Every man of the group behaved well. None
showed nervousness, even when one of the horses, conscious of hidden
Maroons in the wood, gave a snort and made a sharp movement out of the
track, in an attempt to get greater speed.
That was only for an instant, however. Yet every man's heart beat
faster as they came to the place where the ambush was. Indeed, Dyck saw
a bush move, and had a glimpse of a black, hideous face which quickly
disappeared. Dyck's imperturbable coolness kept them steady. They even
gossiped of idle things loud enough for the hidden Maroons to hear. No
face showed suspicion or alarm, as they passed, while all felt the
presence of many men in the underbrush. Only when they had passed the
place, did they realize the fulness of the danger through which they had
gone. Dyck talked to them presently without turning round, for that
might have roused suspicion, and while they were out of danger now,
there was the future and Dyck's plan which he now unfolded.
"They'll come down into the open before it's dark," he said quietly,
"and when they do that, we'll have 'em. They've no chance to ambush in
the cane-fields now.
Pages:
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146