CHAPTER XVII
On the Track of Miscreants
To those who have had no experience of the jungle, who happen never tohave passed a night in such tropical forests as those which clothe theground about the Isthmus of Panama, the deadly silence that pervadeseverything is perhaps the most noticeable feature of all. It is almostterrifying in its intensity, and with dense darkness to help it is aptto awe even the boldest. And when, as happens so often, that silence issuddenly and most unexpectedly broken by the call of some prowling wildbeast, when a sharp hissing sound and a rustling amongst the fallenleaves near at hand tells of a creeping snake, then indeed the nervestingle, the novice feels a strange sensation about the roots of hishair, while perspiration gathers thickly on his forehead. Yes, thebravest are awed. Even the old hand, the experienced hunter, holds hisbreath and halts to listen, his senses all alert, ready to defend hislife against danger.
So it was with Jim and his friends. One only was accustomed to thejungle; and for a while, after diving into its darkness, they wereoverawed by its deathly silence at one moment, and at another moment bythe weird calls which came to their ears. The lamplight shining onTom's face demonstrated the fact that he was trying to smile; but it wasan uneasy and an unnatural movement.
"By de poker," he gasped, "but not like dis at all! De leaves whispermurder. De branches ob de trees call out and say: 'Take care'. Tom allob a shiber."
"He, he, he! Yo not like him, dis forest," grinned Ching, though, totell the truth, the Chinaman's slanting eyes were moving restlessly fromside to side, in a manner which denoted fear. "Yo hold de hand ob disChinaboy; den feel braver. No harm come when Ching near. Yo come alongwid me, Tom."
His bantering tones caused the huge negro to change his smile for ascowl. He stretched out a hand and slowly doubled up the fingers, asmuch as to say that he could with pleasure take the Chinaman in one handand crush the life out of him. He began to exclaim, but Jim cut himshort. Our hero brushed the sweat from his forehead, and swung roundupon the two.
"Silence, you babies!" he exclaimed. "A sound travels far in the jungle,and who can say how near we are to those villains we are searching for?Silence! Follow in single file, and take care that you do not tread onfallen branches and twigs. I have often heard it stated that the snap ofa broken twig can be heard as plainly as the report of a pistol. Guessit's true, too."
"But dere no fear jest now, Massa Jim," interrupted Sam, his little eyestwinkling in the light of the lamp which dangled from his finger."Still, all de same, dat lubber ob a Tom better take care and keep himmouth shut. Him never can speak soft; him shout and bawl. Him a great,big, hulkin' bull, I reckon."
That brought the big negro to the point of explosion. After all, it wasan event of every day for these three faithful fellows, who had clung sowell to Jim, to banter one another, and for that bantering to turnmostly against Tom. It was the fate of the ponderous fellow often to bethe butt of his comrades, to provide them with a ready cause for wit athis expense, and always with the certainty that Tom would swallow thebait and lash himself into a pretended fit of anger, in which hethreatened terrible things, gesticulated, and roared, and often enoughshook his huge fists and bared his fine white teeth in a manner whichwould have disturbed the courage of a bold man, but which, with Chingand Sam, who knew him so well, or with our hero, merely resulted inroars of laughter and in further banter. However, this was not the timefor such fun and frolic, and Jim put a stop to the noise promptly.
"Come," he said; "guess we've got Sadie to think about. That's betterthan badgering one another."
At once there came a serious look across the faces of his followers.Their eyes shone more brightly, while Tom gave vent to an exclamation,striking himself across his broad chest at the same moment. "I's oughtter be kicked," he said indignantly. "Yo see, Tom not say anoder wordtill missie found. But den, ha! yo take care, Tom smash dem rascals.Knock 'em all into cocked hat; make jelly and jam ob dem."
All his pretended ferocity was turned upon the rascals who had abductedSadie; and to look at him as he spoke there was no doubt, rememberingthe huge negro's prowess in former scuffles, that he would be as good ashis word. But Sam was already moving ahead, and Jim fell in immediatelybehind him. With the Chinaman as third man, and Tom bringing up therear, the party pressed on as rapidly as possible through the forest.Nor did Sam seem to find any difficulty in holding to the track. Hissharp eyes were bent for ever on the ground, while his lamp swung thisway and that, lighting the hoofmarks made by the horses of Jaime deOteros's party. And as they went, Tom, armed with a heavy knife, blazedthe trees to the left, to afford a guide to those who were to follow. Itwas half an hour before the silence amongst them was broken; then Samcame to a sudden stop, and drew Jim towards him.
