Swift and Sure Part 7

"Some one trying to make hole in wall."

"Rubbish."

"Fact."

"Must be a fool."

Will did not attempt further to convince this doubting Thomas, but listened hopefully to the continuous scratching. It went on for hours, and by and by, as it seemed to be coming nearer, he thought of pa.s.sing his hand over the surface of the brickwork. It touched, just below him, the point of a sharp instrument, and he discovered that the whole of the mortar above two bricks had been sc.r.a.ped away. He wished that he could have helped his unknown friend, but he had neither knife nor any other implement. The knowledge that some one was trying to release him kept him awake all that night, and he perspired with anxiety lest when morning came the work should be discovered. But the sentry did not approach the wall. The day seemed to drag terribly, even though he slept a good part of it. Never in his life had he been so eager for night to come.

Before the next dawn there was a gap in the wall almost large enough for him to crawl through. He bent down to it, and spoke in a whisper; but the only answer was the thrusting back of the bricks into their place.

Hearing the Chief grunting in the next box, Will resolved to acquaint him with the progress the unknown worker had made.

"There's hole in wall nearly big enough to squeeze through."

"Honest Injun?"

"Yes. One more night's work will finish it."

"Who's doing it?"

"Don't know. Shall I ask him to make one for you?"

The Chief did not immediately reply.

"Shall I?"

"I've been thinking. No."

"Why not?"

"We'd want four. Take a fortnight."

"Couldn't we overpower sentry and all get away through this hole?"

"No: too risky. Fellow outside would hear scuffle. Certain to. Sure you can get out?"

"To-morrow or next day."

"Make for hydroplane. Less risk for one. Go to Bolivar and get help if you can. Most likely you can't."

"Pity we can't tell others. They don't understand code."

"They'll know soon enough. There'll be a fine hullabaloo when the sentry misses you. Don't go without saying good-bye."

In the middle of the next night Will found that the opening was large enough to admit his body. He tapped on the part.i.tion. There was no answer. He tapped again: still no answer. The Chief was asleep.

Fearing to let his chance slip, Will determined to go at once. Slowly and cautiously he wriggled through to the outside. A dark form was crouching among the weeds close to the opening. It gave a low grunt as Will appeared. Azito rose from his kneeling posture and began to move away, creeping like a shadow along the wall. Will stole after him.

CHAPTER VII--CARABAnO'S PLANS

Azito after a few steps turned aside from the stables, from the other side of which came the heavy tramp of the sentry's feet, and struck into the undergrowth towards a small plantation about three hundred yards from the house. They bent low to avoid observation, but the night was so dark that they must have been invisible at the distance of ten feet.

Not till they were safe among the trees did either speak a word; then Will asked the Indian to stop. They looked back towards the house.

Several of the rooms were lit up, and broad beams of light threw a ghostly radiance on the gardens around.

"Thank you, Azito," said Will in low tones.

"I did it, senor, not Jose," replied the man.

"Ah! what do you know of Jose?"

"We wanted, both of us, senor, to make a hole in the wall, but we did not know where the senor was in the stables. Jose tried to find out, but Senor Machado caught him."

"And where were you?"

"I was in the wood on the other side of the lake. I saw all that happened, senor."

"Where is Jose now?"

"I do not know, senor. I did not see him come out of the house."

Will wished that his rescuer had been Jose rather than the Indian, for the negro boy had been his servant for many months, and had often helped him with the hydroplane. To find the hydroplane and set off in it to Bolivar was the immediate duty of the moment. It would be no easy matter to find his way to it in the dark, and he felt the lack of Jose's guidance; but since it seemed impossible to have Jose, he determined to do his best with Azito.

They had not gone far, however, when Azito remarked that when hiding in the wood he had heard Jose cry out, as if he were being whipped.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" demanded Will, stopping short.

"It was so little to tell, senor," replied the man.

It was indeed a trifling matter to Azito. The Indians were accustomed to being struck, sometimes in punishment for faults, sometimes in wanton mischief and delight in witnessing pain. But it was no trifling matter to Will, and remembering the Chief's suggestion that Machado had captured Jose in order to discover from him the whereabouts of the hydroplane, Will resolved to retrace his steps, go to the house, and at least try to find out what was happening to the boy. When he told Azito this, the Indian said the senor was not wise.

"It must be done," replied Will.

"I will go, senor."

"No, no; stay where you are. You have done enough. Lend me your knife, and wait for me here."

He took the Indian's long knife, and having no belt, had to carry it in his hand.

"Which room did Jose's cries come from?" he asked.

"A room in the front, senor."

This was awkward. In order to get to the front of the house he must either go past the stables or make a long circuit through the gardens.

Since there were lights in the side of the house visible to him, it was very probable that the rooms in the front were also lit up. This would make it difficult to approach unseen, and he thought for a moment of waiting until the lights were put out for the night; but he saw on reflection that his chance of discovering the negro in the dark would be very small. He decided therefore to make for the back of the house, and to let his future proceedings be guided by circ.u.mstances.