“As the ground appears to be perfectly dry, we need not complain of that,” observed Percy, “I only hope that the chief will let us go in the morning.”
“There’s very little chance of that,” said Denis. “He intends that we should be of some use to him, or he would not have sent his people to capture us. I wonder whether he will send us some food.”
“I can’t say I feel very hungry,” observed Percy. “It is fortunate that we took a good dinner.”
They waited and waited, expecting that Umbulazi would think of them, but no food was brought. At last Denis spoke to their Kaffir guard, saying that they were very hungry, and would be much obliged if he would obtain some provisions; but no answer was returned to his request.
“I believe the fellow is asleep,” said Lionel. “Yes! listen, I can hear him snoring. I see his head nodding through the opening. If that’s the way he keeps guard, I think I can play him a trick; and the chances are the rest of the fellows are asleep also. It is now nearly dark outside. In a little time the whole camp will have lain down. We could easily make a hole under the wall of the hut, large enough for me to creep through, and once outside, if the guards don’t catch me, I could find my way to where the horses are feeding.”
“A capital idea,” said Denis. “I don’t think there will be much difficulty in carrying it out.”
“But you would run a fearful risk of having an assegai sent through you if you were discovered,” exclaimed Percy. “For your own sake I had much rather you did not make the attempt.”
“I am not afraid of that,” answered Lionel. “I’ll take good care not to be caught. I know the ways of the people, where they are likely to be sleeping, and where their guards are posted. The chances are they will be asleep in a short time, like that fellow who is acting as doorkeeper to us. If I can manage to reach our camp, Hendricks will soon come and set you free.”
“But suppose you were to meet a lion or leopard, as you have no rifle, how would you defend yourself?”
“I would keep out of his way, and shout and shriek at the top of my voice, you may depend upon that,” he answered.