But why were they there, then?

He soon had evidence as to the meaning of their coming, but not until he had suffered fresh agonies. For as he lay thinking that the noise and laughter must have been heard by those in camp, the blacks came nearer and nearer in the darkness, and their next steps seemed as if they must be over or upon them. "And then there will be a horrible struggle,"

thought the boy, one in which he would have to play his part.

He drew in his breath, and the hand which grasped the gun-lock felt so wet that he trembled for fear it should moisten the powder in the pan, while the next instant he felt a great piece of p.r.i.c.kly bush pressed down over his head, as if trampled and thrust sidewise by some one pushing his way by. There was loud rustling close by his feet, and then the blacks went a couple more steps or so, there was a sharp e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n, and they stopped short.

Had Norman been alone he would have sprung up; but Shanter pressed him down, and in another instant he felt that the exclamations had not been at the discovery of hiding enemies, but because one of them had nearly gone down the precipice.

Then followed more talking and laughing, all in an unknown tongue to Norman; till after a few minutes the blacks continued along the ridge for some little distance, stopped again, and ended by going leisurely back toward the fire, with the bushes rustling as they went.

Norman drew a deep breath of relief, and a low whisper came at his ear: "Mine think good job all black dark. Myall black fellow no see. Nearly plenty numkull."

"Are they gone?" whispered back Norman, as he felt the heavy weight of the black's chest removed from his back.

"All agone down fire. Come for more fire all about."

Which means they were reconnoitring, thought Norman. Then, as he raised himself a little and looked down at the brightly-blazing fire, about which several men were sitting, he saw other figures go up, and there was a loud burst of chattering and laughing.

"Hear um all yabber yabber," whispered Shanter. "All myall black fellow. Come 'long, tell Marmi, (the captain)."

"Yes; come quickly," said Norman.

"Ah!" whispered Shanter, clapping his hand over the boy's mouth. "Myall black fellow big ear."

He pointed downward, and Norman shivered again, for, softly as his words had been uttered, he saw that they had been heard, for the group about the fire had sprung up and their faces seemed to be turned in their direction.

Shanter placed both hands to his mouth and uttered a soft, long-drawn, plaintive, whistling sound, then paused for a few moments, and whistled again more softly; and then once again the plaintive piping rose on the air as if it were the call of a night bird now very distant.

The ruse had its effect, for the blacks settled down again about the fire, and were soon all talking away loudly, and evidently cooking and eating some kind of food.

"No talk big," whispered Shanter; and creeping close back to the edge of the precipice, he lowered his spear and felt about for a ledge which promised foothold. As soon as he had satisfied himself about this, he turned to Norman.

"Now, down along," he whispered; "more, come soon."

The boy slung his gun again, and taking hold of the spear, lowered himself over the edge of the rugged scarp, and easily reached the ledge, the black, whom nature seemed to have furnished with a second pair of hands instead of feet, joining him directly, and then began searching about once more for a good place to descend.

He was longer this time, and as Norman clung to the tough stem of some gnarled bush, he looked out anxiously in the direction of their camp; but all now below was of intense blackness, not even a star appearing above to afford light.

"Mine can't find," whispered the black; and then, "Yohi (yes); now down along."

Norman obeyed, and once more clung to the steep face by the help of a bush; and this process was repeated several times till the black uttered a low laugh.

"Myall black fellow no see, no hear. Mine glad. Come tell Marmi."

The captain was nearer than they thought, for they had not gone many steps before they were challenged, and the voice was his.

"Back safe, father," panted Norman, who was terribly excited.

"Why have you been so long?" said the captain shortly. "The anxiety has been terrible."

"Hush! don't talk loud. There is a party of black fellows on the other side of that ridge;" and he rapidly told the narrative of their escape.

"So near the camp, and quite ignorant of our being here.--Will they come this way in the morning, Shanter?"

"Mine don't know. All go along somewhere--fine sugar-bag--fine grub-- fine possum. Wait see."

"Yes; we must wait and see," said the captain, thoughtfully. Then to the black, "They will not come to-night?"

"Baal come now. Eat, sleep, all full," replied Shanter. "Big white Mary gib Shanter damper?"

"Hungry again?" said the captain angrily. "But make haste back. They are in sad alarm at the camp."

"Shall we be able to stay here, father?" said Norman, on their way back through the darkness.

"Stay, boy? Yes. Only let them give us a few days or weeks' respite, and I do not care. But look here, boy, we have gone too far to retreat.

We must hold the place now. It is too good to give up meekly at a scare from a gang of savages. Come, Norman, you must be a man."

"I was not thinking of myself, father, but about mamma and the girls."

The captain drew a sharp, hissing breath.

"And I was too," he said in a low voice. "But come, let's set them at rest for the night."

Five minutes later Norman felt two soft hands seize his, and hold him in the darkness, as a pa.s.sionate voice whispered in his ear: "Oh, Norman, my boy--my boy!"

Then there was a long silent watch to keep, and there was only one who slept in camp that night--to wit, Shanter. And Rifle said merrily, that the black slept loud enough for ten.

CHAPTER NINE.

"ALONG O' THAT THERE n.i.g.g.e.r?"

But Shanter, though he slept so soundly, was ready to start up if any one even whispered, and also ready to lie down and sleep again the moment he found that all was well; and at the first grey dawning of day, when the great trees began to appear in weird fashion from out of the darkness, and the tops of the mountains to show jagged against the sky, he sprang up from where he had slept close to the warm ashes, yawned, gave himself a rub as if he were cold, and then shook out his arms and legs, and picked up his weapons.

"Mine go along, see myall black fellow. Little Marmi come."

This was to Norman, who turned to the captain.

"Yes; go, and be very careful. Recollect it will be broad daylight directly."

Norman gave a sharp nod, and caught his brother and cousin's eyes fixed upon him enviously.

The captain noticed it.

"Wait," he said; "your turns will come, boys.--Now, Norman, scout carefully, and put us out of our misery at once. If the blacks are coming this way, hold up your gun as high as you can reach. If they are going in another direction, hold it with both hands horizontally above your head."

Norman nodded and ran after Shanter, who was already on his way, and together they reached the precipice, and climbed the face to creep down at once among the bushes, from which place of vantage they could see right into the blacks' camp, where a party of nineteen were squatted round the fire eating some kind of root which they were roasting on the embers.