"He is evidently going on sentry
duty."
"Perhaps he has gone to the gate?" Surajah suggested.
"I am afraid not. I expect the other hut is furnishing the sentry
there. Listen!"
During the pauses of the low conversation of the two men still sitting
by the fire, they could hear a footfall outside.
"That settles the question," Dick said. "Now, the sooner those fellows
go to sleep, the better."
"We had better wait for some time, after they do," Surajah replied.
"One or two of the men, who lay down first, are sure to get up and go
to the door and look out. They always do that, once or twice during
the night. The sentry will soon get accustomed to the door being
opened, and won't look round sharp."
"That is a good idea," Dick agreed. "The moon is at the back of the
hut, so we shall be in the shadow. I will spring upon him, and will
try and grip him by the throat, so that he can't holloa. You wrench
the musket from his hands, and snatch his belt of cartridges. That
will give us a weapon, anyhow. As soon as you have got it, I will give
him one sharp squeeze, and throw him down. It will be some time before
he gets breath enough to holloa."
In half an hour, the two men by the fire lay down.
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