has to do it.”

”No,” said West gravely; ”your part must wait until I have managed to get the rifles.”

”Well, yes; I must not be in too great a hurry. But I say, wouldn't it be better for us to go together to the horses, and hide by them or under them till the Boers muster?”

”But suppose the sentry takes it into his head to come and examine the wagon, and gives the alarm?”

”Oh, don't suppose anything!” said Ingleborough impatiently. ”We must chance a good deal and leave the rest to luck.”

West nodded, and fixed his eyes upon the wagon he had previously singled out, noticing that the Boers who occupied it were lying right beneath, sleeping, each with a rolled-up blanket for a rug.

A little later he saw a big heavy-looking Kaffir come up, look underneath at the sleepers, and then go off for a short distance, to lie down upon his chest, doubling his arms before him so as to make a resting-place for his forehead, and lying so perfectly motionless that it became evident that he also was asleep.

The evening was closing in fast now, and the men began to move about more as if making preparations for some excursion which they had in view.

”That looks well!” said Ingleborough. ”There's going to be some movement to-night. All was so still half-an-hour ago that I began to think we should have to put off our attempt.”

”Oh, don't say that!” said West. ”We _must_ go!”

Further conversation was checked by the coming of the sentry to look in upon them, scowling heavily before he slouched away.

Ten minutes or so later the darkness began to fall, increasing so fast that within half-an-hour the laager would have been quite black if it had not been for a lantern inside a wagon here and there; but, in spite of the darkness, the camp began to grow more animated, a buzz of conversation seeming to rise from the wagons like the busy hum of the insects outside.

All at once, as Ingleborough was going to draw his companion's attention to this fact, he felt a hand steal along his arm to grip his hand. Then it was withdrawn, a very faint rustling followed, and the listener felt that he was alone.

”Good luck go with him!” he muttered. ”I wonder whether he'll succeed?”

Leaning a little forward, he seemed to strain his ears to listen, though he felt that this was absurd, till all at once it struck him that he heard the soft sound of stealthy steps approaching from the other end of the wagon, and, creeping towards the sounds, he felt more than heard two men approaching, and as he got his head over the wagon-box he heard a whisper.

”Anson and the sentry!” he said to himself. ”The spy, come to find out whether we're safe. Yes, that was Anson's whisper! Then we're done if he brings a lantern and finds me alone.”

He paused for a moment or two, asking himself what he should do; and then the idea came.

Subsiding into a reclining position, he suddenly gave his thigh a sharp slap and started as if the blow had roused him up.

”Don't go to sleep, stupid!” he said aloud. ”One can't sleep all these awful long nights! Oh dear me, this is precious dull work. I wish we had a lantern and a box of dominoes! I wonder whether there is a box in the laager?”

”Bother!” he said, in a low smothered tone, with his hands covering his face. ”I wish you wouldn't! I was dreaming about old Anson and that he'd got ten thousand pounds' worth of diamonds in a bag aboard his wagon.”

”Like enough!” continued Ingleborough, in his natural voice. ”Ha, ha, ha!” he laughed. ”I should like to serve the beggar out!”

”How?” he said, in the smothered sleepy voice.

”How? I'll tell you how it might be done if he had got them. Find out where his wagon is in the laager, and then wait till the sentry's asleep, and crawl out of this thing, and n.o.bble the lot.”

”Rubbis.h.!.+”