"Goodby, then," she said.
He held it a moment. "Goodby, Miss Hannay. May God keep you and
guard you."
Then gently he led her to the door, and they passed out together.
A quarter of an hour later he rejoined the Doctor, having brought
with him a few short lengths of bamboo.
"I will put these across the hole when I get out," he said, "lay
some sods over them, and cover them up with leaves, in case anyone
should enter the bushes tomorrow. It is not likely, but it is as
well to take the precaution. One of you had better stay on guard
until I come back. It would not do to trust any of the natives;
those that remain are all utterly disheartened and broken down,
and might take the opportunity of purchasing their lives by going
out and informing the enemy of the opening into the gallery. They
must already know of its existence from the men who have deserted.
But, fortunately, I don't think any of them are aware of its exact
direction; if they had been, we should have had them countermining
before this."
Having carefully closed up the opening, Bathurst went to the edge
of the bushes and listened. He could hear voices between him and
the house, but all was quiet near at hand, and he began to move
noiselessly along through the garden. He had no great fear of meeting
with anyone here. The natives had formed a cordon round the wall,
and behind that there would be no one on watch, and as the batteries
were silent, all were doubtless asleep there.
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