Archie made no reply, and as the young private watched him he saw that the poor fellow’s eyes were once more closed; and the lad half lay on the crisp leaves, which rustled loudly at every movement, and mused on their position.
“One would expect,” he said to himself, “that at any minute a company of our swaddies would be here to fetch us out of this. At the same time, one ought to be ready to help one’s self. Can’t do anything, of course, with Mister Archie like this; but I have got my ideas about doing something some night if I can get a chance.—Oh, there you are, my beauties! I keep on hearing you, and you set me thinking. Wonder whether I could do it if I tried. I must wait till he comes round a bit more, and then I mean to try. Wonder whether they set sentries over us. Most likely; but if they do they will have to be dodged.”
There was a rumbling noise, which came from one of the elephants stabled near, and Peter Pegg shook his head slowly as if he were imitating the customary habit of a tethered elephant, and in imagination the private seemed to see one of the leg-chained beasts softly bowing its head up and down, and slowly from side to side, swinging it as if it were on springs.
“If I asked that chap who brings the water to let me see the helephants he would see through me, so I won’t do it—make him ’spicious; and he wouldn’t understand me if I did. His is an awful foolish lingo. Might perhaps get outside the door or window some night and have a look for them in the dark. Ah, there’s no knowing what I might do when he gets better.”
Private Pegg started violently, for all at once Archie started up excitedly, and sat with widely opened eyes, gazing wildly straight before him, his hands extended, and trembling violently; while, as his fellow-prisoner leaned forward and caught him by the arm to try and soothe him, believing him to be in pain, he snatched his hand away, and in a piteous cry uttered the one word:
“Minnie!”
Peter Pegg waited for a few moments, half-stunned by this new form of trouble, and offered the first palliative that occurred to him.
“Have some more water, Mister Archie,” he said huskily.
“No, no! Don’t you see? Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“Tell you what before, sir?”