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And, if the girl had been insincere in her parting from Weldon, why should she be sincere in her present absorption in his own interests? And, if her regrets for Weldon were as great as they had seemed to be, then what was the use of his remaining by her side any longer? The horns of the dilemma extended themselves to infinity and branched again and again as they extended.
"Dutchmans kill Kruger Bobs, no matter; kill Boss, no take despatch. Boss say to Kruger Bobs where de despatch. Kruger Bobs take him to Krugersdorp, if Boss die." And Weldon shivered a little, as the silence dropped again. The ridges were steeper now, and came in more swift succession, as the horsemen plodded wearily along the southern slope of the Rand.
In a few words she informed Dick Sand of all that had happened during her stay in Alvez's factory. "Perhaps," she added, "it would have been better to have remained at Kazounde." "What a fool I was!" cried Hercules. "No, Hercules, no!" said Dick Sand. "These wretches would have found means to draw Mr. Weldon into some new trap. Let us flee together, and without delay.
"They've been sniping, all the morning long, and they have only hit a man and a quarter now." "Which was the quarter?" Turning, Carew displayed a jagged hole in his left sleeve. Weldon laughed unfeelingly. "Can't you keep out of range, you old target? If there's a bullet coming your way, it's bound to graze you." "This is only the fourth. Only one of those really meant business. Oh, hang it!
What could that interest be? There was no explanation of that. Must not Negoro desire, as they all desired, to land on the American coast as soon as possible? When Dick Sand spoke of this incident to Mrs. Weldon, the latter, though she shared his distrust in a certain measure, could find no plausible motive for what would be criminal premeditation on the part of the head cook.
Less than ever, would he depart from his habitual prudence, for a terrible suspicion was incrusted in his mind; but he did not wish to say anything yet. The retiring to rest had been made at the feet of a group of large trees. Fatigue aiding, Mrs. Weldon and hers were already asleep, when they were awakened by a great cry.
When we came up we plainly saw the beast lying out on a branch which stretched horizontally from the trunk about twenty-five feet from the ground. "Now," said Pecetti, "you two fire first, and if you don't kill, Weldon and I will be ready. Aim at the heart." Morris and I fired, and the panther sprang from the tree among the dogs, which all piled on him at once.
Weldon had lingered until he was ordered away; then, with Ethel beside him, he had gone to find a doctor who could dress his own wounds and make him fit to face the ordeal which he knew was awaiting him. For one short moment, he had felt Ethel's hands busy about his shoulder and head and wrist, had rejoiced in the quiet strength of their soothing touch.
Seeing neither one nor the other, he said to himself that perhaps the two accomplices even accompanied their victims. Where were they leading them? What would they do with them? It was his most cruel care. Dick Sand forgot his own situation to think only of Mrs. Weldon and hers.
From the farther side of the bed, Weldon, too, was watching Ethel. If he lived to full fivescore years, he could never forget her face as he had met her at the hospital door, that morning.
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