“But, Mr. Hampton, we have the spare radio packed away. We haven’t used it for so long a time that it’s no wonder you have forgotten about it. But that’s probably our salvation. For we haven’t used it at any time during Mabele’s connection with our party, and so it’s unlikely that he knew we had it.”
“Good for you, Frank,” said Mr. Hampton, jumping up, the lines of worry disappearing as if by magic. “Let’s have a look. Bring that lantern. Jack, and we’ll investigate.”
Forebearing to summon any of the bearers to aid them, the boys themselves overhauled the heap of supply cases and from the midst pulled the familiar case enclosing the spare transmitting set. Many were their expressions of satisfaction.
Carrying it back to the tent, they opened it up. All the parts were complete. And in another and smaller case was packed the aerial. Assembling and setting up would be a short enough matter, but Mr. Hampton suggested that they wait until the morning. For one thing, he felt certain they would be unable to receive any response from Entebbe at this hour.
“And, besides,” he pointed out, “there is little likelihood now that we shall be able to start tomorrow. None of the bearers who went to the village has returned as yet, and they will be feeling so badly in the morning, after heavy potations of that native beer, that it would be impossible to get any work out of them. Perhaps, by noon, we can make a start. But even that is problematical. At any rate, you fellows will have plenty of time in which to set up your radio and open communication with Entebbe.”
Upon this understanding, Mr. Hampton and Niellsen were once more about to retire for the night to their own tent, when Jack becoming seized with a new idea again halted them.
He wanted to know whether his father did not consider it would be wise to place a guard over their supplies. So friendly was Chief Ungaba that they had felt an unwonted sense of security from thefts during the weeks spent under his protection. For dire, indeed, had been the punishment he had desired to visit upon the one and only thief caught during their stay. In fact, he had wanted to put the poor fellow to death, and he would have done it, too, had it not been for Mr. Hampton’s representations.
“You see tonight, Dad,” explained Jack, “all the villagers will be stupid with liquor, and the bearers, too. It just occurred to me that, perhaps, Mabele has a number of malcontents amongst the bearers who will follow him. If that’s the case, they can make a rich haul and escape easily enough, if they wait until we retire and then raid the supplies while the rest of the camp is incapacitated by too much party.”
“You are right, Jack,” answered his father, “and I should have thought of that myself. However, it’s not too late. Let’s see. There are five of us. If we all go over to the supplies and sleep tonight around a campfire, taking turn and turn about at standing watch, that would be the best way except for one thing. It would leave our tents unguarded again. No, that won’t do. What can anybody suggest?”
“Oh, I guess one man would be enough to stand guard,” said Bob. “They’d hardly try any tricks, if they found we were on our toes about the matter.”