oking out. But the sight of the sentinel strolling up
and down in apparent unconcern and the absence of light in the _tambo_
gradually quieted the suspicions on both sides of the water. Soon the
Red Bones squatted again and the Mayorunas lay back with minds at ease.

Then a dim sheen of light showed for a time at the back of the white
men's shelter, fading out after a few minutes into the usual gloom.
McKay had pulled a blanket over himself and the unconscious man, masking
his torch glare from any watching eye while he studied the face and form
of the invader. After the faint radiance vanished certain sounds came to
the sentry's ears. Then McKay's tall figure loomed in the vague
moonshine. Knowlton stopped beside him.

"It's Rand," the captain vouchsafed in an undertone. "No question of it.
Features identical, though face is drawn. White hair mark, broken nose,
green eyes. I opened one eye. Got a bad foot, partly healed; looks as if
he'd torn it on a stub. Poor devil seems nearly starved."

"So? Then that's why he sneaked in like that--wanted to steal some grub.
Those mutts over yonder probably haven't fed him since he got hurt."

"That's it. He's had to do his own foraging, and his foot has given him
mighty little chance. Damn those brutes!"

"Right! But now what? Look out that he doesn't sneak away again."

"He won't. I tied his feet. He's in Pedro's hammock, still dead to the
world. If he wakes up and starts to yell I'll gag him. We've got to get
away now as soon as we can."

"How?"

"Don't know. By water, perhaps. Wish those bushman were here. Haven't
heard any noise over there, have you?"

"All quiet. They're safe--or dead."

"Hm! Confounded foolishness, anyway. But we've no means of getting out
until they're back. Couldn't desert them, besides. What time is it?"

"Ten-thirty. You go on watch at midnight."

"I'm on watch now, inside. They may be back any time. If they don't show
up in the next couple of hours I'll send Tucu to find out why. We'll
have to get those canoes over here, too. Water leaves no trail."

He turned back into the hut, leaving Knowlton figuring chances. To
obtain those canoes was a man-sized job. To put the Red Bone guards out
of action without arousing the whole tribe was an even bigger job. But
no boats could be brought over until the outpost was silenced, that was
sure.

Another half-hour crept past. Still no noise from the town, no
suspicious move on the other shore. Then fr