Women wept; men walked up and down,
wild with fury at being unable to do aught at present to avenge
the massacre.
"What are you going to do, Bathurst?" the Doctor asked that evening.
"I suppose you have some sort of plan?"
"I do not know yet. In the first place, I want to try whether what
you said the other day is correct, and if I can stand the noise of
firing without flinching."
"We can't try here in the fort," the Doctor said, full of interest
in the experiment; "a musket shot would throw the whole garrison
into confusion, and at present no one can go far from the gate;
however, there may be a row before long, and then you will have
an opportunity of trying. If there is not, we will go out together
half a mile or so as soon as some more troops get up. You said,
when we were talking about it at Deennugghur, you should resign
your appointment and go home, but if you find your nerves are all
right you may change your mind about that. How about the young lady
in there?"
"Well, Doctor, I should say that you, as her father's friend, are
the person to make arrangements for her. Just at present travel
is not very safe, but I suppose that directly things quiet down a
little many of the ladies will be going down to the coast, and no
doubt some of them would take charge of Miss Hannay back to England."
"And you mean to have nothing to say in the matter?"
"Nothing at all," he said firmly. "I have already told you my views
on the subject.
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