Part 12 (1/2)
”You don't now, eh? Well, that's all right, and I think the chief knows too That is why he spouted the water over you”
”A strange way of showing his gratitude,” laughed the boy, with a reddening face at the thought of the outrage
”Not so strange He saw the Belgians, and did it to put theht to help us in our plans for his escape”
”We have plans, have we?”
”You have,” said Compton, confidently; ”and your plan is our plan”
”Thank you,” said the hunter, quietly ”If the plan is to succeed, it ht I do not fear these people here, but I ”
”I understand that you will choose two of those Arabs as boated that, Coestions to offer?”
”I think, sir, that we should get all our things stored in the boat to-day,” said Venning
”Eight; and then?”
”And then,” said Venning, his face all alight with ardour--”and then--why, sir, then you shoot one of the hippos over there on that little island Shoot two; and while all the people in the village are cutting thereat feed, we could free Muata undetected”
”That is not so bad,” said Compton, judiciously
”Not at all,” said Mr Hume ”But when Muata is free, what is to becoet away unobserved?”
”I have it,” said Coested it Let Muata wait for us up the river, and ill pick him up”
Mr Hume stroked his beard for some moments in silence
”We'll, try that plan,” he said finally; ”but don't show any excitement The native, remember, is a very keen observer Now pull the boat in”
CHAPTER VI
THE FLIGHT
In the afternoon the village huone round that the nehite ive a feast, and the people squatted in rows on the bank watching a couple of their stalwart fellows preparing a canoe for an expedition after the river-horse When Mr Huian officers, ere indifferent sportsratitude for favours to come in the shape of fat meat
”Good luck,” said the junior officer, ”but I back the animals; they are very wary and very fierce”
”What is the betting?” cried the hunter
”Oh no, ht; and don't drown yourself We ame, you know”
”Very well By the way, Cothe stores on board in case we leave to-oes,” replied the officer ”If you e must keep you for a return match”