can, and he feels that if we
attempt it his duty is to send a bullet through each of us."

"Then you don't think he suspects that we are going to make an attempt
to-night?"

"Pooh! How could he? But look! There goes Anson! Not coming here, is
he?"

"No: going to his own wagon! I say, Ingle, do you think he has any
illicit-diamonds with him?"

"I'm sure of it! He could not, according to his nature, have come away
without robbing the company somehow. I only wish I had the searching of
his wagon! I suppose Norton did not have a chance!"

"Yes, look! He has gone to his wagon. Where should you search if you
had the chance?"

"Not quite sure yet!" said Ingleborough gruffly. "But don't talk to me.
I want to think of something better than diamonds."

"You mean liberty?"

"That's right. And now, once for all, we don't want to make any more
plans: each knows what he has to do, and as soon as it is dark he has to
do it."

"No," said West gravely; "your part must wait until I have managed to
get the rifles."

"Well, yes; I must not be in too great a hurry. But I say, wouldn't it
be better for us to go together to the horses, and hide by them or under
them till the Boers muster?"

"But suppose the sentry takes it into his head to come and examine the
wagon, and gives the alarm?"

"Oh, don't suppose anything!" said Ingleborough impatiently. "We must
chance a good deal and leave the rest to luck."

West nodded, and fixed his eyes upon the wagon he had previously singled
out, noticing that the Boers who occupied it were lying right beneath,
sleeping, each with a rolled-up blanket for a rug.

A little later he saw a big heavy-looking Kaffir come up, look
underneath at the sleepers, and then go off for a short distance, to lie
down upon his chest, doubling his arms before him so as to make a
resting-place for his forehead, and lying so perfectly motionless that
it became evident that he also was asleep.

The evening was closing in fast now, and the men began to move about
more as if making preparations for some excursion which they had in
view.

"That looks well!" said Ingleborough. "There's going to be some
movement to-night. All was so still half-an-hour ago that I began to
think we should have to put off our attempt."

"Oh, don't say that!" said West. "We _must_ go!"

Further conversation was checked by the coming of the sentry to look in
upon them, scowling heavily before he slouched away.