Dead Man's Land Part 49

"But you said they were brave," cried Mark.

"So they are, sir, over anything they can see; but when it's anything they can't, then they are like so many children as are afraid to go in the dark. I believe he's got an idea in his head that there's a something no canny, as the Scotch people call it, as lives in that there hole in the rocks, and nothing will make him go in for fear he should be cursed, or something of the kind."

"Very likely," said the doctor. "All about here has some time been a town, or towns, and it may bear the reputation of being haunted by the spirits of the dead."

"Yes, sir; that's something what I meant to make you understand," said Buck. "It's very babyish, but you see these Illakas are only savage blacks, and we can't say much about it, for there's plenty of people at home--country people--as wouldn't go across a churchyard in the dark to save their lives."

"Well," said the doctor, "I may understand by this that you wouldn't be afraid to go into some dark cavern?"

"Well, sir, I don't know as I should," replied the big driver. "I think I should like to have a light, in case there was any holes that one might go down; but I am like Bob Bacon here, who tells me that he watches for poachers when he's at home, and Dan, who has been used to keep watch at sea; we shouldn't stop from going into the dark for fear of the bogeys that would scare the n.i.g.g.e.rs. Mean ter to go on, sir?"

"Can we get a light if we want it?"

"I have got matches, sir, and Bob Bacon here, sir, has got a bit of old dead sort of fir wood as will burn well enough."

"What do you say, boys?"

"Let's go on," they cried eagerly.

The doctor looked back, and for a moment or two he could make out no sign of the two blacks. Then from close to the ground a long way back the sun shone upon a couple of dancing feathers, and some three feet above them appeared the black head of their guide.

"They are watching us," said the doctor. "No: they are gone. Come along, then." And the party pa.s.sed on, with the sides of the ravine closing in till the way grew half dark, and as far as they could make out they were at the mouth of a good-sized cavern.

Here they stopped short, and the doctor held up his hand.

"What is it?" whispered Mark.

"It may be fancy," replied the doctor, "but I fancied I heard a faint rustling."

This sounded so like a warning to beware of any wild beast which might be the occupant of the cavern that three of the party c.o.c.ked their pieces and waited for the doctor to go on.

"Like me to go first, sir?" said Buck quietly.

"No, I will go on directly, my man; but look here."

Everyone pressed forward to look at that which had taken the doctor's attention, for he was gazing into a side nook that suggested, from a dry heap of fern-like growth and gra.s.s, that it had lately been occupied.

Bob Bacon pushed past Mark, went down upon one knee, and began feeling the dry gra.s.s. "Well?" said Mark sharply.

"It arn't cold, sir, nor it arn't warm; but I should be ready to say that something's been lying here not long ago."

"An animal of some kind, then," said the doctor, lowering his rifle.

"You, Bacon, you are a very fair shot; come beside me; but don't fire unless there is real necessity. You boys, come along cautiously. There may be a leopard here. Don't fire unless it springs."

"All right, sir," said Mark. "Well, Buck, you can come next."

"Well, no, sir; if you wouldn't mind I think I will walk close to the doctor. I am big and strong, and I shouldn't like to see you hurt."

"Oh, nonsense!" cried Mark. "I am not going to give up my place, and I don't believe that there is anything here after all."

"Stop again," said the doctor. "I am sure I heard something moving, and it's getting quite dark in front. Let's have a light."

"Here you are, sir," cried Buck Denham. "Strike a match, somebody."

This was done, the big driver holding Bob's resinous wood to the flame till it began to blaze well, and then winking to himself, as Dean saw, the big fellow stepped right forward before the rest, holding the improvised torch so that the light illumined the glittering walls and ceiling of the rift of beautifully clean granite rock.

Everyone was on the alert, as Buck now led on and on into the darkness, till he said, "You will mind and not shoot me, gen'lemen; but be on the look out, for there is something here."

The man stopped short as he spoke, holding up the torch as high as he could, and the doctor and Mark pressed forward with their rifles extended on either side of the big driver.

"That's right, gen'lemen," he said. "Now you can't hurt me, so you can let go when you like."

"One minute, gentlemen," said Bob Bacon. "This was to be my job. You, Bob, hand over that there link; I only give it to you to hold while I struck a match."

"Yes, I know, mate," replied Buck, "but it's well alight now, and you are quite safe there. Now, gen'lemen, can you see him?"

"Yes; take care!" cried Mark. "I can see its eyes gleaming. Look, doctor--can't you see?"

"Yes, quite plainly. Some animal that has crept in here to die."

"That's it, sir," cried Bob Bacon. "I can see him too. Here, don't waggle the light about like that, Buck. Look, gentlemen; there arn't much sperrit left in him, for he's lying up against the side there as quiet as a mouse."

"Quiet enough," said the doctor; "but take care. The brute may have life enough left in it to scratch."

"Not him, sir," said Buck, who now took a couple of steps forward, shaking the light to and fro to make it flare more brightly. "He arn't got much scrat left in him, sir."

"What is it--an old leopard?"

"No, sir. There, I can see quite plain now. It's one of them baboons, same as live on some of these kopjes; and a whacker too, and as grey as a Devon badger. Here, Bob Bacon, as you are so precious anxious to have the light, catch hold. I will soon see whether he will scratch or not."

"What are you going to do, man?" cried the doctor, as the exchange of torchbearer was effected.

"Lug him out, sir."

"No, no! You will get torn."

"Nay, sir. He's got no scrat in him."

"Perhaps not, Buck," said Mark excitedly, "but I have read that those things can bite like a dog. Stand still and let me shoot."

"Nay, sir; let's have him out into the light."

Before any protest or fresh order could be given the big driver thrust out a hand and gripped the grey-looking object which had crawled apparently right to the end of the cavernous hole. There was a faint struggle, and a low guttural cry.

"There's no bite in him, sir," cried Buck. "I don't believe he's got a tooth in his head. Now then, old 'un; out you come!"

By this time Buck had got hold of a long, thin, hairy arm, and overcoming a slight resistance and scuffling, began to walk backwards, dragging his prisoner after him, his companions making way, a low whining noise escaping from the prisoner the while.

"Gently, Bob Bacon," cried Buck. "My hair's quite short enough. No singeing, please. You might have seen that I got Dunn Brown to operate upon me with those scissors of his."