ou had come here to join the hunt, and if that comes off,
and the tiger is killed, it does not matter whether two or sixty of us
went out."

"I shall be quite willing to do so," said Bathurst, "and I really think
that the Doctor's advice is good. If, now that you have all arrived upon
the ground, the preparations were canceled, there can be no doubt that
the natives would come to the conclusion that something very serious had
taken place, and it would be all over the place in no time."

"Thank you, Bathurst. Then we will consider that arranged. Now we will
get the horses in as soon as possible, and be off at once."

Ten minutes later the buggies were brought round, and the whole party,
with the exception of the Doctor and Bathurst, started for Deennugghur.

CHAPTER XII.

"Let us be off at once," Dr. Wade said to his companion; "we can talk as
we go along. I have got two rifles with me; I can lend you one."

"I shall take no rifle," Bathurst said decidedly, "or rather I will take
one of the shikaris' guns for the sake of appearance, and for use I will
borrow one of their spears."

"Very well; I will do the shooting, then," the Doctor agreed.

The two men then took their places on the elephants most used to the
work, and told the mahouts of the others to follow in case the elephants
should be required for driving the tiger out of the thick jungle, and
they then started side by side for the scene of action.

"This is awful news, Bathurst. I could not have believed it possible
that these fellows who have eaten our salt for years, fought our
battles, and have seemed the most docile and obedient of soldiers,
should have done this. That they should have been goaded into mutiny
by lies about their religion being in danger I could have imagined well
enough, but that they should go in for wholesale massacre, not only of
their officers, but of women and children, seems well nigh incredible.
You and I have always agreed that if they were once roused there was
no saying what they would do, but I don't think either of us dreamt of
anything as bad as this."

"I don't know," Bathurst said quietly; "one has watched this cloud
gathering, and felt that if it did break it would be something terrible.
No one can foresee now what it will be. The news that Delhi is in the
hands of the mutineers, and that these have massacred all Europeans, and
so placed themselves beyond all hope of pardon, will fly though India
like a flash