"Dey get off de hosses here," he whispered. "Jungle growing so low, deycouldn't sit in the saddle any longer. Now, yo watch extry close, and Ishow yo what happen. Here one, two, three, yes four ob de scum. Four obde villain, sah, and here am anoder mark. Dat missie; yo see how smallit am? Den I's sure dat missie. She walk between de rascal; two go infront, each leading a hoss. No; one ob dem hab two hosses. Den missie;she not hab a hoss. Den two oder blackguard, one wid two hosses."
It seemed clear enough to Sam, though for Jim the reading of theseelusive signs was a somewhat different matter; but by dint of followingSam's indicating finger, and with the help of a little imagination, hewas able to make out the various signs. Indeed, once the whole had beenshown him he began to wonder how it was that he himself had failed tolight upon them at once. However, a couple of hundred yards farther on,when they came to a halt once more, he was again at as much of a loss asbefore, and was glad to have Sam's help to read what the ground beneaththe jungle had written upon it.
"Six hosses," he said. "One for each of the four men, one for Sadie, anda spare."
"For de swag," suggested Sam. "Dey's robbed de people ober at Ancon."
Jim remembered the fact, though till that moment he had lost sight ofit; for all his interest was, very naturally, centred in Sadie. In hiseyes that was the maximum offence Jaime and his rascals had committed.
"We'd best go very quietly now," he whispered to his companions. "Ifthey have dismounted, as the marks show, and if the jungle continues toget thicker, as we can tell for ourselves is the case, why, guessthey'll soon come to a halt and camp. That'll be our chance."
"Halt any time," answered Sam, stopping for a moment and facing roundwith brightly shining eyes. "Dey camp when dey find de right spot. Notcare to lie out here in de jungle. Dat not do; p'raps some beast comealong and gib trouble. Dey wait till dey find an open place, den spreadde blanket, boil de kettle, eat, and sleep. Sam know; him libed in ajungle country before now."
He was filled with assurance, fortunately for Jim and his comrades, forotherwise there was no doubt that without a guide they would have lostthe track and themselves many times before this. Seeing the difficultyof making a straight path through this trackless forest, it becameevident to Jim before long that Jaime and his comrades, like Sam, musthave had experience of the jungle. Indeed, had he but been aware of it,the ruffian who commanded the rascally band was an excellent leader inmore ways than one. Putting aside his vindictive and cruel nature, whichseemed natural to him, the man was exceedingly clever and cunning, as hehad proved to the police of many a port along the Gulf of Mexico. But hewas as accustomed to the wilds as to a city, and had indeed during thepast two years found that safety, complete security from arrest in fact,lay in the jungle. He had made himself at home in it, had discovered theways of trackers, and, thanks to his own hardiness, had so far defiedfever. He was, then, just the man to lead a band across the isthmus, andthe straight line which his trail had held all along showed that nonovice was at the head of affairs. But in one particular he failed.Jaime had been too successful; he had for so long successfullyhoodwinked the police, and had robbed with such little interference,owing to his wonderful astuteness, that he had become too sure ofhimself, and, as a natural
consequence, had become careless. At thisvery moment he imagined that no one was in pursuit. He had waited onthat open patch of ground where Jim's comrades were at this momentencamped, and had kept a watch on the top of the ridge. The fact that hehad seen no one crossing it had convinced him that all was well, thatthe scheme of the boatman who was to put to sea from Colon had again putthe police on a false track. And at once he had neglected furtherprecautions.
"We'll jest run ahead through the jungle," he told his followers, "tillwe've put a good belt of it between us and the ridge. Then guess we'lltake a fine sleep, and so be fresh by the time we come to the end of thejourney. Gee! What a commotion there'll have been 'way down by Ancon!That explosion fairly shook the whole isthmus; but why Juan never camealong is more than I can say, onless he was captured."
"Or blown sky-high with his bomb," ventured one of his fellows.
