“That we didn’t, sir,” said Smith, indignantly. “They took the bit in their teeth and bolted just like hosses, and run; there warn’t no walk about it, or I wouldn’t ha’ minded it so much. But we pulled up as soon as we could, didn’t we, Billy?”
“Ay, mate, that’s so,” growled Wriggs. “But hadn’t we better stow under kiver? Them charcoal chaps is getting precious nigh.”
“What! are you going to stop?” said Panton.
“Yes, sir, course we is,” said Smith, in an ill-used way. “We couldn’t help it if our legs warn’t under control. You don’t know, p’raps, but I do, and Billy Wriggs too, what trouble a man’s legs’ll get him in. Why, I’ve known Billy’s legs take him ashore to a public-house, and then they’ve got in such a nasty state o’ what Mr Rimmer calls tossication, that they couldn’t stand. Didn’t they, Billy?”
“Ay, Tommy, they did, lad,” growled Wriggs; “but speak the truth, messmate, and don’t keep nought back. Yourn was just as bad.”
“Wuss, Billy, ever so much, and I was quite ashamed to take ’em on board again. Oh, murder! Look-ye there!” Smith exclaimed, in a hoarse whisper, and he dropped down flat.
“Legs again!” growled Wriggs, following his example, one that the others were not slow to adopt, for all at once the heads of several spears came into view, and hardly had the little party crept well under cover before there was a sudden burst of voices, and they could see the black faces of a crowd of Papuans advancing.
There was very little cover, and, to the horror of all, they saw and heard that the enemy had what the military would term flankers out, in shape of a couple of men at each end of their line; and while the main body kept along out in the open, the scouts at the right forced their way through the undergrowth and among the trees at the edge of the forest.
Those were crucial minutes, and both Panton and Drew felt that at any moment they might be seen, for two naked figures came nearer and nearer through the trees, till their white eyeballs and glistening teeth could be seen plainly, and as Panton crouched there, with his piece convulsively clutched in his hands, he felt certain that one of the men saw him plainly, and was striding to get nearer, so as to be within reach for a deadly thrust with his spear.
On and on he came, glaring straight before him, holding his weapon carefully poised, and in utter ignorance of how near he was to death, for at the slightest gesture Panton would have drawn trigger and shot the savage in his track, a charge of bird shot at so short a distance being as effectual as a bullet.