He felt
giddy and confused. "Who have you with you?" he asked.
"Two natives. I think one is the young chief, and the other is one
of his followers."
Bathurst spoke to them in their native language, and found that
Wilson was not mistaken. As soon as he found that he was understood,
the young chief poured out a volley of curses upon those who had
attacked them.
Bathurst stopped him. "We shall have time for that afterwards,
Murad," he said; "the first thing is to see what had best be done.
What has happened since I landed, Wilson?"
"Our boat was pretty nearly cut in two," Wilson said, "and was
sinking when I jumped over; the other boat has been rowed ashore."
"What did you hear, Wilson?"
"I heard the women scream," Wilson said reluctantly, "and five or
six shots were fired. There has been no sound since then."
Bathurst stood silent for a minute.
"I do not think they will have killed the women," he said; "they
did not do so at Cawnpore. They will take them there. No doubt they
killed the men. Let me think for a moment. Now," he said after a
long pause, "we must be doing. Murad, your father and friends have
given their word for the safety of those you took prisoners; that
they have been massacred is no fault of your father or of you. This
gentleman and myself are the only ones saved, as far as we know.
Are you sure that none others came ashore?"
"The others were all killed, we alone remaining," Murad said. "I
will go back to my father, and he will go to Cawnpore and demand
vengeance.
Pages:
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420