The
morning was just breaking when they were called. Twenty minutes
later they assembled to take a cup of coffee before starting. The
elephants were arranged in front of the tents, and they were just
about to mount when a horse was heard coming at a gallop.
"Wait a moment," the Major said; "it may be a message of some sort
from the station." A minute later Bathurst rode in and reined up
his horse in front of the tent.
"Why, Bathurst, what brings you here? Changed your mind at the last
moment, and found you could get away? That's right; you shall come
on the pad with me."
"No, I have not come for that, Major; I have brought a dispatch that
arrived at two o'clock this morning. Doolan opened it and came to
me, and asked me to bring it on to you, as I knew the way and where
your camp was to be pitched."
"Nothing serious, I hope, Bathurst," the Major said, struck with the
gravity with which Bathurst spoke. "It must be something important,
or Doolan would never have routed you off like that."
"It is very serious, Major," Bathurst said, in a low voice. "May
I suggest you had better go into the tent to read it? Some of the
servants understand English."
"Come in with me," the Major said, and led the way into the tent,
where the lamps were still burning on the breakfast table, although
the light had broadened out over the sky outside. It was with grave
anticipation of evil that the Major took the paper from its envelope,
but his worst fears were more than verified by the contents.
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