But I cannot stand talking any longer. I shall be of more use on
the roof than I am here."
Isobel Hannay was not among those who had gathered near the door
of the room in which Bathurst was lying, but the Doctor had raised
his voice, and she heard what he said, and bent over her work of
sewing strips of linen together for bandages with a paler face than
had been caused by the outbreak of musketry. Gradually the firing
ceased. The Sepoys had suffered heavily from the steady fire of
the invisible defenders and gradually drew off, and in an hour from
the commencement of the attack all was silent round the building.
"So far so good, ladies," the Major said cheerily, as the garrison,
leaving one man on watch, descended from the roof. "We have had
no casualties, and I think we must have inflicted a good many, and
the mutineers are not likely to try that game on again, for they
must see that they are wasting ammunition, and are doing us no
harm. Now I hope the servants have got tiffin ready for us, for I
am sure we have all excellent appetites."
"Tiffin is quite ready, Major," Mrs. Doolan, who had been appointed
chief of the commissariat department, said cheerfully. "The servants
were a little disorganized when the firing began, but they soon
became accustomed to it, and I think you will find everything in
order in the hall."
The meal was really a cheerful one. The fact that the first attack
had passed over without anyone being hit raised the spirits of
the women, and all were disposed to look at matters in a cheerful
light.
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