What
would we have thought ourselves, when we were at the lamasery, if a body
of European travellers had known we were there, imprisoned and in danger
of our lives, and had passed by on the other side without attempting to
rescue us?"
Lady Meadowcroft knit her forehead. "That was us," she said, with an
impatient nod, after a pause--"and this is another person. You can't
turn aside for everybody who's ill in all Nepaul. And plague, too!--so
horrid! Besides, how do we know this isn't another plan of these hateful
people to lead us into danger?"
"Lady Meadowcroft is quite right," I said, hastily. "I never thought
about that. There may be no plague, no patient at all. I will go up with
this man alone, Hilda, and find out the truth. It will only take me five
hours at most. By noon I shall be back with you."
"What? And leave us here unprotected among the wild beasts and the
savages?" Lady Meadowcroft cried, horrified. "In the midst of the
forest! Dr. Cumberledge, how can you?"
"You are NOT unprotected," I answered, soothing her. "You have Hilda
with you. She is worth ten men. And besides, our Nepaulese are fairly
trustworthy."
Hilda bore me out in my resolve.
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