“That was the very question I was asking myself,” replied Frank. “To my mind his tongue said one thing and his face another.”
Frank, who had his own duties to perform every time the camp was made, now went out to attend to them. He found the rest of the boys and three of the Kaffirs busy erecting a barricade of thorn-bushes behind the tent, and joining in the work, he found opportunity to report to each of his companions the warning Uncle Dick had given him. The boys were all eager to stand guard, and Frank, knowing that Uncle Dick expected him to arrange the matter, divided them into reliefs, and told them what hours they would be called on for duty.
Supper was served in a few minutes, and while the meal was in progress the horses began to come into camp and take their stations behind the wagon, where they were always tied during the night. As fast as they came up, the owners set down their plates and went out to secure their steeds, taking care to see that the halters were tightly buckled on, and that the tie-reins were well secured. About the same time Mack, who had been missing for the last half hour, came up driving the oxen. Frank told himself that that was something the driver had never done before, and then the matter passed out of his mind until a few hours later, when something happened to recall it very forcibly. During the meal one other thing happened that was unusual, and which soon drew everybody’s attention. When Uncle Dick’s horse was made fast to the wagon, he raised his head, and looking back towards the grove from which he had just emerged, uttered a loud, shrill neigh. This he repeated at intervals, until Uncle Dick and the rest began to think it meant something, and Archie, having finished his supper, went out to look into the matter. “I know what it means now,” said he, at length. “The horses are all here except mine, and Uncle Dick’s nag is calling him.”
The boys then remembered something which they might never have thought of again if this incident had not suggested it to them, and that was, that Uncle Dick’s horse and Archie’s had been almost constant companions ever since the journey began. They never mingled with the other animals when turned loose to graze, but wandered off by themselves; and if any of the nags belonging to the rest of the party intruded upon them, they would turn away as if annoyed by their presence, and hunt up a new feeding-ground. It was the custom of their masters when on the march to ride at opposite ends of the train, Uncle Dick in front, and Archie in the rear with Fred and Eugene. The horses seemed to dislike this arrangement, and annoyed their riders exceedingly by constantly calling to each other. They liked to be in company, and they were uneasy when separated.
“I wonder what has become of my horse!” said Archie, anxiously.
“I saw him a quarter of an hour ago, and he was all right then,” replied Mack. “He will be along directly.”
“I am not so certain of that,” answered Archie. “These two animals are never parted if they can help it, and there must be something the matter. I’ll soon find out. May I take your horse for a few minutes, Uncle Dick?”
“Where are you going?” asked Mack, as Archie, having received an affirmative reply from the captain, hurried into the tent and picked up his rifle.
“I am going out to see what has become of my horse,” was the answer.
“Oh, I wouldn’t do it, if I were you,” exclaimed the driver, who seemed, all at once, to take a deep interest in Archie’s movements. “It will be pitch dark in five minutes—there’s no twilight in this country, you know—and if you lose your way out there in the bush the lions will get you sure. I tell you that you had better stay here in camp where you’re safe,” he added, almost appealingly, when he saw that the rest of the boys were making ready to accompany Archie.