He pointed upward, and his companions caught sight of that which had taken his attention.
“What are those two fellows doing there?” whispered Roberts.
“Scouting, evidently,” said Bracy. “I saw their arms.”
“So did I,” replied Roberts. “Let’s get back at once, and pick up those lads as we go. One never knows what may come next. There may be mischief afloat instead of peace.”
At that moment Drummond gave Bracy a sharp nudge, and jerked his head in another direction.
“More of them,” said Bracy gravely; “yes, and more higher up. Well, this doesn’t look friendly.”
“No,” said Roberts. “Look sharp; they haven’t seen us. Let’s get back and take in the news.”
It was a difficult task for the three young Englishmen to compete with men trained as mountaineers from childhood; but the living game of chess had to be played on the Dwats’ own ground; and for a short time the party of officers carefully stole from rock to rock and from patch of trees to patch of trees till Roberts stopped short.
“No good,” he said softly. “I feel sure that the beggars are watching us.”
“Yes,” said Bracy; “they have the advantage of us from being on the high ground. Let’s go on openly and as if in perfect ignorance of their being near.”