The farm has been raided while we were away--got away by a trick. I
suspect Juma and his gang. They collared all our rifles and ammunition.
Ferrier and I are starting at once to follow them up. I want you to
send up somebody at once--a white man--to give an eye to things. I dare
say we shall be back by the time he gets here, but it'll be just as well
to have somebody on the spot in case we're longer than I expect. Sorry
to trouble you, but I've got to teach Juma a lesson.
Yours in haste,
D. HALLIDAY.
"That's the explanation!" exclaimed Mr. Halliday. "Can I start
to-night?"
"No. This may be a serious business--the young madcap! I hope he'll
turn back if he doesn't catch them at once----"
"That wouldn't be John. He'll go on till he has thrashed them."
"Then heaven help him! Man, he may find himself among a whole tribe of
blood-thirsty savages. And the worst of it is we may not reach him in
time. It's not merely a question of looking after the farm. We'll
start as soon as it's light: I'll get a party together."
"The police?"
"No: can't wait for them. I'll go down to the club and get some fellows
I can rely on. We'll go on horses and mules. We had better not alarm
the women."
"We must tell them something. Better out with it, I think. They'll
only think it worse than it is if they see we're keeping something
back."
"Couldn't be worse. Well, perhaps you are right; but don't let 'em see
we're put about."
"All right. Give me a cigar."
They strolled into the other room smoking, showing no trace of their
anxiety. Mrs. Gillespie looked up quickly as her husband entered, but
only said--
"Come, your coffee is poured out and getting cold."
"My own growing, ma'am," said Mr. Gillespie to Mrs. Burtenshaw, as he
took his cup, "and I hope you like it."
"Mother couldn't say she doesn't, could she?" said Helen archly. "_I_
like it very much."
"Helen speaks for us all," said Mrs. Burtenshaw. "Well, what does John
say?"
"Any news of the failed B.A.?" asked Joe.
"He doesn't mention him this time. In fact, it's just a note: you can't
call it a letter. He has had to leave the farm for a day or two, and
wants me to send up a man to look after things in his absence."
"Has Charley gone too?" asked Hilda Ferrier.
"Yes, they've both gone, or it wouldn't be necessary to ask for a man.
It's lucky Mr. Halliday is on the spot, so we shan't have to hire
anybody."
"Gone shooting, I suppose," said Joe.
"Or after strayed sheep," said Oliver. "They're always a trouble."
"But I don't understand," said Hilda. "You say they have gone: why
didn't John get somebody before he went?"
"That shows it's sheep," replied Oliver quickly. "He'd have to start at
once or he wouldn't stand much chance of getting 'em all. That's it,
isn't it, Mr. Gillespie?"
"Well, no, not exactly."
"In fact," said Mr. Halliday quietly, "the farm has been robbed, and as
there are no policemen in the neighbourhood, John has had to go after
the robbers himself."
"Gone shooting: I said so," remarked Joe.
"Don't be absurd, Joe," said Helen.
"I'm going to take Halliday down to the club, if you'll excuse us," said
Mr. Gillespie. "He'll start for the farm to-morrow----"
"So soon!" interrupted Joe quickly. "I thought we should all go
together at the end of the week."
"I must go to-morrow," said Mr. Halliday, "and as I shall be off before
you're up in the morning I'll say good-bye now. I'll be back in a few
days, and then you can all come and view our estate. It's just as well
that I am going first, for we shall have to get some rooms ready for
you, you know."
He shook hands all round, and left with Mr. Gillespie, who had been
speaking in an undertone to his wife. Joe Browne followed them from the
room.
"I say, Cousin David," he said, "what's up?"
Hesitating a moment, Mr. Halliday put John's note into his hand. Joe
whistled softly.
"I'm coming," he said. "So will Poll. What time do you start?"
"My dear boy, your mother----"
"Mother's an old trump. I shall tell her the exact state of the case
quietly, of course; I won't scare the girls; and she won't turn a hair.
We'll ride, I suppose? You can get us mounts, Mr. Gillespie?"
"Yes. We'll start at sunrise. You've got khaki and sun helmets?"
"Of course. We'll be ready, sir, Poll and I."
At six o'clock next morning a party of ten rode out of Nairobi. It
consisted of the four men we know, with five friends of Mr. Gillespie
and a Somali guide. Six were mounted on horses, the rest on mules. Two
members of Mr. Gillespie's household watched them leave. One was his
wife, who bid them Godspeed at the door; the other was Hilda Ferrier,
who had passed a sleepless night, and looked forth from the window of
her room with tired and anxious eyes.