Part 55 (2/2)
”Then why not take matters as you find them? Are we not going to take news for our General over yonder, and reinforcements as well?”
”Yes, I hope so,” replied West; ”but one does not like when one's plans are made to have them interfered with.”
”Of course not,” said Ingleborough, laughing; ”but we started with fixed plans from Kimberley, and we've been interfered with and baffled ever since.”
”But we did get the despatch to Mafeking!”
”Yes, even when it seemed quite hopeless; and we're going to get the answer back to Kimberley yet.”
”I hope so,” said West gloomily.
”Bah! What a grumbler you are, Noll! Nothing seems to satisfy you!
Haven't we turned the tables completely upon that fat pink innocent?”
West nodded his head.
”Isn't he prisoner instead of us?”
”Yes, that's true!”
”And hasn't he proved your innocence and his own guilt before those officers?”
”Yes, he has done that!” said West, with his puckered face smoothing out.
”Then just confess that you are a growling, discontented, hard-to-satisfy young humbug.”
”I do--frankly!” cried West, laughing outright.
”Come, that's something; and I begin to think that I will forgive you and stick to you after all, instead of following out my own ideas.”
”Your own ideas?” said West, looking at his companion enquiringly.
”What were those?”
”Well,” said Ingleborough, in his dry stolid manner; ”Shakespeare was a very able man.”
”My dear Ingle,” cried West, staring, ”whatever has Shakespeare got to do with your plans?”
”Everything, you young ignoramus. Doesn't he say something about there being a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, will lead to fortune?”
”I believe so; but I wish he could point out the tide that would take our live barque safe into Kimberley.”
”Ah, but you see he does not; his works were written for people living in a wet country where there are plenty of rivers and seas. He didn't know anything about the veldt, and, in fact, he was not very strong in his geography, or he wouldn't have written about the sea coast of Bohemia.”
”There,” cried West, ”you're getting into one of your long-winded arguments, and I'm waiting to hear your plans!”
”Oh, they are only these!” said Ingleborough very gravely. ”Being a poor man and seeing the tide at its height, I thought to myself that there could be no harm in annexing a rogue's plunder when it is as plain as the nose on one's face that we have as good a right to it as all the officers and Tommy Atkinses of this brigade. I came to the conclusion that I'd get you to stand in with me on fair halves principle, and go off with the diamonds in that barrel, calling at Kimberley as we go to leave that despatch, and then going on to the Cape, and then home.”
”No, you did not, Ingle,” said West quietly; ”so don't talk bos.h.!.+ Look, they're striking tents, inspanning, and getting off.”
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