ried into the hospital room, where he was left to the
care of the Doctor, Mrs. Hunter, and Mrs. Rintoul. The Major returned to
the general room.

"Boy, bring half a dozen bottles of champagne and open them as quickly
as you can," he said; "we have got enough to last us for weeks, and this
is an occasion to celebrate, and I think we have all earned it."

The others were by this time coming in, for there was no chance of the
enemy renewing the attack at present. Farquharson was on the roof on the
lookout. Quiet greetings were exchanged between wives and husbands.

"It didn't last long," Wilson said; "not above five minutes, I should
say, from the time when we opened fire."

"It seemed to us an age," Amy Hunter replied; "it was dreadful not to be
able to see what was going on; it seemed to me everyone must be killed
with all that firing."

"It was sharp while it lasted," the Major said; "but we were all snug
enough except against a stray bullet, such as that which hit poor young
Richards. He behaved very gallantly, and none of us knew he was hit till
it was all over."

"But how did Captain Forster get his bayonet wound?" Mrs. Doolan asked.
"I saw him go in just now into the surgery; it seemed to me he had a
very serious wound, for his jacket was cut from the breast up to the
shoulder, and he was bleeding terribly, though he made light of it."

"He jumped down into the middle of them," the Major said. "Bathurst
jumped down first, and was fighting like a madman with a mace he has
got. We could do nothing, for we were afraid of hitting him, and Forster
jumped down to help him, and, as he did so, got that rip with the
bayonet; it is a nasty cut, no doubt, but it is only a flesh wound."

"Where is Mr. Bathurst?" Mrs. Doolan asked; "is he hurt, too? Why did he
jump down? I should not have thought," and she stopped.

"I fancy a sort of fury seized him," the Major said; "but whatever it
was, he fought like a giant. He is a powerful man, and that iron mace is
just the thing for such work. The natives went down like ninepins before
him. No, I don't think he is hurt."

"I will go out and see," Mrs. Doolan said; and taking a mug half full of
champagne from the table, she went out.

Bathurst was sitting on the ground leaning against the wall of the
house.

"You are not hurt, Mr. Bathurst, I hope," Mrs. Doolan said, as she came
up. "No, don't try to get up, drink a little of this; we are celebrating
our victory by opening