"What
could they have been doing? However, that is not the question now.
We must, of course, return instantly. Ask the others to come in
here, Bathurst. Don't tell the girls what has taken place; it will
be time enough for that afterwards. All that is necessary to say is
that you have brought news of troubles at some stations unaffected
before, and that I think it best to return at once."
The men were standing in a group, wondering what the news could be
which was deemed of such importance that Bathurst should carry it
out in the middle of the night.
"The Major will be glad if you will all go in, gentlemen," Bathurst
said, as he joined them.
"Are we to go in, Mr. Bathurst?" Miss Hunter asked.
"No, I think not, Miss Hunter; the fact is there have been some
troubles at two or three other places, and the Major is going to
hold a sort of council of war as to whether the hunt had not better
be given up. I rather fancy that they will decide to go back at
once. News flies very fast in India. I think the Major would like
that he and his officers should be back before it is whispered among
the Sepoys that the discontent has not, as we hoped, everywhere
ceased."
"It must be very serious," Isobel said, "or uncle would never decide
to go back, when all the preparations are made."
"It would never do, you see, Miss Hannay, for the Commandant and
four of the officers to be away, if the Sepoys should take it into
their heads to refuse to receive cartridges or anything of that
sort.
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