I think, too, from what he let drop, that the Major
is to some extent of the same opinion. What do you think, Doolan?"
"I like Bathurst," Captain Doolan said; "I have always thought him
a first rate fellow; but one can't stick up, you know, for a fellow
who can't behave as a gentleman ought to, especially when there
are women and children in danger."
"It. is quite impossible that we should associate with him," Captain
Rintoul said. "I don't propose that we should tell him what we
think of him, but I think we ought to leave him severely alone."
"I should say that he ought to be sent to Coventry," Richards said.
"I should not put it in that way," Mr. Hunter said gravely. "I have
always esteemed Bathurst. I look upon it as a terribly sad case;
but I agree with Captain Rintoul that, in the position in which we
are now placed, a man who proves himself to be a coward must be
made to feel that he stands apart from us. I should not call it
sending him to Coventry, or anything of that sort, but I do think
that we should express by our manner that we don't wish to have
any communication with him."
There was a general expression of assent to this opinion, Wilson
alone protesting against it.
"You can do as you like," he said; "but certainly I shall speak to
Bathurst, and I am sure the Doctor and Major Hannay will do so. I
don't want to stand up for a coward, but I believe what the Doctor
says. I have seen a good deal of Bathurst, and I like him; besides,
haven't you heard the story the Doctor has been telling about his
attacking a tiger with a whip to save a native woman? I don't care
what anyone says, a fellow who is a downright coward couldn't do
a thing like that.
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