I gave him a quick nod—it was no time for speaking—and crept softly to my place, passing pretty close to where our friend lay wounded and quietly asleep.
The next minute both Jack Penny and I were crouched behind what served as a breastwork, with our pieces ready, the doctor being on our left, and the blacks, including Jimmy, right in front, close to the mouth of the cave.
“We must mind and not hit the blacks!” whispered Jack. “I mean our chaps. Lie down, Gyp!”
The dog was walking about in an impatient angry manner, uttering a low snarl now and then, and setting up the hair all about his neck till in the dim light he looked like a hyena.
Gyp turned to his master almost a reproachful look, and then looked up at me, as if saying, “Am I to be quiet at a time like this?”
Directly after, though, he crouched down with his paws straight out before him and his muzzle directed towards the enemy, ready when the struggle began to make his teeth meet in some one.
The savages were all the time coming steadily on lower and lower down the bank, till suddenly one of them stopped short and uttered a low cry.
Several ran to his side at once, and we could see them stoop down and examine something among the bushes, talking fiercely the while.
“They’ve found out where our friend was wounded, Jack Penny,” I said.
“Think so?” he said slowly. “Well, I couldn’t help it. I didn’t mean to do it, I declare.”