Part 33 (2/2)
”Not it! We could get them easily enough and bring them back here.
n.o.body would suspect us! But there would be no getting them away! I say, are you asleep again?”
”No,” said West quietly. ”What's the matter with you? Are you talking in your sleep? I was afraid to come in, thinking someone was with--”
He got no farther, for Ingleborough clapped a hand over his mouth and continued.
”Heigho! What bosh one does talk! I wish there wasn't a blessed diamond in the world!”
He removed his hand, and feeling that there was some reason for all this, West said quietly: ”Why?”
”Why? See what a lot of trouble they cause! This fighting is as much about the diamond-fields as anything, and--Hullo! how you startled me?”
It was quite true: he was horribly startled, feeling that their plan was spoiled, for there was a faint sound at the end of the wagon and the door of a lantern was suddenly opened, throwing the light within, and giving the prisoners a glance of the sentry's and Anson's faces looking in.
”All right?” said the sentry, in his own tongue.
”Oh yes, all right!” replied Ingleborough; ”but look here: you might as well leave us that lantern! We won't set fire to the bed-curtains, I promise you!”
”No,” said the Boer, and with a chuckle he closed the door of the lantern and walked whistling away to his companion.
”Anson!” said West, with his lips close to Ingleborough's ear.
”Yes: the fox! How you startled me! I didn't hear you come! I was keeping up a sham conversation, for they were stealing down upon us to catch us on the hop! You failed, then, or were you obliged to turn back?”
”Neither: I succeeded!”
”What? You got the rifles?”
”Yes.”
”Then they must have seen them when the light was thrown in!”
”No,” said West quietly; ”they are outside, leaning against the near hind wheel.”
”West, lad, this seems too good to be true. How did you manage?”
”Easily enough. I had marked down one wagon--the one I pointed out to you while it was light--and as soon as I dropped down from here I went on my hands and knees to crawl towards it. You know what a short distance it was, and by going very slowly I pa.s.sed two others where the Boers were sitting outside talking. This was easy enough, for they were so much interested in their conversation that they took no notice of any noise I made.”
”And they couldn't see you?”
”I couldn't see them,” replied West; ”so, of course, they did not see me.”
”Go on.”
”I did,” said West, ”and then I thought it was all over, for the next wagon faced in another direction, and I saw what I had not seen before-- a lantern was hanging in front over the driver's box, and it sent a dull path of light forward on the ground, and I stopped, for I had to cross that path, and I felt that I must be seen.”
”Tut-tut-tut!” clicked Ingleborough.
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