There was no one near them as far as they could see, but above them, standing dimly silhouetted against the sky, was an immense Creuzot gun, looking like some gigantic animal crouching on all-fours.
"Keep a bright look-out!" Jack whispered, with his mouth close to Guy"s ear. "There must be a guard somewhere close at hand."
"What is that?" Guy answered hoa.r.s.ely, pointing to the left. "Surely those are men wrapped in blankets and asleep. Yes, I am sure of it."
"Stay here a moment, and I will see," said Jack; and a second later he was gone in the darkness, and was creeping towards the ill-defined figures which Guy had pointed out.
It was dangerous work, but he had had a good grounding in the duties of a scout, and now he put into practice all the cunning that Tom Salter and his own quick wits had taught him. Lying almost flat upon the ground, he wriggled his body between the boulders and rapidly advanced.
A few moments later he was sufficiently close, and, cautiously standing up behind a jagged ma.s.s of rock, peeped over the top.
The sight he saw filled him with satisfaction, for, wrapped from head to foot in blankets, were ten men fast asleep on the side of the hill.
"We ought to get past those fellows safely," he muttered, "and if there are no more of them we might even be able to make a fight of it. By George, there are their rifles stacked a few feet away from their heads!
It is worth the risk, and I will chance it."
Once more crawling forward, he writhed amongst the boulders, and was soon within easy reach of the weapons, but with a boulder between himself and the rec.u.mbent figures. At that moment, despite all his care, the b.u.t.t of his rifle struck against the rock and gave rise to a sharp sound.
Jack immediately lay flat on the ground, and, placing his thumb on the magazine catch, prepared to shoot a cartridge into the breech, and keep the Boers from taking possession of their Mausers.
It was evident that one of the men was a light sleeper, for at the sound of the b.u.t.t striking the boulder he sat up on his elbow and looked suspiciously round. Then he rose to his feet, shook off the blankets, and strode towards the stack of rifles. Jack covered him and prepared to shoot, but, satisfied that here there was nothing wrong, the Boer again stopped, and then, evidently still suspicious, climbed up the hill to the gun.
Jack followed him, and again hid himself behind a boulder some ten feet away. As he did so, another ghostly-looking figure approached the Boer, and demanded, in somewhat quavering tones, what was the matter. Jack had no difficulty in following his words, for once again, with a start of surprise and an angry snap of his teeth which boded ill for the man should Jack find himself opposed to him, he recognised the voice of the fat little German, Hans Schloss, who had shown himself such a bitter hater of the English.
"That man is always coming across my path," he muttered grimly to himself, "but let him look out this time; for if he comes between me and my object I will put a bullet through his carca.s.s!"
Then he sat up and craned his head to listen.
"What is the matter, Gert?" the German asked in a trembling voice, which showed that sentry duty in front of these much-despised English was a task he had little liking for.
"Nothing is wrong, little man," the Boer answered surlily, "but I heard a sound, and came up here to see whether anything had happened. But these prisoners are evidently afraid of you, Hans Schloss. Ah! you are a gallant fighter, and to-morrow you shall help us to work this gun, and see the English sh.e.l.ls come bursting close at hand. It will be a fine sight for you to watch those prisoners blown to pieces by the very men they would wish to fight for!"
"Ha, ha, Gert! You were always funny," Hans answered, with a husky laugh which had no merriment in it, "but to-morrow I have other work to do. It is a misfortune, for I should dearly have loved to witness the execution of these traitors."
"Well, keep a bright look-out, Hans," the Boer replied brusquely, "or else you may never live to see to-morrow"s light." Then he turned about, and swung down the hill past Jack, leaving the little German quivering with fear. Five minutes later the man addressed as Gert was once more wrapped in his blankets, and Jack was crawling back to join Guy.
"Come away over here," he whispered when he had reached him. "Now lie down flat, and I will tell you what I have seen."
Then he detailed how ten Boers were sleeping upon the hill, and how Hans Schloss was keeping guard in front.
"With a little luck we shall manage beautifully," he went on, "but there is always the chance of one of those Boers waking up, or of Hans discovering us. I had intended removing the stacked rifles, but it was too risky a job when one of the men was only half-asleep. But we can do every bit as well by separating. Are you willing to do just as I suggest?"
"I"ll do exactly as you order, Jack," Guy answered. "You"re boss of this show, and had better continue to act as such. Too many cooks spoil the broth, old chap!"
"Very well, then, you will follow me, and I shall leave you behind a boulder close to the sleeping Boers. When you are safely hidden there, slip a cartridge into the breech and open the magazine. If there is an alarm, it will be your duty to keep anyone from using those rifles, and whatever happens you will stick to your post till I call you."
"I understand. You can rely upon me," Guy answered shortly.
