“Not a bit,” I replied. “Are we near the wagons?”
“Um? Done know,” he replied. “Close by Doppie. All quiet. Fas’ asleep. Lissum.”
I listened, and all was very still. Now and then from a distance came a faint squeal and a stamp from some horse; but there was no talking going on, and it was hardly possible there in the darkness to conceive that probably a thousand men were lying near at hand, spread out to right and left, and ready at a call to spring up, mount, and dash across the plain.
“I can hear nothing,” I replied at last, with my lips close to his ear. “Think they are gone, Joeboy?”
“Um? Gone?” he whispered back. “Gone ’sleep. Joeboy going to look for wagons.”
“Stop a moment,” I whispered. “Are you going to leave me here?”
“Um? Boss Val lie still and have good rest. Joeboy come back soon.”
“But do you think you can find me again?” I said.
He put his lips close to my ear again and laughed softly.
“Um? Oh yes, Joeboy find um sure enough. See a lot in the dark. Boss Val lie quite still.”