Dead Man's Land Part 83

"No," said Sir James, "it does not. But if I take your warning, as you call it, how are you going to get back?"

"Well, sir, Peter thought that we might go back with the soldiers."

"I don't think it would be possible," said the doctor, interposing, "and you must not forsake us now."

"Oh, no, sir; not forsake you, sir. We want to give a month's notice to leave; and we thought that would be quite right. You see, sir, as I said to Peter here, black game don't seem in our way--didn't I, Peter?"

"That's a true word, Bob," said the elder keeper; "and you said, lad, it was all right with pheasants and partridges and a hare now and then--"

"Yes, Sir James and Dr Robertson, and I says to my mate, if I had 'listed, I says, and it was my duty to, I'd pot the n.i.g.g.e.rs as free as anyone, but being only a gamekeeper it don't seem quite the thing."

"Well, doctor," said Sir James, "you hear what these men say. Now I should like to hear your opinion."

"Well, Sir James, I will give it you plainly. As a man with a great love for research I should go away from this ancient place with a feeling of extreme regret--but I must own that we are buying our curios at too dear a rate."

"Thank you, doctor," said Sir James. "Now, boys, what have you to say.

Don't both speak at once."

"No, father," said Mark, "I am too ill and weak to do the talking. Dean will say all I want."

"Well, Dean, boy," said Sir James; "speak out frankly. Do you think we ought to stay here, as perhaps we safely might after the lessons the natives have had?"

"No, uncle, I don't; and if the place were a hundred times as tempting as it is I would give up all the curios and the gold sooner than you should run such a risk again."

"Hear, hear, hear!" cried Mark. "But don't think me a coward, doctor, for turning faint-hearted like this."

"You needn't be afraid of that," said the doctor quietly. "What I want to hear is your father's definite opinion upon the question."

"Well, I will give it to you," said Sir James gravely. "As an elderly man who wishes to act wisely, I cannot help feeling that we are intruders in the country of these wild tribes, and we should never be safe."

He paused for a few moments, and his hearers exchanged glances. Then he continued, "Speaking now as your father, Mark, my boy--as your uncle, Dean--I feel that I should not be justified in running any more risks; and lastly, as an old man who wants to behave generously and well to our servants, and those who have risked so much for our sake, I am," he continued, with a twinkle in his eye, "very, very tired; old England was never so dear to me before. There, doctor--there, my dear boys, I want to go home!"

Memorandum: They went home.