The two young subalterns were in high spirits, and the party
were more lively than they had been since the first outbreak of the
mutiny. All had felt severely the strain of waiting, and the reality
of danger was a positive relief after the continuous suspense. It
was much to them to know that the crisis had come at last, that
they were still all together and the foe were without.
"It is difficult to believe," Mrs. Doolan said, "that it was only
yesterday evening we were all gathered at the Major's. It seems an
age since then."
"Yes, indeed," Mrs. Rintoul agreed; "the night seemed endless.
The worst time was the waiting till we were to begin to move over.
After that I did not so much mind, though it seemed more like a
week than a night while the things were being brought in here."
"I think the worse time was while we were waiting watching from the
roof to see whether the troops would come out on parade as usual,"
Isobel said. "When my uncle and the others were all in, and Captain
Forster, and the gates were shut, it seemed that our anxieties were
over."
"That was a mad charge of yours, Forster," the Major said. "It was
like the Balaclava business--magnificent; but it wasn't war."
"I did not think of it one way or the other," Captain Forster
laughed. "I was so furious at the insolence off those dogs attacking
me, that I thought of nothing else, and just went at them; but of
course it was foolish."
"It did good," the Doctor said.
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