"I know. We have had little enough all along. We have now nothing at all. I am very sorry for you. But I want you to wait just one more day."
The men talked among themselves. Then Gambaru said:
"Boys no want to wait, sah. Tubus light fires; no go away. No more food; how can fight? Boys say all go out, run fast."
"They would catch us on their horses."
"Die all same, sah," said Gambaru. "No food, all die; Tubus catch um, all die same. One way die slow, other way die quick—boys say die quick best."
Royce was wandering how he could persuade the men to wait, even one day longer, when the bark of a jackal startled them all.
"Thank God!" said Royce, rising in excitement. "It is Massa Chally at last. That was John's cry."
Some of the men shook their heads and declared that it was the cry of a real jackal, but Gambaru and Kulana assured them positively that it was John's imitation. They listened silently for a repetition of the cry. It had come from a distance; there was no other sound in the silence of the night.
The whole garrison flocked to the walls and, holding their breath, peered out into the darkness. They could see nothing, hear nothing.
Minutes passed; hope gave way to disappointment and despair. Even Royce himself felt that he had been mistaken, and the men began to murmur against Gambaru and Kulana.