“No, sir,” said Denham to me silently—that is to say, he made a round “O” with his mouth, and then shaped the word “sir” as one would in trying to speak to a deaf and dumb person.
“They’d empty half our saddles, and kill no end of horses,” continued the Colonel, as he kept on sweeping the plain with his glass.
There was a long pause now; and then, still speaking in the same low, distinct voice, and without doubt under the impression that he was only expressing his thoughts in silence: “That’s it,” he said at last, as if he had quite come to a decision as to the course he must pursue. “In the dark. A quiet walk till we are discovered by their outposts, and then gallop and get through them. Say to-morrow night, when the horses are well rested.”
Another pause, during which Denham shook his head violently. Then: “No. The poor horses would be hungry. It will have to be to-night. Let me see; there is no moon. Yes, it must be to-night.”
Click! went the field-glass as it was closed, and at the same moment the Colonel turned, to see Denham nodding his head violently at me in acquiescence with our chief’s remarks, but in profound ignorance, till he saw my eyes, of the fact that the Colonel was watching him curiously; then he met the Colonel’s glance, and blushed like a girl.
“Don’t do that, Mr Denham. You’ll injure your spine.”
“Oh!” went Denham’s mouth, and he stamped his foot, as the Colonel walked away—both movements, of course, in silence.
“There,” said the Colonel loudly, as if for us both to hear; “I don’t think I need try to see any more. Ha!” he ejaculated as, with a sharp movement, he began to open and focus his glass again, and looking towards the west for some time. “Worse and worse. They mean to have us. I suppose they look upon us as a danger that must be crushed out once and for all.”
“If they could do it, sir,” said Denham.
“They evidently mean to try, Denham,” replied the Colonel, with a sigh. “Some of us will have to bite the dust before this business is over. There’s a fresh commando of quite five hundred men coming up yonder under the sun, and before dark we shall be regularly ringed round.”