were fortifying it. Wemust get out, and not return to it until after the moon has set.Annchen, I shall wish you good-bye now. You must be in your place ofshelter when we return."
He folded her in a warm embrace, and then leaped from the waggon,forgetting that George still remained, or unwilling perhaps to witnesshis adieux.
George took her hand and looked earnestly into her face. "This may bethe last time we shall meet," he said. "I know I can never have mywish, but I should like you to know how fondly I love you."
The tears rose in her eyes and streamed down her face. "I do know it,"she murmured,--"I do know it, George; I prize and I return it."
Their lips met for a moment, as if by a mutual impulse, and then Riversleaped down and joined his companions, who had taken their places by thefire.
The night came on clear and bright, as is the night of those regions,--the moon, a dazzling globe of crystal; the stars studding the sky withbrilliant specks of light. The three friends affected to conversecarelessly together, intermingling their talk with bursts of merriment.But every ear was in reality strained to catch the distant tramp ofhorses' feet--the more keenly because the hour had now indeed come whenMargetts' return was not only possible, but might be reasonably lookedfor. Anxiously they watched the moon as it sank slowly down the heaven,disappearing at last behind the distant mountain range, and comparativedarkness succeeded, which under the shadow of the cliffs renderedobjects even at a little distance scarcely distinguishable. Then theyrose, and somewhat noisily bade the Hottentots good-night, desiring themto keep a careful watch. Moving off to their own waggon, they creptstealthily behind and round under its cover to the other which wasreserved for Annchen and her attendant, and got inside, joining Matamoand Haxo, who were anxiously expecting them. They had lighted alantern, whose light just showed the interior of the waggon.
"Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Hardy, as a sound resembling that ofthe discharge of a gun was heard at some distance. "Can that beMargetts' signal?"
"It is most unlikely that he would discharge his gun," said Rivers. "Itwould have the effect of putting these ruffians on their guard. Heknows that we have no need to be warned."
"True," said Hardy; "but if he is coming at all it ought to be soon. Itis nearly half-past eleven. These fellows will make their attack almostimmediately now. Ha! listen! Yes, I hear them coming!"
Even as he spoke, a hand was laid on the shutter by which the back ofthe cart was closed, and attempt made to pull it open.
Vander Heyden put his head out. "What are you doing here?" he asked."This is my sister's sleeping-place."
"I know that, Mr Vander Heyden, and I know you, and you too know me. Iam Langley Cargill, of the Nassau Regiment--your equal by birth andstation. I design your sister no harm, but to make her my wife. Giveher up to me, and I will ensure her safety and the most honourabletreatment."
"_I_ would as soon give her into the hands of Satan!" cried VanderHeyden fiercely. "You and your ruffians will do wisely to move off atonce, or we will fire on you without mercy."
"Then take the consequences of your own folly. Fire into the waggon,boys!" he shouted; "we'll soon make an end of this."
A dozen guns were discharged, and the leaden hail came rattling betweenthe ribs of the tilt above them. It did not produce much effect, as allthose within had thrown themselves on the floor, where the solid sidesof the waggon, strengthened by the recent defences, prevented thebullets from penetrating. The next moment the fire was returned withmore effect. Two of the pretended soldiers were shot dead on the spot,Bostock and one of his men were severely wounded.
"Rush up and smash the shutters in before they can load again?" shoutedBostock, regardless of his wound. He caught up a heavy piece of timber,which shattered the stout boards at a blow, and was about to mount tothe attack, followed by his comrades, when a volley of musketry wassuddenly poured in, which stretched two or three more of the banditti onthe ground, and a voice was heard calling them to surrender, or noquarter would be shown.
Vander Heyden and his companions leaped from the waggon to shake handswith Margetts and Evetts, who, with a couple of dozen of his men, hadnow completely surrounded the robbers, nearly all of whom indeed wereeither killed or wounded. But the danger was not entirely at an end, asthey had supposed. Bostock had been pierced by a second bullet, and itwas plain that he had received his death-wound. But his fierce spiritstill bore him up. He heard Evetts' challenge with a scornful laugh.
