ll turn in.. Are you coming, Bathurst?"

"No, I could not sleep," Bathurst said; "I shall watch till morning. I
feel sure it is all safe, but the mutineers might attempt something."

The night, however, passed off quietly, and soon after daybreak eight
bullock carts were seen approaching, with a strong body of Oude men.
Half an hour later the luggage was packed, and the sick and wounded laid
on straw in the wagons. Several of the ladies took their places with
them, but Mrs. Doolan, Isobel, and Mary Hunter said they would walk for
a while. It had been arranged that the men might carry out their arms
with them, and each of the ten able to walk took their rifles, while
all, even the women, had pistols about them. Just as they were ready,
Por Sing and several of the Zemindars rode up on horseback.

"We shall see you to the boats," he said. "Have you taken provisions for
your voyage? It would be better not to stop to buy anything on the way."

This precaution had been taken, and as soon as all was ready they set
out, guarded by four hundred Oude matchlock men. The Sepoys had gathered
near the house, and as soon as they left it there was a rush made to
secure the plunder.

"I should have liked to have emptied the contents of some of my bottles
into the wine," the Doctor growled; "it would not have been strictly
professional, perhaps, but it would have been a good action."

"I am sure you would not have given them poison, Doctor," Wilson
laughed; "but a reasonable dose of ipecacuanha might hardly have gone
against your conscience."

"My conscience has nothing to do with it," the Doctor said. "These
fellows came from Cawnpore, and I have no doubt took part in the
massacre there. My conscience wouldn't have troubled me if I could
have poisoned the whole of the scoundrels, or put a slow match in
the magazine and blown them all into the air, but under the present
conditions it would hardly have been politic, as one couldn't be sure of
annihilating the whole of them. Well, Miss Hannay, what are you thinking
of?"

"I am thinking that my uncle looks worse this morning, Doctor; does it
not strike you so too?"

"We must hope that the fresh air will do him good. One could not expect
anyone to get better in that place; it was enough to kill a healthy man,
to say nothing of a sick one."

Isobel was walking by the side of the cart in which her uncle was lying,
and it was not long before she took her place beside him.

The Doct