"Very well. We'll go back now, and wait for Gambaru's report. Then I'll tell you what to do."
CHAPTER IX
THE BROKEN BRIDGE
On returning from the bridge, Royce was too impatient to remain at the river level and wait for news from Gambaru, perched on the heights above. He reflected, too, that when so much was at stake, it was better to make his own observations than to rely on an unskilled native.
"Gambaru's eyesight is no doubt better than mine," he thought, "but his judgment is not likely to be. And I've had some training in scouting."
He clambered up the steep acclivity until, somewhat out of breath, he reached Gambaru's side.
"Have you seen anything?" he asked.
"Nuffin, sah," the man replied.
Shading his eyes from the sun, Royce gazed earnestly over the country. He could see the track for nearly a mile, until it disappeared below the shoulder of the hill a few hundred yards from where he stood. There was no human being in sight.
Again and again he looked, becoming more and more restless at the non-appearance of the enemy. He began to fear that they had diverged from the track, and instead of directing their march towards the bridge, had made off in a body towards a ford.