"Surrender?" he cried. "Not I, at all events. I believe I am done forthis time, but there is still some fight left in me. Henryk VanderHeyden, I told you I should one day return your fire; there is time todo so yet."
He raised himself with difficulty, and, levelling his revolver, fired athis antagonist, who was only a few feet from him. With fellsatisfaction he noted that the shot had taken effect. Then he fell backand expired without a groan.
CHAPTER NINETEEN.
"Are you much hurt?" cried Rivers, rushing up to Vander Heyden andraising him, while Hardy supported him on the other side.
"I don't know, I hardly felt it," he answered. "I don't think it struckthe ribs."
"We must get his coat off and stop the bleeding," said Hardy. "If youwill hold him, I will unfasten the coat. Bring the lantern closer."
"Leave him to me, sir," said a voice behind. "I know something ofsurgery, as a man has need to do who lives in this country."
Both Rivers and Hardy turned round in great surprise. The speaker wasMr Prestcott.
"Ah, you wonder to see me here! I had no intention of leaving home whenwe parted, but I was summoned to Heidelberg two days afterwards, and wason my way to Mr Evetts when Mr Margetts met me. We must cut the coataway. If the wound is where I suspect, it would give him great pain totake it off his shoulders. Ah, I thought so," he continued when thesleeve had been cut away and the shoulder had been laid bare. "You havehad a narrow escape, sir. The bullet struck the cartridge-belt whichwas hanging round your neck, and glanced off, passing out through thefleshy part under the arm-pit, just missing the rib. But it is a nastywound too. You will have to lie quite quiet for some time, and becareful that the bleeding does not burst out again. There must be someproper person to nurse him."
"His sister, Miss Vander Heyden, is here, sir," said Rivers. "She is inthe waggon yonder. She does not know anything about this yet."
"You had better go and warn her," said Mr Prestcott; "then we willcarry him to the waggon."
His instructions were obeyed. Annchen was of course terriblydistressed, but repressed her emotion, and instantly set about thenecessary preparations. The boxes were removed from the waggon, and assoft a bed as possible made upon the floor of dried grass and reeds,over which several rugs were laid. The waggon fortunately stood in asheltered place under two large trees, whither it had been moved torender it as secure from attack as possible. Annchen and Rose undertookthe nursing; and Mr Prestcott engaged to send over the necessarymedicines from Heidelberg.
"He must be kept as quiet as possible, remember. I suppose there areenough here," glancing round as he spoke at the Hottentot servants, aswell as at Matamo and Haxo, "to secure him against disturbance orattack."
"There will be no further fear of attack," said George, to whom thisremark appeared to be addressed. "This wretched Bostock is dead, andall the rest of the gang have either been killed or are prisoners.Stay, though," he added; "I see Gott is prisoner, and Van Ryk was hangedat Rorke's Drift; but I am afraid Sullivan has escaped."
"It will be a pity if he has," remarked Lieutenant Evetts. "I hear atHeidelberg that the whole gang has been for months past the pest of theneighbourhood."
"Sullivan has not escaped," said Margetts; "I can account for him. Hehad been set to watch for me as I returned to the camp, and pick me off,I suppose; but he fell into his own trap."
"Ha, that must have been the shot, then, that we heard," said Rivers."What made you so long in returning, Redgy? We were getting alarmed.
"
"Well, I missed the track," said Margetts, "and had ridden pastHeidelberg. By good luck I met Mr Prestcott, who was riding in to seeMr Evetts, and he took me with him. It was after all no loss of time,I believe, for he knew where to find Evetts, which I did not. Andduring our ride to Heidelberg, he told me something, George, which youwill be interested to hear. But first I will tell you about Sullivan.Evetts got his men together, and Mr Prestcott volunteered to come withus, wanting to identify some of the gang, who had more than once stolenhis property. When we got within a mile or two Evetts scattered hismen, and told them to move up with as little noise as