“You see tonight, Dad,” explained Jack, “all the villagers will be stupid with liquor, and the bearers, too. It just occurred to me that, perhaps, Mabele has a number of malcontents amongst the bearers who will follow him. If that’s the case, they can make a rich haul and escape easily enough, if they wait until we retire and then raid the supplies while the rest of the camp is incapacitated by too much party.”
“You are right, Jack,” answered his father, “and I should have thought of that myself. However, it’s not too late. Let’s see. There are five of us. If we all go over to the supplies and sleep tonight around a campfire, taking turn and turn about at standing watch, that would be the best way except for one thing. It would leave our tents unguarded again. No, that won’t do. What can anybody suggest?”
“Oh, I guess one man would be enough to stand guard,” said Bob. “They’d hardly try any tricks, if they found we were on our toes about the matter.”
“A good thing we took our rifles with us,” said Frank. “If they had been stolen, then we would have been out of luck. Why, they could just pot us one after the other.”
“On second thought,” said Mr. Hampton, “I don’t believe it will be necessary to guard the supplies ourselves. If Mabele had any of the men with him, they’d have stolen our things during our absence, just as he took the radio. The fact that nothing but the radio was stolen indicates to me that he was operating alone. No, we’ll chance his stealing from us. He couldn’t get much, anyway. But I will put several of those older men who stayed in camp and refused to disobey orders on guard. They’re steady fellows, and will afford sufficient protection. Isn’t there one of them. Bob, who you told me understands a revolver?”
“Yes, that fellow Samba. He used to be a British colonial soldier.”
“The one we were talking to tonight?” asked Frank.
“The same,” said Bob. “By the way, Mr. Hampton, he’d be a good man to make ‘straw boss’ now that Mabele has left.”
“Right you are,” said Mr. Hampton. “Suppose you step over and call him.”
Bob readily complied, Frank again accompanying him. They found Samba and his mates sunk in slumber. Nor had the bearers who had gone to the village yet returned. Samba was awakened, and followed them back to the tent.