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 prickly 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
ejaculation, 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 th