I hope with you that Bathurst will retrieve himself
yet, but we shall certainly do him no good by trying to fight his
battle until he does. You and I, thinking as we do, will of course
make no alteration in our manner towards him. I am glad to hear that
young Wilson also stands as his friend. Let matters go on quietly.
I believe they will come right in the end."
The Doctor was obliged to acknowledge that the Major's counsel
was wise, and to refrain from either argument or sarcasm; but the
effort required to check his natural tendency to wordy conflict was
almost too great for him, and when not engaged in his own special
duties he spent hours in one of the angles of the terrace keenly
watching every tree and bush within range, and firing vengefully
whenever he caught sight of a lurking native. So accurate was his
aim that the Sepoys soon learned to know and dread the crack of
his rifle; and whenever it spoke out the ground within its range
was speedily clear of foes.
The matter, however, caused a deep if temporary estrangement between
Wilson and Richards. Although constantly chaffing each other, and
engaged in verbal strife, they had hitherto been firm friends.
Their rivalry in the matter of horseflesh had not aroused angry
feelings, even their mutual adoration of Isobel Hannay had not
affected a breach in their friendship; but upon the subject of
sending Bathurst to Coventry they quarreled so hotly, that for a
time they broke off all communication with each other, and both in
their hearts regretted that their schoolboy days had passed, and
that they could not settle the matter in good schoolboy fashion.
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