“Easily enough. I had marked down one wagon—the one I pointed out to you while it was light—and as soon as I dropped down from here I went on my hands and knees to crawl towards it. You know what a short distance it was, and by going very slowly I passed two others where the Boers were sitting outside talking. This was easy enough, for they were so much interested in their conversation that they took no notice of any noise I made.”
“And they couldn’t see you?”
“I couldn’t see them,” replied West; “so, of course, they did not see me.”
“Go on.”
“I did,” said West, “and then I thought it was all over, for the next wagon faced in another direction, and I saw what I had not seen before—a lantern was hanging in front over the driver’s box, and it sent a dull path of light forward on the ground, and I stopped, for I had to cross that path, and I felt that I must be seen.”
“Tut-tut-tut!” clicked Ingleborough.
“But after a few moments I recollected how much my drab brown jacket was like the soil, and I determined to risk it.”
“And crawled on?”
“Yes, but not on my hands and knees. I lay flat on my chest and worked myself along upon my hands and toes. It was only about a dozen yards where it was light, but it seemed like a mile.”
“Never mind that!” said Ingleborough impatiently. “You did it unheard?”