Part 45 (1/2)
”Of course.”
”Then we ought to wake and warn the others before the men come back to camp.”
”To be sure, and hear what your brother and the skipper say. I'll take a look round first to make sure there's no one within hearing, for it will be another point in our favour to give the scamps a surprise by being ready for them.”
”It's all right,” whispered Briscoe five minutes later. ”They're all whispering and plotting together yonder. Now for it. You tackle the skipper, and I'll tell your brother. Be as quiet as you can.”
Brace thought that the duty of warning his brother should be his, but he said nothing, and, creeping to the captain's side, he bent over in the dark, and laid a hand upon his shoulder.
In an instant two powerful hands had him by the throat, and he had hard work not to struggle.
”Who is it?” said the captain hoa.r.s.ely.
”I--Brace Leigh,” said the young man, in a hoa.r.s.e whisper.
”You shouldn't rouse me like that, my lad. What is it--Indians?”
Brace told him, and the captain lay back, perfectly till, gazing up at the smoke.
”Bless 'em!” he said softly. ”That's trouble to-morrow morning then-- not to-night. Well, have you told Dellow and Lynton?”
”No; but Mr Briscoe is telling my brother.”
”Mr Briscoe, eh? Think he's siding with the men?”
”Oh, no: I'm sure he is not.”
”I don't know,” said the captain thoughtfully. ”He jumped at that gold to-day like a baby at sugar. I've always been a bit suspicious about him, and now I see I've been right.”
”What do you mean?” said Brace warmly.
”That chap's natural history has all been a cloak to screen him while he has been gold-hunting. I would bet that he came up this river with us in the hopes of finding that El Dorado place the Spaniards used to swear by.”
”Quite right,” said Brace drily.
”That's it, my lad; but he won't find it here. It's in quite another place.”
”Indeed! Do you know?” said Brace eagerly.
”Oh, yes, I know. It's in the moon. Well, let's hear what Sir Humphrey thinks.”
”Hist, captain,” whispered the latter, almost at the same moment.
”Yes, sir. What do you think of it all?” asked the captain.
”It is horrible,” whispered Sir Humphrey. ”These men must be brought to reason.”
”Don't you flurry yourself about that, sir,” said the skipper grimly.
”I'm going to have a few words with my two bulldogs, just to put them up to what's going on, and then we shall just keep quiet and take no notice of anything till the lads begin. Then I shall let Dellow and Lynton loose at 'em, holding myself in reserve. That will settle 'em. But if we did seem to be getting the worst of it you three gentlemen might come and lend us a hand.”