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From a long way came the sound of rifle-firing, sometimes rapid, and sometimes consisting of dropping shots. "They're at it somewhere," muttered the rancher; "it doesn't come from the ranch, so I guess the folks are all right."
Regaining the open air he posted a sentry over the entrance and, collecting the German prisoners, awaited the arrival of the C.O. By this time all resistance on the summit of M'ganga was over. Away to the north-east came occasional reports of rifle-firing, showing that the Pathans and the Rhodesian horse were engaging the fugitives. The one fly in the ointment was the escape of von Gobendorff.
There was no doubt about the trail, they knew: it led straight into the patch of woodland; and as this afforded ample cover, they might at any moment find themselves the objects of some able rifle-firing; and as they had suffered a good deal lately in their ranks, they were extra cautious.
"I am a patriot, signore! and not only in opposition to my beast of a wife, I assure you: a downright patriot, I mean." Merthyr was tempted to discharge him at first, but controlled his English antipathy to babblers, and discovered him to be a serviceable fellow. Toward nightfall they heard shots up a rock-strewn combe of the lower slopes; desultory shots indicating rifle-firing at long range.
The rifle-firing ceased as abruptly as it had begun, but Grief ran on, perplexed by ominous conjectures, until, in a turn of the path, he encountered Mauriri running toward him from the beach. "Big Brother," the Goat Man panted, "I was too late. They have taken your schooner. Come! For now they will seek for you." He started back up the path away from the beach. "Where is Brown?" Grief demanded.
And yet there are others near who must be faring worse than we. Far away in the north of the city, where are Monseigneur F 's cathedral, his thousands of converts, and the forty or fifty men he so ardently desired, we hear on the quieter days a distant rumble of cannon. Sometimes when the wind bears down on us we think we can hear a confused sound of rifle-firing, far, far away.
The sounds of rifle-firing and the bright glow in the horizon, made by a burning building, confirmed his misgivings as to what a few days or hours were sure to bring forth.
General dissatisfaction is growing. Irregular rifle-firing is occurring in the streets. It is necessary to charge immediately some person enjoying the confidence of the people to form a new government. It is impossible to linger. Any delay means death. Let us pray to God that the responsibility in this hour will not fall upon a crowned head.
They had been re-enforced, but I have no notion whence. The infantry, that had drawn aside like a curtain to let us through, had closed in again to the edge of the forest, and through the noise of rifle-firing and artillery we caught presently the thunder of new regiments advancing at the double.
Again there was a puff of smoke and a loud report, this time the cannon- ball striking not more than twenty feet astern and glancing twice from sea to sea to windward ere it sank. But there was no rifle-firing for the reason that all their hunters were out in the boats or our prisoners. When the two vessels were half-a-mile apart, a third shot made another hole in our mainsail.
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