Dead Man's Land Part 70

"No," replied Dunn sadly; and he gave the boy a very meaning look.

"Why, you don't mean to say--that--"

"Yes; don't bother him, or he may go off. Afraid. The boss mightn't like it."

"Not like it?"

"No. Saw him cleaning his spear."

Glances were exchanged, and the looks seemed in silent language to tell the tragic story that either Mak or his little companion had speared and afterwards buried the enemy they had overcome.

"I don't like this, doctor," said Sir James. "It's tragedy. What can we do?"

"Nothing," said the doctor gravely.

"But these men--for I suppose we must call that little savage a man, though he looks a child--"

"The big herculean black is no bigger in intellect. If they have killed a brother savage I cannot feel that our consciences are to blame. The men were here to rob, and if we had caught them in the act I honestly believe that it might have cost us our lives."

"Probably," said Sir James; "but we must make them understand our utter abhorrence of the deed, and threaten punishment for the act."

"No, Sir James. Remember the old saying, Example is better than Precept. I feel sure that if we interfere with them with any stringency of action they will forsake us at once."

"Well, boys," said Sir James, "I would rather give up the expedition at once and make our way back, than have such horrors as this occurring.

Here, what does this mean?" he continued, for Mak came forward with his little companion, both looking joyous and jubilant, Mak talking away and putting in a word of English now and then--words which const.i.tuted "come", "show," and "gun."

"Oh, that's plain enough, father," cried Mark. "They have got the gun."

The little party followed the two blacks at once, and to their great surprise they were led into the temple square and across it till they were near to the big wall. Then both the doctor and Sir James stopped short.

"This is too horrible," said Sir James angrily. "Come back, boys. They want to show us where they buried that unfortunate prowler."

"I am glad of that," whispered Dean. "What horrible wretches these blacks are!"

"Ugh! Yes," whispered back Mark, with a shudder. "Come along. I shall begin to hate myself for having been so friendly with them."

The two blacks stood looking at one another in amazement, as they saw the others moving away. But directly after Mak literally bounded before them and began waving his hands as if trying to drive back a flock of sheep.

"No go away!" he shouted. "No go. Gun! Gun! Gun!" And he pointed to the loose heap of sand and stones that had been piled over the old burial place.

"What's that?" said the doctor. "Gun?"

"Gun! Gun! Gun!" shouted Mak excitedly, and the little pigmy bounded on before them to the heap and began signing to them, pointing down the while.

"Doctor! Uncle!" cried Dean. "I believe they mean that the gun is buried there."

"Gun! Gun! Gun!" cried Mak, and he bounded after his little companion, to take his place on the other side of the heap, and began to imitate his gestures, looking at the boys now, and shouting, "Gun! Gun! Gun!"

"Oh, do be quiet!" cried Mark angrily.

Then in a questioning tone he looked at the blacks, pointed to the heap, and repeated the word. Both began to dance now with delight, pointing down and making signs as if sc.r.a.ping a hole in the heap before them.

"Well," said Dean, "if the gun's there don't keep on dancing like a pair of black marionettes. Dig it out;" and he imitated the blacks' signs of sc.r.a.ping away the loose rubble.

Mak nodded his head eagerly, and shrank back, a movement imitated by Pig.

"No, no," said Mark; "don't go. Dig it out."

The black looked at him enquiringly.

"Dig?" he said.

"Yes; both of you dig it out," cried Dean.

To the great surprise of the boys the two blacks dashed at them, caught them by the wrist, drew them close up to the heap, and tried to bend them down so that they might draw away the loose rubbish.

"Oh, no, you don't," said Mark merrily, s.n.a.t.c.hing away his wrist. "I am not going to have my hand used as a trowel to save yours, you lazy beggar. Here, Dean, get hold of Pig and do as I do. Let's give them an object lesson."

The little fellow smiled with pleasure as Dean caught him by the wrist, and then the two boys, to use Mark's expressions, proceeded to use the black palms and digits as trowels; but the smiles of both blacks changed to angry frowns. They s.n.a.t.c.hed their hands away and backed off from the heap, Mak shaking his head fiercely.

"Well, that's cool," said Mark. "Here, come back;" and he pointed to the heap and stamped his foot. "We are not going to do the dirty work and let you keep your hands clean, my fine fellows. Come--dig out-- gun!"

Mak shook his head angrily and imitated Mark's action of stamping his foot and pointing to the heap.

"Dig--out--gun," he said, imitated the while by the pigmy, who repeated the words "Dig--dig" to Dean.

"No--no--you two!" cried Mark.

"No--no--you two!" cried Mak; and he pointed again at the heap, running close up to it and pointing to where some parched up fern leaves had been scattered about.

He only stayed there a moment, and then darted away, to stand with his little companion, shaking his head and chattering away as he energetically kept on signing to the boys to act, and shouting.

"Gun! Gun!"

"All right, gentlemen; never mind," said Buck good-humouredly. "These n.i.g.g.e.rs are mighty particular about doing just what work they like and no more. Me and my mate will soon fish the gun out if it's there. They seem to think that as they have found the place where it's buried their job's done."

"No," said Dunn dismally.

"What do you know about it?" growled Buck.

"Been here five years," said the man sadly, quite in a tone which seemed to suggest that he wished he had never seen the place. "Won't go because they know people have been buried there. It's where you dug out the bones."

"Ah!" said the doctor. "Yes, that must be it. These people fear the dead more than they do the living."

"Oh, that's it!" cried Mark. "Don't you remember how they wouldn't go near after we had found the bones?"

"No, no, Buck--Dunn; we'll do it, and show them how cowardly they are."