id; "this is no time for disputes; we are all in
one boat here, and must row together like brothers. You go your own
way about Bathurst, I don't blame you for it; he is a man everyone has
liked, a first rate official, and a good fellow all round, except he is
not one of the sociable kind. At any other time one would not think so
much of this, but at present for a man to lack courage is for him to
lack everything. I hope he will come better out of it than it looks at
present. He will have plenty of chances here, and no one will be more
glad than I shall to see him pull himself together."

The Doctor, however, would have quarreled with everyone all round when
he heard what had been decided upon, had not Major Hannay taken him
aside and talked to him strongly.

"It will never do, Doctor, to have quarrels here, and as commandant I
must beg of you not to make this a personal matter. I am very sorry for
this poor fellow; I accept entirely your view of the matter; but at
the same time I really can't blame the others for looking at it from a
matter of fact point of view. Want of courage is at all times regarded
by men as the most unpardonable of failings, and at a time like the
present this feeling is naturally far stronger even than usual. I hope
with you that Bathurst will retrieve himself yet, but we shall certainly
do him no good by trying to fight his battle until he does. You and
I, thinking as we do, will of course make no alteration in our manner
towards him. I am glad to hear that young Wilson also stands as his
friend. Let matters go on quietly. I believe they will come right in the
end."

The Doctor was obliged to acknowledge that the Major's counsel was wise,
and to refrain from either argument or sarcasm; but the effort required
to check his natural tendency to wordy conflict was almost too great for
him, and when not engaged in his own special duties he spent hours in
one of the angles of the terrace keenly watching every tree and bush
within range, and firing vengefully whenever he caught sight of a
lurking native. So accurate was his aim that the Sepoys soon learned
to know and dread the crack of his rifle; and whenever it spoke out the
ground within its range was speedily clear of foes.

The matter, however, caused a deep if temporary estrangement between
Wilson and Richards. Although constantly chaffing each other, and
engaged in verbal strife, they had hitherto been firm friends. Their
rivalry in the matt