"Blown up by his own bomb! Don't you think it," came from Jaime. "Juanis too clever by half to do a thing like that. Most like he foundhimself cornered, and unable to come to our meeting place; so he's lyinghid up somewhere, and when he gets the chance will make across to joinus. See here, boys, we'll take a fine rest when we get to those natives.We'll lie up for a month, till things get blown over a little, and untilpeople have begun to forget that dollar notes were taken; then we'll getaboard the launch, steam out from the lagoon, and take one of thepassing traders. There won't be no difficulty about that. Guess we'rearmed, and the folks aboard the traders don't carry a weapon. Once we'vegot a boat, we'll sail to the nearest port, tranship to New Orleans, andfrom there to France. Paris will take every dollar we have, even thoughthe numbers of the bills have been published. In six months' time weshall have enough to make a tidy sum for each of us when the stuff'sdivided."
He led his little following through the forest till they arrived at anopen, rocky space, where the blackened ground showed that a fire hadbeen made on a former occasion. Indeed it was a spot which Jaime knewwell, for he had travelled this route many times now. Here saddles weretaken from the horses, while the beasts were given a drink at a tinystream which trickled from the rocks; then they were tethered to longropes, which would allow them to graze. Sadie was not treated unkindly.Indeed, hardened villain though he was, Jaime had some pity for thechild. He had her placed near the fire, and saw to it himself that foodand drink were given her.
"You'd best get settled down in one of the blankets and take a sleep,"he advised. "I ain't goin' to put any ropes on you, and I'll tell youwhy. If you were to try to make off into the jungle, you'd just getlost, and there's wild things in the forest that would scare the lifeout of you; so be sensible, and take a sleep."
Sadie was, in fact, far too frightened by her surroundings to venture tomove. To speak the truth, the trying scenes through which she had passedhad practically unnerved her, though the child had plenty of courage;but she was a sensible child too, and saw the futility of attemptingescape at this moment.
As to Jim and his little band, they had no idea where the party theywere in pursuit of had camped, if, indeed, they had camped at all. Theypressed on slowly through the jungle, Sam leading with the lantern, andTom bringing up the rear, slashing a tree every few paces as he passed.It was perhaps an hour later before the little negro came to a suddenhalt, and lifted his head in the air.
"Smell hosses!" he whispered, snuffing at the breeze for all the worldas if he were a dog. "Sartin sure I smell hosses!"
Promptly his hand went to the lamp and extinguished it. Jim heard thecatch click to, and found himself in utter darkness. But though he heldhis head erect, and sniffed with all his power, he could detect nothingbut the strong, aromatic scent of some tropical creeper clinging to thetrees near at hand, and supporting from the finest tendrils somemagnificent blossoms.
"Horses? You're sure?" he asked.
"Sartin sure," came the confidant whisper. "Listen to dat!"
Through the silence of the forest there came of a sudden a dull cough,and then a loud neigh. It was followed by a second, and then, faintly toJim's ears, but with startling loudness to Sam's, there came the soundof stamping.
"I'se tell yo' all about it," whispered the little negro. "One ob dehosses restless; de flies trouble him. He cough fust ob all, den heneigh. Now he stampin'. Dat all simple, simple as A B C. But him veryclose; too close. S'pose dem scum hab seen de lantern."
They crouched in the jungle in death-like silence for the space of tenminutes, fearful lest what Sam had suggested were the case; but thoughthey listened there came no other sound than the stamp of the restlesshorse which had first attracted their attention--that and an occasionalcough from the same animal. As to Sam's statement that he could smellhorses, a statement which must have been true, and which had undoubtedlysaved Jim and his party from blundering into the enemy's camp, our herocould not even now detect the characteristic smell. Nor could Ching norTom.
"But dem dere all de same," whispered Sam, chuckling at the recollectionof his own sharpness, "and precious near too. What yo do, sah? Wait hereand listen."
"No; I shall creep forward at once. We'll all go, for if we were todivide we might never find one another. Wasn't there a moon when westarted?"
Sam took his young master by the sleeve and pulled his arm towards theright, to a spot where the trees gave back from one another, and a longghostly stream of pure white light broke in from above and bathed thetree trunks.
"What dat say?" he asked. "Yo can see fo' yoself dat dere's a moon; butdown here dark as a ditch, black as de hat. Out in de open splendidlight; see to read if yo like to."
"Then we may be able to see them. Lead along, Sam; clear the groundbefore you as much as you can."
They set forward again, this time on hands and knees, and slowly, inchby inch, approached the clearing where Jaime had made his camp. Not thatthey could see it yet; but Sam proclaimed the fact that they were nearerwith his usual assurance.
