Brandon of the Engineers

"Ah!" said Jake, with some dryness. "Then you had better take me; anyhow,

I'm coming."

"I'd much sooner you didn't."

"That doesn't count," Jake replied. "You're getting after somebody, and

if you leave me behind, I'll give the plot away. It's easy to send a

rumor round the camp."

Dick reflected. He saw that Jake meant to come and knew he could be

obstinate. Besides, the lad was something of a seaman and would be useful

on board the launch, because Dick did not mean to join the steamer

Kenwardine traveled by, but to catch another at a port some distance off.

"Well," he said, "I suppose I must give in."

"You've got to," Jake rejoined, and added in a meaning tone: "You may

need a witness if you're after Kenwardine, and I want to be about to see

fair play."

"Then you trust the fellow yet?"

"I don't know," Jake answered thoughtfully. "At first, I thought

Kenwardine great, and I like him now. He certainly has charm and you

can't believe much against him when he's with you; but it's somehow

different at a distance. Still, he knew nothing about the attacks on you.

I saw that when I told him about them."

"You told him!" Dick exclaimed.

"I did. Perhaps it might have been wise----"

Jake stopped, for he heard a faint rustle, as if a bush had been shaken,

and Dick looked up. The moon had not yet risen, thin mist drifted out of

the jungle, and it was very dark. There was some brush in front of the

building and a belt of tall grass and reeds grew farther back. Without

moving the upper part of his body, he put his foot under the table at

which they sat and kicked Jake's leg.

"What was that about Adexe?" he asked in a clear voice, and listened

hard.

He heard nothing then, for Jake took the hint and began to talk about the

coaling station, but when the lad stopped there was another rustle, very

faint but nearer.

Next moment a pistol shot rang out and a puff of acrid smoke drifted into

the veranda. Then the brushwood crackled, as if a man had violently

plunged through it, and Jake sprang to his feet.

"Come on and bring the lamp!" he shouted, running down the steps.

Dick followed, but left the lamp alone. He did not know who had fired the

shot and it might be imprudent to make himself conspicuous. Jake, who was

a few yards in front, boldly took a narrow path through the brush, which

rose to their shoulders. The darkness was thickened by the mist, but

after a moment or two they heard somebody coming to meet them. It could

hardly be an enemy, because the man wore boots and his tread was quick

and firm. Dick noted this with some relief, but thought it wise to take

precautions.