e to
secure our safety afterwards is another thing."

"I quite see that, Major; but it seems to me that we have no option but
to accept his offer and hope for the best."

"That is it," the Doctor agreed. "It is certain death if we don't
surrender; there is a chance that he will be able to protect us if we
do. At any rate, we can be no worse off than we are here."

Isobel had been in with Mrs. Doolan nursing the sick children when
Bathurst arrived, but they presently came out. Isobel shook hands with
him without speaking.

"We are all heavily indebted to you, Mr. Bathurst," Mrs. Doolan said.
"If we escape from this, it will be to you that we humanly owe our
lives."

She spoke in a voice that all in the room could hear.

"Your are right, Mrs. Doolan," the Doctor said; "and I think that there
are some who must regret now the manner in which they have behaved to
Bathurst since this siege began."

"I do for one," Captain Doolan said, coming forward.

"I have regretted it for some time, though I have not had the manliness
to say so. I am heartily sorry. I have done you a great and cruel
injustice. I ought to have known that the Doctor, who knew you vastly
better than I did, was not likely to be mistaken. Putting that aside,
I ought to have seen, and I did see, though I would not acknowledge
it even to myself, that no man has borne himself more calmly and
steadfastly through this siege than you have, and that by twice
venturing out among the enemy you gave proof that you possessed as much
courage as any of us. I do hope that you will give me your hand."

All the others who had held aloof from Bathurst came forward and
expressed their deep regret for what had occurred.

Bathurst heard them in silence.

"I do not feel that there is anything to forgive," he said quietly. "I
am glad to hear what you say, and I know you mean it, and I accept
the hands you offer, but what you felt towards me has affected me
but little, for your contempt for me was as nothing to my contempt of
myself. Nothing can alter the fact that here, where every man's hand was
wanted to defend the ladies and children, my hand was paralyzed;
that whatever I may be at other times, in the hour of battle I
fail hopelessly; nothing that I can do can wipe out, from my own
consciousness, that disgrace."

"You exaggerate it altogether, Bathurst," Wilson broke in hotly. "It is
nonsense your talking like that, after the way you jumped down into the
middle