United States or Kazakhstan ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
As far as I could make out in the darkness, we were going along parallel with the lines of the sleeping Boers. Growing more excited now, I began to wonder how soon Joeboy would turn the heads of the leading bullocks and strike out for the fortress; then my thoughts drifted into a fresh rut, and I speculated as to how long it would be before we came upon some outpost and were turned back.
Only an hour or two before I was leading that calm, happy home-life, without a trouble beyond some petty disappointment in the garden or farm or during one of the hunting or shooting expeditions with Joeboy to carry my game; and now a lightning-like stroke seemed to have descended to end my idyllic boy-life and make me a man full of suffering, and with a future which I abhorred.
"Your father bids me say that you are to watch for your chance, and then make a dash for your liberty. Gallop to Echo Nek, and you will find Joeboy waiting there with a rifle and cartridges. But you must not come back here. Joeboy will bring a letter." My heart was bounding with hope, and I felt ready for anything just then, as the captain gave the orders "Mount!" and then "Forward!"
It took time to reason all this out, and to get to believe that our bold ruse was succeeding to a far greater extent than I had ever dared to hope. There it was all plainly enough all real; the wagons were going steadily along, the first guided by Joeboy, and the rest following with their black conductors quite as a matter of course.
I had no fear about Sandho, whose rein had been passed over his head and allowed to hang down, for he had been trained to stand, and having grazed for many hours, had no temptation to stir. Joeboy soon settled himself close to my feet, and then began our long and painful watching, hour after hour, through a night which seemed as if it would never end.
The action of rousing up the blacks asleep beneath this one had communicated itself from wagon to wagon on to the end. "Open sesame!" caused the cave of the Forty Thieves to open; the magic word "Trek!" had started the wagon-drivers and forelopers; and now I expected the next thing would be a rush of Boer cavalry to surround us, unless Joeboy and I could hide. "Yah! hor! whoo-oop!
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.
Then suddenly a voice from somewhere above on the right front demanded in Dutch, "Who goes there?" For answer Joeboy stepped on at once, and for the first time Sandho kicked against a stone, one of his shoes not only giving out a sharp clink, but striking a spark of fire.
"Um?" said Joeboy, and I heard him grind his teeth. "They say that, Joeboy kill um all: 'tick assagai in back an' front. All big 'tupid fool. Ha! ha! Joeboy almost eat um." He laughed in a peculiar way that was not pleasant, and it moved me to say: "Don't attempt to touch them if they turn against us. I'll threaten them with my pistol." "Um? Boss Val think better shoot one?
I cried excitedly; "then what about my horse? I've been lying here thinking of nothing but myself. I ought to have seen to him." "Couldn't," said the Sergeant dryly. "But he's all right." "Are you sure?" I cried. The Sergeant nodded. "I saw to him myself. I like that horse." "Oh Sergeant!" I said, with a feeling of relief. "But what about Joeboy? I did wonder once why he had not been to see me."
Word Of The Day