It is an
unfortunate idiosyncrasy for which he is in no way accountable."
"Exceedingly unfortunate, I should say," Forster said, with a dry
laugh; "especially at times like this. It is rather unlucky for him
that fighting is generally accompanied by noise. If I had such an
idiosyncrasy, as you call it, I would blow out my brains."
"Perhaps Bathurst would do so, too, Captain Forster, if he had not
more brains to blow out than some people have."
"That is sharp, Doctor," Forster laughed good temperedly. "I don't
mind a fair hit."
"Well, I must go," the Doctor said, somewhat mollified; "there is
plenty to do, and I expect, after these fellows have held a council
of war, they will be trying an attack."
When the Doctor went out he found the whole of the garrison busy.
The Major had placed four men on the roof, and had ordered everyone
else to fill the bags that had been prepared for the purpose with
earth from the garden. It was only an order to the men and male
servants, but the ladies had all gone out to render their assistance.
As fast as the natives filled the bags with earth the ladies sewed
up the mouths of the bags, and the men carried them away and piled
them against the gate.
The garrison consisted of the six military officers, the Doctor,
seven civilians, ten ladies, eight children, thirty-eight male
servants, and six females. The work, therefore, went on rapidly,
and in the course of two hours so large a pile of bags was built
up against the gate that there was no probability whatever of its
being forced.
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