Our best hope is in getting assistance from somewhere,
but we know nothing of what is going on outside. I think the best
plan will be for one of our number to try to make his way out, and
go either to Lucknow, Agra, or Allahabad, and try and get help.
If they could spare a troop of cavalry it might be sufficient; the
mutineers have suffered very heavily; there were over a hundred and
fifty bodies carried out today, and if attacked suddenly I don't
think they would make any great resistance. We may hold out for a
week or ten days, but I think that is the outside; and if rescue
does not arrive by that time we must either surrender or try to
escape by that passage."
There was a general assent.
"Bathurst would be the man to do it," the Doctor said. "Once through
their lines he could pass without exciting the slightest suspicion;
he could buy a horse then, and could be at any of the stations in
two days."
"Yes, there is no doubt that he is the man to do it," the Major
said. "Where is he now?"
"At work as usual, Major; shall I go and speak to him? But I tell
you fairly I don't think he will undertake it."
"Why not, Doctor? It is a dangerous mission, but no more dangerous
than remaining here."
"Well, we shall see," the Doctor said, as he left the group.
Nothing was said for a few minutes, the men sitting or lying about
smoking. Presently the Doctor returned.
"Bathurst refuses absolutely," he said. "He admits that he does
not think there would be much difficulty for him to get through,
but he is convinced that the mission would be a useless one, and
that could help have been spared it would have come to us before
now.
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