"Tell dat by the sniff ob de hosses," he said shortly; "anyone can saydat fo' sure. In ten minute yo see dese scum, and den know what to do."
True enough, that number of minutes brought the whole party to the edgeof the jungle, though as to their knowing how to act, that was a verydifferent matter. Jim stared out into the open, and saw there fivefigures, huddled within a few feet of one another, wrapped from head tofoot in blankets. Farther away were the horses, half-hidden in theshadow cast by the far edge of the jungle, while to one side was a pileof bags and kit, amongst which were the saddles. And little by little,as the scene unfolded itself to our hero, and from gazing at the wholehe was able to concentrate his attention on each individual item, he wasable to decide which of the five figures was that of his sister.
"She lies to this side of what has been a fire," he told himself, "whilethose rascals are on the far side. That is in our favour at any rate;but to reach her will be a bother. How's it to be done?"
Once more his eyes passed round the clearing. They went from the figureof Sadie to those of the band of ruffians, and from the latter to theirsaddles and other possessions. Then they passed to the horses, and soround the edge of the clearing till he found himself leaning far outfrom the undergrowth and staring into the faces of his own followers.There was Sam's, his eyes twinkling as ever in the moonlight, everyfeature denoting eagerness, while the broad line across the forehead,and beneath the tattered peak of his dirty cap, seemed to show that he,too, was puzzling his brains as to how to act. And there was Ching'sOriental countenance next to Sam's, the slant-like eyes gazing upon thescene as if it were one of the most ordinary, as if he could see nothingbefore him to arouse unusual interest, nothing to disturb his accustomedequanimity. The man was actually toying with the end of his pigtail, asif he could find nothing better to do. But who could really read thosefeatures? Not Jim, nor Sam, nor Tom; not even a European accustomed toChina and its natives. The face was inscrutable; those blank, immobilefeatures hid a mind which, for all its seeming somnolence, was workingfiercely, relentlessly, and shrewdly to provide a solution for
thisdifficulty. For Ching was possessed of a doglike faithfulness; he wouldgladly have given his life for that of "the missie" or for that of hismaster. And Tom--what did his expression show? The thick lips weremoving as Jim looked, while the alae of his wide nostrils were dilatedwidely, pulsating as if with excitement. The usually merry, childishface was set with an expression so severe that our hero was astonished.It brought a gulp to his throat as he suddenly realized to the full whathe had known now for so long, that these three men were such truecomrades. Then back went his eyes to the figure of his sister.
"I'll risk it," he whispered to himself. "I'll creep out there and bringher back with me. But supposing they awake, supposing Jaime or one ofthe others suddenly sits up and lets drive with a shooter?"
His hand dropped to the butt of his own weapon, and for a while hecrouched in silence. Across his mind there flashed a scheme which mighthelp. There were the horses; he could send Sam or Ching across to themand cut them adrift. He could make it appear that an attack was to takeplace from that quarter. Then he banished the idea just as swiftly.
"Wouldn't do," he told himself; "they'd sit there in the centre andshoot. They would still be close to Sadie, and could hit anyone whoattempted to reach her. It's got to be done in some other manner."
He did not forget that Jaime and his comrades had already a reputationas marksmen. Now that he and his fellows had actually reached the gang,and were so near to success, Jim swore that he would not ruin everythingby acting hastily. Better, far better, sit there for a while than act onthe spur of the moment and lose his own life and that of his helpers inplace of effecting a rescue. It was Ching who came forward with acunning suggestion.
"Not move now, Massa Jim," he whispered. "Dey not dead fast asleepee. Yowaitee little while, den creep in, and Ching come along wid yo. We goround to de top side ob de clearing, and creep along de hollow. All openhere; but dere, shut in; keep away de bullet."
Jim stared in the direction indicated, and made out by the shadows thata hollow ran across the rocky ground from the northern side, till itactually reached the edge of the tiny camp which harboured the sleepers.In fact, though he was ignorant of it at the moment, this was thewatercourse which, beginning still farther to the north, at the foot ofsome rough rocks, carried a stream right across to the southern side ofthe clearing. Instantly he decided to follow the advice given.
"See here," he said, calling his three comrades round about him tilltheir heads were as close as possible. "Ching has given good advice. Ishall go across to the far side in the course of an hour. That should begiving them long enough to get dead sleepy."
