“Try and creep along a little farther,” I said. “Let’s get you in hiding, and then Ching and I will search for some and bring it—”
As I spoke I remembered that I had nothing that would hold water, and I felt constrained to add—
“Or fetch you to it.”
“All right, sir,” said the man, with a weary smile; “allus obey your officers.”
Ching went to his other side, and supported him some fifty yards farther, our way now being through quite a chaos of rocks, which had been loosened in bygone times from the cliff above. Then, so suddenly that we were not prepared, the poor fellow dropped with his full weight upon our arms, and we had to lower him down upon a heap of drifted sand.
“No go, sir,” he said softly; “I’m a done-er.”
“No, no; rest a bit, and we’ll find a cool place somewhere. I daresay we shall see a cave along here.”
“Can’t do it, sir,” he said feebly; “I’ve kep’ on as long as I could. It’s all up. Never mind me. If those beggars see you, they’ll have no mercy on you, so go on and try and get away.”
“Yes; velly muchee makee haste. Pilate come soon.”
“Yes, sir; he’s quite right, sir. You two cut and run.”