Nic Revel Part 29

"Can't I? Oh yes, my lad. There's them knot-holes, and I've got some pegs cut as fits into 'em, ready to stand on. I can get up easy enough."

"But the dogs?"

"Well, I smuggled a knife and sharpened it up, and it's tied to my leg in a sheath I made out of a bit o' bamboo cane."

"But it would be madness to fight the poor brutes, and the noise would bring out Saunders with a gun."

"Just what I thought, my lad," said Pete, laughing softly; "so I went on the other tack this month past."

"I don't understand you, Pete."

"I'll tell you, then, my lad," said Pete softly. "I made up my mind to get you back to the old country, and the on'y way to do it seems to be to make friends."

"Make friends?"

"That's it. Way that big dog, Gripper, took to you zet me thinking. If he was zet at you he'd lay hold, 'cause he's been taught to obey orders.

He wouldn't want to, no more than a soldier might want to shoot a man; but if it was orders he'd do it. Well, I've thought a deal about them dogs, and dogs is dogs--eh, Master Nic?"

"Of course," said the young man, smiling to himself.

"And dogs has got zweet tooths, Master Nic; on'y the sugar they likes is a bit o' salt."

"You mean you wanted that piece of roast 'possum to give the dogs if they came at you."

"That's right, Master Nic. If old Zaunders was shouting 'em on, they wouldn't take no notice of the meat; but if he waren't there they'd be friends at once, and eat it. So I'm ready for 'em if they comes after me."

"And you're going to try if you can find where they keep the boat to-night?"

"_Sn-n-n-ork_!" said Pete, pinching his arm, and as the deep, low, snoring went on, Nic grasped the reason.

For there was a faint rustling of the dry corn-leaves, which stopped, and went on again in the utter darkness, while beyond it the low murmur of talking continued.

"The talking kept on to cover Humpy's movements," thought Nic. "He has heard us, and is coming to listen."

Pete snored again, moved uneasily, and began to mutter in a low tone:

"Couldn't throw Humpy Dee?" he said. "Let you see. Better wrastler than him. _Snore--snurrk_!"

The rustling ceased, and then went on again.

"Where's that there moog o' zyder, lads?" muttered Pete in a dull, stupid way. "Where's the huff-cap?"

Then he smacked his lips, and said "Hah!" softly, turned himself over, yawned, and began to snore, keeping it up steadily, while the rustling went on; but it sounded now as if the man who made it was retiring.

Nic listened, with every nerve on the strain, while Pete kept on the snoring, and a minute later he made out clearly enough that Humpy Dee had returned to his companions, and distinctly heard the change in the conversation, as the man whispered the result of his investigation.

Pete's snore was lower now, and sounded as if it would last; but it did not, for the next moment Nic was conscious that his comrade was leaning over him; a pair of lips touched his ear, and a voice whispered:

"He thinks he's clever, but we can be too sharp for him."

"Don't talk any more," whispered Nic softly, "or he'll come back."

"Right," said Pete, and the snoring recommenced. And as Nic lay there in the darkness, thinking over his companion's words, and feeling that it would have been madness to have made any attempt to leave the barrack-like shed, with watchful enemies both within and without, and the certainty in his mind that Humpy Dee's intention was to betray Pete so as to get him flogged for attempting to escape, the snoring went on, with a strange lulling effect. He had toiled hard that day in the burning suns.h.i.+ne, and had lain down after his supper with that pleasant sensation of weariness which comes to the healthy and strong; and he had been feeling a glow of satisfaction and thankfulness for the full recovery of all his faculties, when Pete had spoken as he did. It was not surprising, then, that the heavy breathing of his companion should have the effect it had, and that, just when he was in the midst of pleasant thoughts of the possibility of escape, he should suddenly pa.s.s from extreme wakefulness into deep sleep, in which he saw the red cliffs of Devon again, with the sparkling sea, and listened to the soft murmur of the falls low down in the combe. Back home once more.

Then he opened his eyes with a start.

"I've been asleep," he said to himself, as he listened to Pete's heavy breathing; "not for many minutes, though," he mused; and then he wondered and stared, for he could see the cracks and knot-holes of the wooden building against the grey dawn of the rapidly-coming day.

"Why, I must have been asleep for hours and hours!" he mentally e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed.

Proof came the next moment that it must have been eight hours at least, for the dull booming bellow of the great conch sh.e.l.l blown by one of the blacks rang out, and Pete started up in his bunk to stare at Nic and rub his calf softly.

"Had a good night, Pete?" said the lad.

"Tidy," said the man softly; "but one o' the dogs had me by the leg."

"What! Surely you didn't go?"

"Ay, but I did. He let go, though, when he smelt the roast meat. Smelt better than raw."

"Pete!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Nic, in his surprise.

"Now then, rouse up, all on you," shouted Humpy Dee, "or they'll be sending in the dogs for us, and the cat for some one else."

"Oh," thought Nic, as a pang of agony shot through him; "that wretch must have been on the watch."

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

PETE THINKS HE HAS FOUND IT.

In the morning, as the eternal hoeing went on, Pete found his opportunity for telling of his adventures during the night. Humpy Dee had evidently heard nothing.

"Keep at it, Master Nic," he said; "this here stuff's growed up zo that there's no telling when they're coming on to you. It's all right though, now."

"Tell me, then, quickly. You got out?"

"Zure I did. I meant to, and had a good long night of it."

"And you're sure the dog hasn't hurt you much?"

"Nay, on'y a pinch; I had the meat ready to shove in his face, But there aren't much to tell you."

"I was afraid so. We must be patient, Pete, and live on hope."

"Can't live on hope, master. Hope's on'y the salt as makes the rest o'

life tasty. Want zome'at else as well. But don't you be down. We've got to get away, and we'll do it afore we've done."