I should say that it was a matter in which Mr. Hunter
and other civilians had better be consulted."
"Yes, we will hold a council," the Major said.
"I think, Major, it should be done quietly. It is probable that many
of the servants may know of the intentions of the Sepoys, and if
they see that anything like a council of the Europeans was being
held they may take the news to the Sepoys, and the latter, thinking
that their intention is known, may rise at once."
"That is quite true. Yes, we must do nothing to arouse suspicion.
What do you propose, Mr. Bathurst?"
"I will go and have a talk with the Doctor; he can go round to the
other officers one by one. I will tell Mr. Hunter, and he will tell
the other residents, so that when they meet here in the evening no
explanations will be needed, and a very few words as we sit out on
the veranda will be sufficient."
"That will be a very good plan. We will sit down to dinner as if
nothing had happened; if they are watching at all, they will be
keeping their eyes on us then."
"Very well; I will be in by nine o'clock, Major;" and with a slight
bow to Isobel, Bathurst stepped out through the open window, and
made his way to the Doctor's.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Doctor had just sat down to dinner when Bathurst came in. The
two subalterns were dining with him.
"That's good, Bathurst," the Doctor said, as he entered. "Boy, put
a chair for Mr. Bathurst. I had begun to think that you had deserted
me as well as everybody else.
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