"I can't make it out!" he cried. "I'll give credit where it's due; the man 's clever as a monkey. What do you say?" he broke out in a different tone of voice. "Shall we attack again to-night?"
"Yes," said Edward; "certainly."
That was the way in which the mind of the big man worked. He thought in monosyllables. He was not like Crouch, who had a thousand reasons for everything, who was always eager to explain. With Edward Harden it was either Yes or No, and generally the former.
"Look here," said Max, "I propose we go about it in another manner. Last time I undertook to reconnoitre the enemy's position I made a fool of myself, and was captured."
"You did very well," said Edward.
"I don't think so," said his nephew. "At any rate, with your permission, I should like to try again. I suggest that we surround the stockade as we did last night, but that I am allowed to go forward alone. After all, I'm the youngest and most active of the party, if we exclude M'Wané and his friends. I believe I can creep up to the wall without being heard. I am sure I can vault the stockade. As soon as I am inside I will fire at the first man I see, and when you hear that shot you must endeavour to rush the gate."
Crouch knocked out his pipe on the heel of his boot.
"Bravo," said he. "There's no question you should meet with success. If you get into the fort--as you think you can--you'll take their attention from the gate, and we ought to join you in a few seconds even if the canoe appears on the river. Still, it's a big risk you're taking; I suppose you're aware of that?"
"Quite," answered Max.
Thus was the matter settled; and soon afterwards darkness descended, and day turned to night in the course of a few minutes, for there is no twilight on the Line.