"When you are in position," Jack continued, "I shall sneak up to the gun and cut the prisoners loose. I"d give you that part of the job, Guy, old boy, as your father is there, but I have already been up there and know the ground. When we are ready I will slip across to you, and tell you how matters have gone. Then we will all cut away down the hill, fetch Mrs Robb and the kid, and strike round into the camp. Is that all clear?"
"As clear as daylight, old horse!" exclaimed Guy, with a suspicion of excitement in his voice. "I"m ready now. Let us set about it."
Once more creeping forward on their knees, it was not long before Jack had guided his friend to the important post he was to occupy. Then he left him there, and, knife in hand, climbed up the hill.
The gun was now only a few yards away, and in little more than a minute Jack was close to it. Dropping flat upon the ground for a moment, he waited till Hans Schloss had moved out of sight. Then he scrambled forward and hastily dived beneath the enormous weapon. On either side of him were the ma.s.sive wheels, and through the spokes Jack made out the figures of two men.
Rising slowly, he gently pulled the sleeve of one, and whispered in his ear: "Be silent for your life! I am a friend."
The man gave a start, and almost cried out. Then he turned his head and answered: "Who are you? For G.o.d"s sake rescue us!"
Jack recognised the voice as Mr Hunter"s, and placing his lips close to his ear, whispered: "I am Jack Somerton. Stand still. I will cut you loose."
Feeling along the spokes, he soon found that Mr Hunter"s wrists were lashed together to the hub of the wheel. He severed the cord with his knife.
Then he dived beneath the gun to the other prisoner, and having told him who he was, and that his son was close at hand, set him free also.
A moment later they were ready to start, Mr Hunter and Mr Richardson still standing against the wheels as though their lashings were secure.
"Hush, here comes the sentry!" Mr Hunter whispered as they were about to leave their posts.
Jack at once lay down upon the ground, and, opening the magazine of his rifle, slipped a cartridge in in readiness, in case there should be trouble.
A second later Hans Schloss swaggered up with his Mauser at the slope across his shoulder, and looked closely at each of the prisoners.
"Ha, Oom Hunter and Oom Richardson!" he laughed brutally, "this is a fine night for you. It is your last, my English friends, so make the most of it. Well, you are securely fastened, so I will leave you alone to think of your wives and your homes."
Neither of the prisoners deigned to answer; but, had the vindictive and cowardly little German but known it, both were braced and ready to hurl themselves upon him and strangle the life out of him should he discover that their bonds were gone.
But, turning round with a sneering and cruel laugh, he walked back to his post, and all three at the gun breathed freely again. Another minute, and they would have hurried away, when a faint sound close in front of them attracted Jack"s attention. It was so faint that neither of the prisoners had heard it, but Jack"s trained ear told him that some men were approaching in the darkness.
"Wait, what is that?" he asked, detaining Mr Hunter and his comrade by the arm. "Surely the Boers are not coming up to work the gun!"
Next second all three became convinced that a large body of men was approaching, and even Hans Schloss had his suspicions aroused. He stopped in his lonely tramp abruptly, faced down the hill towards Ladysmith, and brought his rifle to his shoulder. An instant later a figure bounded into sight close in front of him, and the German fired and turned to fly. But he was too late. The flash of the rifle lit up the darkness, and to the astonishment of Jack and his two companions they saw a swarm of kilted men rushing headlong at the gun, while in front of them was the brawny giant, a fine Scotch lad from the Highlands, at whom the German had fired. The bullet evidently found a mark, for the soldier gave a fierce cry of anger and pain, and, bounding forward, buried his bayonet in Hans Schloss"s body, and with the strength of a Hercules hurled him over his shoulder just as a man might toss a bundle of hay with a pitchfork. Then someone shouted in the darkness, "At them boys! Surround the gun and keep everyone back till we have done the work!"
A second later there was a rush, and a hurricane of bullets swept across the top of the hill, splashing on the gun, and making it uncommonly uncomfortable for Jack and his friends, while the sharp crack of a Mauser close at hand and a series of terrified cries told them that Guy was performing his allotted task.
"Stop! Don"t fire! We are English!" Jack shouted.
"Cease fire there! Steady, men! Cover these fellows till I can get a look at them!" shouted the officer.
"Why, it"s Rawlings!" Jack cried in delight, recognising the voice of an officer he had met in Ladysmith. "Rawlings, I am Jack Somerton.
Don"t let your men fire, and we will explain everything."
At this moment a dark lantern was unmasked, and the rays flashed in Jack"s face.
"By Jove, it"s you right enough!" Rawlings cried. "Who are the others?"
"Prisoners who had been tied to the gun, and whom I and a friend were rescuing," Jack answered hurriedly. "But I"ll tell you all about it later on. The Boers are away on the left, and that is the side you had best look to."