"Dey sleep like pig den," agreed Ching. "Not wakee so easy."
"Then I shall creep along that channel, and Ching with me. You two, Tomand Sam, will lie just here, where you can see everything, and will beready to shoot if there's trouble. But I hope there won't be that; weought to be able to retire up that gully without disturbing the gang. Ifthey do rouse, we shall still have a good chance, for the sides of thechannel will protect and hide us. So bear this in mind, even if theysuddenly get up, don't shoot unless you see that they have discovered usin the gully. Then pepper them for all you are worth."
"Golly," exclaimed Tom, his eyes wide open with amazement, "dat a realfine business! But what yo do supposin' dey discober yo?"
"I shall creep back along the watercourse or gully, whatever it happensto be, while Ching will fire at the ruffians. Then we will all comealong here. Don't forget that, once we are hidden in the jungle, silenceis most required. A noise would bring bullets."
The three heads nodded vigorously, while muttered exclamations came fromthe negroes. Then Sam asked a question.
"Yo and Ching creep along way ober dere. Dat right," he said. "Yo wakede missie, and go back extry quick. Dat right also. What Ching do?"
Jim was ready with his answer, and flashed it at them. "Ching goes for aspecial reason," he said. "I happen to have had a report from the policemajor before I left Gatun. You will remember that a huge number ofAmerican notes were stolen. They were tied in bundles, and wrapped inwaterproof paper, then the bundles were locked in boxes. Jaime and hisvillains broke the boxes and carried away the bundles. If those twoobjects out there are not the very ones we are talking of, why, call mea donkey."
Out went his finger and he pointed to the piled-up saddles and otherarticles which the gang had brought with them in their flight. The moonfell clearly on them all, giving every item a sharp outline; but it felldarkly on two of them, for the simple reason that they were covered inblack material. Without doubt the bundles were those containing thenotes filched from the Commission offices, notes which Jaime and hisrascals hoped to convert into silver dollars one of these days, and soprocure a fortune. Tom gasped, Sam's eyes looked as though they wouldfall from his head, while the Chinaman gave vent to a sniggering giggle.
"Yo am velly cleber, Mass Jim," said Tom simply. "Dem bundles de swagfo' sure, and, by lummy! me see what yo up to. Yo goin'----"
"Ching is going right now to bring 'em along with us," declared Jim inan excited whisper. "If we can take Sadie from 'em, why we'll rob therascals of their booty also, I guess. And, gee! won't they be mad whenthey discover what's happened. But, boys, see here. Our job is to getaway and leave them none the wiser. We want to clear off through theforest back to our people, for you may be sure that Jaime and his menwill be mad when they learn how they've been fooled. So silence isimportant, and you'll see to it."
As if by common consent they ceased whispering to one another, and forthe better part of an hour lay still in the jungle, only their headsprotruding. And during all that time not one of the blanketed figureslying in the open moved so much as an inch, though there was anoccasional snort or a gentle stamping from the horses.
"Guess it's time," said Jim suddenly. "Those fellows haven't moved aneyelash since we watched, and there's not a doubt but that they'reproperly wearied and worn out by all that they've been doin'. Tom andSam, you know what's wanted. Give us a whistle as we come back, and thenbe ready to make off through the forest."
They wasted no more words. Jim went off at once on hands and knees, and,discarding the shelter of the undergrowth, made his way just within themargin of the clearing. After him came Ching, his pigtail gathered intoa round coil beneath the billycock hat that he always insisted onwearing, and which, indeed, has for long been a favourite with theChinaman. Otherwise the man was dressed in his native costume; for here,again, the wily Chinee shows his astuteness. Indeed, John Chinaman hasproved to himself that his own clothing is infinitely more comfortablethan European when he is located in a hot climate, and he adheres to itrigidly. Not a sound did the man make as he crept along, while Jim couldnot have been accused of want of caution. He carefully set aside allsticks and stones, and all fallen leaves, and never moved unless he weresure that the path was clear before him. All the time, too, he keptswinging his eyes round to the centre of the clearing. It seemed agesbefore he and his companion reached the northern side; but at last theywere at the point where their attempt at rescue was to begin in earnest.At their feet lay a pool of water, and from it a gully some four feetdeep ran right out into the open.
