Bathurst's face
was rigid and ghastly pale. The Major hurried to him.
"My dear Bathurst," he said, "I think you had better go below. You
will find plenty of work to do there."
"My work is here," Bathurst said, as if speaking to himself: "it
must be done."
The Major could not at the moment pay further attention to him, for
a roar of fire broke out round the inclosure, as from the ruined
bungalows and from every bush the Sepoys, who had crept up, now
commenced the attack in earnest, while the defenders lying behind
their parapet replied slowly and steadily, aiming at the puffs of
smoke as they darted out. His attention was suddenly called by a
shout from the Doctor.
"Are you mad, Bathurst? Lie down, man; you a throwing away your
life."
Turning round, the Major saw Bathurst standing up--right by the
parapet, facing the point where the enemy fire was hottest. He held
a rifle in his hand but did not attempt to fire; his figure swayed
slightly to and fro.
"Lie down," the Major shouted, "lie down, sir;" and then as Bathurst
still stood unmoved he was about to run forward, when the Doctor
from one side and Captain Forster from the other rushed towards him
through a storm of bullets, seized him in their arms, and dragged
him back to the center of the terrace.
"Nobly done, gentlemen," the Major said, as they laid Bathurst
down; "it was almost miraculous your not being hit."
Bathurst had struggled fiercely for a moment, and then his resistance
had suddenly ceased, and he had been dragged back like a wooden
figure.
Pages:
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285