"And wake the enemy! They’d wonder what was up. Why should we disturb their rest? Better not make any difference in our usual ways, I think: keep our fires burning, and give ’em no reason to think we’re doing anything out of the ordinary." "You’re right. There’s a risk that in spite of all our care they’ll hear something, but it will take ’em some time to make sure that we’ve gone, and it’s ten to one they won’t pursue us in the darkness." "And when they do find out, in the daylight, they’ll probably waste some time in picking up the trail, unless they are good trackers, which we’ve no evidence of. I fancy we shall get, as I said, a good ten hours’ start of them, and I defy ’em to catch us then--again barring accidents." "D’you think you can stand the march?" "I’m going to chance it, anyway. Your rubbings have done me a deal of good, and we can’t go very fast at night, so I think I’ll manage to keep up. If I can’t, you must just sling me on to a litter. I’m eleven stone two--or was; I suspect I’ve lost a few pounds lately; but four men could toddle along with me, and a dozen will have loads in any case. There’s the ammunition, and all that flummery I gave to them; they won’t want to leave that." "Suppose we find that some of the war-party have gone back?" "It’s not likely. They’re here with the idea of getting loot, and not a man Jack of them will be willing to lose the chance of his share. Anyway, we must risk it. If we have luck we shall get to the village before it’s light, and a sudden rush will have the effect it always has on them." "Well, it sounds rather promising, and, upon my word, I’m itching to be off." "All in good time, old man. I wish we could all have a good feed before we start, but perhaps the men will march the better with the promise of a meal before them." The preparation of the men’s loads was set about betimes. The absence of large quantities of food was an advantage; the other goods could easily be carried by twelve of the men, and the labour would be lightened by transferring the loads to the others in turn. There was much excitement among the negroes when John explained his plan to them. The past successes had given them entire confidence in their leaders; and the prospect of actually capturing the village of the notorious "bad men" had a spice of daring about it which lent it a certain charm.