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After tramping on for about ten minutes, Joeboy stopped and stood motionless; then he whispered to me to come close up, without turning his head when he spoke. "Boss Val lissum with both ears," he said. "Tell Joeboy when he hear Doppie. Joeboy tell Boss Val too." "Right," I said; and we went on again so silently that I did not hear my own footsteps in the sandy earth.
"No good to fight; Doppie too many." "Yes," said Denham impatiently. "You said so before." "Um?" said Joeboy, taking his eyes from the glass a moment or two to glance at the speaker, but turning away and raising the glass again; "Joeboy know." "Let's have it, then," said Denham, "for hang me if I can see how it could be done."
Joeboy say, `Big boss tell us to go right away other end. Joeboy hear and know how Doppie talk, and Joeboy say right words." "Are you sure?" I said in Boer Dutch, to test him. "Um? Yes. Know what to say, like Boss Val know. Always talk like Boer before Joeboy come and live with Boss Val." "Of course," I whispered, with a feeling of relief. "Um! Boss Val jump in wagon and say nothing.
I closed up so that I could lay my hands upon his shoulders. Then he whispered very softly: "Hear Doppie soon. Boss Val go down when Joeboy kneel." "Right," I said again, straining my eyes right and left to get sight of the Boer camp; and, though I judged that their fires would be all out, I expected to get a glimpse before long of one of their lanterns.
For as Joeboy snatched more than lifted him down, ping, whiz, the humming of two bullets went so close to his head on either side that he winced twice to right and to left; and crack, crack came the reports of the rifles fired from the Boer lines opposite. "Doppie want to shoot Boss Denham," said Joeboy coolly. "Shoot straight."
Yes, Boss," he said thoughtfully, without taking his eyes from the glass. "Joeboy know how." "You do?" said Denham quickly. "Tell us, then." "Boss Colonel send Boss Val and hundred sojer fetch um." "It wouldn't do, Joeboy," I said sadly. "There would be another big fight, and we should lose a lot of men and horses without getting the wagon." "Um? Yes. Too many Doppie."
I was startled by his words, but I obeyed; and as soon as I was erect I felt his hands about me, feeling whether my rifle was slung across my shoulder, my bandolier in place, and my revolvers ready. Apparently satisfied, he gave a grunt, and taking my hand, he whispered again: "No Doppie here. Over this way and that way."
"Boss Val tired?" he whispered. "Um?" "Not a bit," I replied. "Are we near the wagons?" "Um? Done know," he replied. "Close by Doppie. All quiet. Fas' asleep. Lissum." I listened, and all was very still.
"Joeboy can't see so far as that," replied the black. "Only see horses coming fas'. Coming to fetch wagons and plenty mealies and flour. Boys all say `Hurrah! and make all horses laugh." "But do you think they will get here first?" "Um? Yes. Doppie got longer way to come." "Ha!" I ejaculated, with a sigh of relief.
"Signore, its cost was a hundred doppie of pure gold and full weight, and it is contracted for with a young noble of Milano, who hopes to win his mistress by the present, for a profit of fifty. Affairs were getting low with me in consequence of sundry seizures and a total wreck, and I took the adventure with the hope of sudden and great gain.
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