ss problem for solution--we're in luck,"
mused Colonel Decies, making his rapid and skilful examination. "Yes,
we must get him down, of course--after a bit of splinting."

"And then the real 'problem' will commence, I suppose," observed
Captain Digby-Soames. "You couldn't put him into my seat and fly him
to Kot Ghazi while I dossed down with the camel and waited for you to
come for me. And it wouldn't do to camel him to that building which
looks like a dak-bungalow."

"No. I think you'll have to stand by while I fly to Kot Ghazi and
bring the necessary things for a temporary job, and then return and
try to guide an ambulance waggon here. Oh, for an aeroplane-ambulance!
This job brings it home to you pretty clearly, doesn't it? Or I might
first go and have a look at the alleged dak-bungalow and see if we
could possibly run him over there on a charpoy[30] or an improvised
camel-stretcher. It'll be a ghastly job getting down. I don't know
that you hadn't better stick to him up here while I go straight back
for proper splints and bandages and so forth, and bring another chap
too ... Where the devil have I seen him before? I shall forget my own
name next."

The Colonel pondered a moment.

"Look here," he decided. "This case is urgent enough to justify a
risky experiment. He's been here a devil of a time and if he's not in
a _pukka_ hospital within the next few hours it's all up with him.
He's going to have the distinction of being the first casualty removed
to hospital by flying-machine. I'll tie him on somewhere. We'll splint
him up as well as possible, and then make him into a blooming cocoon
with the cord, and whisk him away."

"Pity we haven't a few planks," observed Captain Digby-Soames. "We
could make one big splint of his whole body and sling him, planks and
all, underneath the aeroplane."

"Well, you start splinting that right leg on to the left and stiffen
the knees with something (you'll probably be able to get a decent
stick or two off that small tree), and shove the arm inside his
leather legging. We've two pairs of putties you can bandage with, and
there are _puggries_ on all three _topis_. Probably his gun's
somewhere about, for another leg-splint, too. I'll get down to the
machine for the cord and then I'll skirmish around for anything in the
nature of poles or planks. I can get over to that hut and back before
you've done. It'll be the camelling that'll kill him."

At the distant building the Colonel