"Couldn't be better," whispered Jim. "We can get along on hands andknees, or wade through the water; but I hope there's little of thelatter, as the splashing might be heard. Don't forget, Ching; once Ihave my sister, you snatch the bundles."
He waited to see the Chinaman nod, and then at once pressed on into thegully. Within a few seconds he had an agreeable surprise. Only a tinystream was trickling down the very centre, insufficient, in fact, tocause any splashing, though the size of the gully itself, its smoothlyworn walls showing so clearly in the moonlight, demonstrated the factthat when the rains fell, and the wet season was in progress, a torrentwent gushing along the channel. But now it was almost empty, while themoon rays, falling obliquely upon one bank, cast a shadow more thanhalfway across the gully.
"Step along here," whispered Jim, pulling the Chinaman
on to the sidewhich lay in the shadow. "And one more warning. Supposing those mensuddenly wake, and look around for us. Just lie as still as a mouseuntil you are sure they have spotted us in this channel. Then it'll betime for shooters."
Once more the Chinaman nodded, and the moonlight falling on his face atthat moment showed our hero, if he had had any doubts, that here he hada most excellent ally. For the same expressionless features gazed athim. There was not so much as the smallest trace of fear or excitementabout Ching, the Chinaman.
"Forward!" Jim whispered the word, and promptly proceeded along the edgeof the channel. Bending low, so that he was altogether hidden, he haltedevery ten paces, to glance across at the motionless figures of therobbers; but there was not a movement from them till he was within somefifteen feet of his sister. Then, suddenly, one of the figures rolledover. A moment later the man was sitting up, still swathed in hisblanket. He leaned his weight on one hand, and cast his eyes in a widecircle round the clearing. A horse stamped heavily, and coughed, and atthe sound the man slowly shook the blanket from him. Jim watched as hedropped the covering and climbed sleepily to his feet. The fellow gazedat the moon, and then, as if the soft, silvery light had affected himpeculiarly, stretched out his arms widely, rose on his toes, and yawnedloudly. At that a second figure moved. The man rolled over; then, toJim's relief, he snuggled down into his blanket, as anyone does who hasbeen disturbed, and who desires to rest further. In a moment he was asmotionless as formerly.
"Gee! Jaime of all people," said Jim suddenly, beneath his breath."That's bad for our business. I thought I recognized the rascal."
His hand went to his revolver, for he was tempted to use it; then hesank still lower into the gully. For Jaime it was who had risen; therascally leader of the band stretched himself and yawned again in themoonlight. He drew something from a pocket, and, to his disgust, Jim sawthat he was rolling a cigarette. Indeed the Spaniard was never awake buthe was smoking. The habit had grown upon him so that now once hisfingers were idle they always slipped into his pocket. It was a marvelto watch how nimbly they plucked the shreds of leaf, how they rolled thewhole to a correct length and thickness, and how rapidly a cigarette wascompleted. In less than a minute now there was one between his lips.Jaime stepped slowly across to the blackened ashes of the fire, stirredthem with his foot, and selected a brand from the very centre. It didnot even glow red, but he managed to obtain a light from it. Then ahorse coughed suddenly, and once more Jaime swung round.
"Flies at them," Jim heard him declare. "Nothing more; there's no onebut ourselves hereabouts."
He strolled to and fro for some ten minutes, while Jim's impatience grewalmost unbearable; then he stood regarding the bundled blanket beneathwhich Sadie was sleeping. A moment later he stepped across to the twoparcels which contained the stolen notes, and a gleam of triumph sweptacross his bearded features.
"Riches!" he growled. "The finest haul we have ever made. If things goon like this America'll find it'll cost her a heap more to build thatcanal than she looked for. Helloo! That horse again. It's flies forsure."
The same beast stamped again, and whinnied. Jim could see its legsmoving. It swayed to one side, and bumped into the next animal, causingthe latter to kick and squeal angrily, while the one who had caused thecommotion responded with a savage bite which caused the other poor beastto squeal again still louder. The noise and commotion set Jaime off intheir direction. Jim watched him as he sauntered down towards thehorses, and waited till he had reached them.
"Ready?" he asked, swinging swiftly round upon the Chinaman. "Thenforward. Seize the bundles; I will take Sadie."
In an instant he had crept from the gully, and with Ching close behindhim slid at once towards his sister.