Part 58 (1/2)
”Nonsense! What do you know about it?” said Denham, turning the lump over in his hand.
”I know because pieces like that are in the kopje near my home. Joeboy could find plenty like that. He took some to my father once, and father said it was gold.”
”Then you've got a mine on your farm?”
”I suppose so; but father said we'd better get rich by increasing the flocks and herds. Look there,” I said; ”all those are veins of gold, and those others are crystals and scales.”
”There, catch, Sergeant,” said Denham bitterly. ”We don't want gold; we want health, and a way out of this prison.”
”That's right, sir; and if you like I'll try and come and tell you how things are going to-night.”
”Yes, do,” cried Denham. Then the Sergeant thrust his piece of gold ore and quartz back into his pouch, and marched away.
”Val, old chap,” said Denham as soon as we were alone, ”that fellow seemed to cheer me up a bit while he was here.”
”Yes,” I said; ”he roused me up too.”
”But now he's gone I'm down again lower and lower than ever I was before. I begin to wish I were dead. Oh dear! who'd be a wounded man who feels as helpless as a child?”
I was silent.
”Is that doctor ever coming to see us again?”
”Yes,” said a sharp, clear voice. ”Now then, most impatient of all patients, how are you getting on?”
”Getting ready for the firing-party to waste a few cartridges over, doctor. Can't you see?”
”Humph!” said our visitor, feeling the poor fellow's head and then his pulse. ”Here, drink a little of this.”
”More physic?” groaned Denham despondently.
”Yes, Nature's,” replied the doctor, holding out a folding cup which he had refilled. ”Fresh water; a bucket just brought to the screen there by the orderly.”
As he spoke he raised the poor fellow up with one arm and held the cup to his lips.
Denham took a few drops unwillingly, then a little more, and finally finished the cupful with avidity, while the sight of my companion drinking seemed to produce a strange, feverish sensation in my throat.
The next minute the doctor had let Denham sink down, and refilled the cup and handed it to me. It was delicious, and I drained the little vessel all too soon. Then I was gently lowered, and the doctor repeated the dose with us both.
”That's better,” he said quietly. ”You two fellows have been talking too much; now shut your eyes and have a good long sleep.”
”What! in the middle of the day?” protested Denham.
”Yes. Nature wants all your time now for healing your damaged places. No more talking. I'll come again by-and-by.”
”How absurd!” said Denham as soon as the tilt had fallen back to its place. ”I can't sleep now. Can you?”
”Impossible,” I said, and I lay looking up at the long slit of blue sky over the wagon-tilt. Then I was looking at something black as ink, and beyond it the slit of blue sky was fiery orange.
”Joeboy?” I said wonderingly.