"Wait, Baas. I creep round and see if no one about."
He crept off without a sound, while they watched and listened. In a
moment more he was back.
"All safe that way, Baas. Now for the other side."
They saw his dark figure glide along the whitewashed wall till he
reached the end, then he disappeared round the corner.
He was longer gone this time, and when he returned, he was carrying a
heavy load. As he reached them, he laid his burden gently down and
stretched himself up.
"One Boer done for, Baas. Just caught him in time and brought him
along," he whispered. "You put on him clothes and take him gun, and it
will be safe."
"Is he dead?" asked Ned, horror-struck.
"Yes, Baas. Me make no mistake with pickaxe. Other fellow court him
gal on the other side. Quick put on him coat and hat, and go over to
the box. You see other fellow from there. If he still wait, hold up
hand."
Ned, repugnant as the task was, felt the wisdom of acting upon the
suggestion of Cocoeni. Swiftly he drew off the coat and hat from the
dead Boer and put them on; then, bracing on his bandolier and
revolver-belt, he took up the rifle and boldly crossed the line of light
to the sentry-box.
There were no windows to this end of the building, while from where he
stood he could see the front gate, outside of which stood the figure of
a stout-built woman pressing against the rails, while inside was the
other sentry, with his face to her and his back to his duty. They were
having their upsitting, or rather upstanding, in the moonlight, and
seemingly totally oblivious to any one or anything else.
It was gruesome to think of that bleeding corpse within the shadow, and
those ponderous lovers looking at each other with speechless and
moonstruck admiration. Ned shuddered to think of it, and now he was
wearing the blood-soaked hat at the same time.
However, there was no time to moralise. That Boer lover was likely to
stand there until daybreak without budging, but some one else might
come.
He put up his hand, and at the signal the seventeen figures left their
shelter and glided across like spectres. Ned could watch them and the
pair at the gate. He was also able to make out that ghastly figure
which they had left behind.
Cocoeni bent his back and put his head against the wall, while one by
one they clambered over him and dropped out of sight.
"Now, Baas, your turn," said the Kaffir, softly.
Ned laid down his rifle and walked over to Cocoeni.
"How are you going to get up?" he asked.
"Easy. You go first, I come after."
In a moment Ned was on the wall.
"Come on, Cocoeni."
"Wait a bit, Baas."
Cocoeni ran over to the sentry-box and snatched up the rifle, then he
returned.
"Catch, Baas, and get down other side. I be with you presently."
Ned saw him run back a few yards and then take a flying leap. Next
instant the Kaffir was beside him on the ground, and they were free.
So far all had gone well. Their danger now lay in the open country,
which spread as clear under the moonlight as if it had been day. As
they got away from the tronk wall they could easily be seen and potted
by any of the authorities who might be posted about.
However, this had to be risked, and the only course they could pursue at
present was beside the main track.
They therefore set off as fast as they could run, keeping to the grass,
and making for the kopjes, which were some distance away. Ned had a
notion that they would not have far to go before they met their friends,
if their escape had not been already observed.
Cocoeni kept alongside of our heroes, and carried both the rifle and
pickaxe, which he had taken a fancy for since the gory deed it had been
the instrument of. The rest scattered and kept on abreast over the
valley.
They ran past a couple of small houses, rousing the dogs, who started a
chorus of loud yelps, but without disturbing the inmates, apparently.
They were clear of the township now, and with the open country before
them, yet by no means out of rifle-range, when a most unlucky accident
happened. Cocoeni, by some carelessness or want of knowledge, suddenly
let off the loaded rifle with a bang loud enough to wake the dead.
Fortunately he had the rifle on his shoulder and pointing skyward, so
that no one was hurt, but the effect meant disaster. It would rouse
every Boer who heard it, and raise the tronk-keepers.
"You have done it this time, Cocoeni!" cried Ned. "Now it must be neck
or nothing. Forward, boys, with all the wind you can put on."
There was no time to look behind and see what result that shot had
produced. One and all spun over the ground like racers.
"Ping! ping! ping!" came the bullets after them. The burghers had got
out of their beds, and were driving away at them from the windows of the
two houses. One poor Kaffir flung up his hands and fell on his face.
The death of the sentry had already been avenged.
Up the hillside they rushed; they were amongst the stones now, therefore
better able to dodge the bullets.
For one instant Ned glanced back, and what he saw quickened his paces.
From the tronk gates a body of horsemen were riding out, and spreading
out upon the road.
"We're done for!" he gasped. "They'll be up to us in five minutes."
At this instant his ears caught a clattering of hoofs in front of him,
and, looking forward, he saw half a dozen horsemen galloping along the
road, with three empty saddled horses amongst them.
"Hurrah! we are saved!" he cried joyously.
"Not yet, my son; but jump up without delay, and we'll do our best,"
answered one of the riders, as they reined up beside the escaped
prisoners.
"Halloa! you've got a tribe with you, I see," said the leader, as Ned
and his chums sprang into the empty saddles.
"Yes; what about them?"
"They must run for it and take their chance; we have no more horses
here."
"Never mind us, Baas. We know where to hide. You get along. The Boers
will follow you."
"Good-bye, brothers," shouted Ned.
"Good-bye, Baas! I'll see you again by-and-by, never fear," cried
Cocoeni in his full, deep tones.
Next instant the troop were riding at full speed, while the Kaffirs had
disappeared as if the earth had swallowed them.