We halted and watched, for the sentry we knew was posted at
the opening. Presently he appeared, a fine tall fellow, walking
idly up and down within five paces of the thorn-stopped entrance.
We had hoped to catch him napping, but it was not to be. He
seemed particularly wide awake. If we could not kill that man,
and kill him silently, we were lost. There we crouched and watched
him. Presently Umslopogaas, who was a few paces ahead of me,
turned and made a sign, and next second I saw him go down on
his stomach like a snake, and, taking an opportunity when the
sentry's head was turned, begin to work his way through the grass
without a sound.
The unconscious sentry commenced to hum a little tune, and Umslopogaas
crept on. He reached the shelter of the mimosa bush unperceived
and there waited. Still the sentry walked up and down. Presently
he turned and looked over the wall into the camp. Instantly
the human snake who was stalking him glided on ten yards and
got behind one of the tussocks of the thistle-like plant, reaching
it as the Elmoran turned again. As he did so his eye fell upon
this patch of thistles, and it seemed to strike him that it did
not look quite right. He advanced a pace towards it -- halted,
yawned, stooped down, picked up a little pebble and threw it
at it.
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