I nodded and Ntula withdrew, with manifold expressions of pleasure at Archie's recovery and gratitude for his promise.
Archie sat down by the fire. Changalilo was on his knees blowing the embers into flame.
'If Lavater has been back in Abercorn for five days,' said Archie, 'something must have happened to my letter.'
I urged him to return to bed as night was at hand. He did not seem to hear me. Presently he announced that he would have a machila made the next day and be carried up to Abercorn in the afternoon.
'It's no use waiting,' he added.
The moment, I felt, was critical; once Archie made up his mind nothing would stop him. I turned my head and succeeded in catching Norah's eye. She was preparing invalid's food in the camp kitchen.
Since the day she had gone to Abercorn I had seen little of her. She was exhausted on her return, and I had had to content myself with her nod and some ambiguous words to the effect that all was well 'so far.' She made no further allusion to her scheme, and I felt she avoided me. This was natural, for my lack of enthusiasm made me a bad confidant in the matter of a forlorn hope. Desperation needs no cold water. For my part I was glad to escape the thankless role of critic.
But now the hour had struck for her intervention.
'Oughtn't you to be in bed?' she asked Archie as she joined us.
He shrugged his shoulders and told her that next day he was going to Abercorn.