Harold Bindloss

“ Presently a stealthy crackling of undergrowth came out of the forest, and the two white men grasped hands without a word. Marvin limped slowly towards one corner of the breastwork of interlaced palm-branches and thorns, his hot fingers closing about the butt of a big revolver, while his comrade followed him wistfully with his eyes. Both knew that death was very near them then, but the officer's voice rose clearly as he said, "No man fires without my word. If the bushmen once get inside they will cut you up very small; so you had better fight hard to-day." ”

“ When his temperature fell,with the coolness before the dawn, Marvin awoke somewhat better, for the intermittent fever is always worst at night, and as the first grey light filtered down through the vapour he staggered forth from the tent. He listened gravely to the story of the carriers' desertion, but frowned when he heard that two of his most reliable men were missing as well, apparently, for no reason whatever. Then he went back to the tent with a set face, and met Lindley's enquiring eyes.
"Worse than ever," he said sombrely. "All the carriers have bolted, and taken the provisions, too. ”

“ Lindley stretched out a burning, claw-like hand. "Headache and deafness are almost worse than fever," he answered, as he gulped the bitter mixture down. Then Marvin added, thoughtfully, "I hardly like to worry you now, but I can't see my way out of this at all. Most of the carriers are crippled with Guinea-worm, or pretend to be; the rest would bolt if they got the chance; and only half the men are fit for duty. The scouts say the bushmen [1] are gathering about us in force, and it would be precious awkward if they were to rush us now." ”

“ The sergeant commenced some rambling explanation, and the guests looked on wondering, until the trader said, "A British Haussa," and went forward, carrying a goblet of wine; but the soldier shook his head and answered in his own tongue, "I am a Moslem, neither will I eat until you have heard. Listen, white men." Then he told the story of the disease-stricken and beleagured camp, and the officers listened with all their ears, while the trader explained such portions as they could not understand. ”

“ We are few, and the sickness is upon us also, so if the bushmen fall upon us now there is no hope of escape."
Aweh glanced at the rest, who nodded approval, and said there was wisdom in the words, and that Allah had doubtless given their comrade an understanding mind. Then he continued, "The white officers must not die, for they are just masters and kind; neither is it fitting that the naked heathen should slay the faithful when they are too sick to fight. ”

“ Then one private, who acted as tent-orderly, said he had heard the white men discuss that very plan, and decide that it was impossible; while another, who had once accompanied a frontier survey, declared that the bush tribes were accursed devil-worshippers, who would assuredly hack the messengers in pieces.
Aweh settled the matter by bringing his Snider-but viciously down upon the speaker's bare foot, and saying:
"At the worst, two men can but die, and here there is no hope. ”

“ The African is an imitative being, and the negro hewers of wood, inspired by sundry bottles of gin bestowed upon them by the visitors, had extemporised a vociferous concert of their own. But the giver of the feast was equal to the occasion. ”

“ An hour later a sentry, hearing a suspicious rustling of undergrowth, fired his rifle at a venture, and when the worn-out men staggered to their feet again they found that the portion of the camp where the bush carriers, being heathen, lay apart was empty. All had vanished silently into the forest while the others slept, and, what was worse, most of the provisions and ammunition cases had vanished with them too. Thereupon Sergeant Aweh approached the tent, and drawing apart the canvas peered. inside. ”