Mary and Amy and the
Doolans and the dear Doctor, all the children. Why, if the door had been
open, and I had had a weapon, I would have rushed out to help you kill.
I shudder at myself sometimes."

After a pause she went on. "Then none of those in the other boat came to
shore, Mr. Bathurst, except Mr. Wilson?"

"I fear not. The other boat sank directly. Wilson told me it was sinking
as he sprang over. You had better not talk any more, Miss Hannay, for
you are out of breath now, and will need all your strength."

"Yes, but tell me why you have taken me away; you said there was great
danger?"

"Our troops are coming up," he said, "and I had reason to fear that when
the rebels are defeated the mob may break open the prison."

"They surely could not murder women and children who have done them no
harm!"

"There is no saying what they might do, Miss Hannay, but that was the
reason why I dared not leave you where you were. I will tell you more
about it afterwards. Now, please take my arm, we must be miles away from
here before morning. They will find out then that you have escaped, and
will no doubt scour the country."

They had left the road and were passing through the fields. Isobel's
strength failed rapidly, as soon as the excitement that had at first
kept her up subsided. Rujub several times urged Bathurst to go faster,
but the girl hung more and more heavily on his arm.

"I can't go any farther," she said at last; "it is so long since I
walked, and I suppose I have got weak. I have tried very hard, but I can
scarcely drag my feet along. You had better leave me; you have done all
you could to save me. I thank you so much. Only please leave a pistol
with me. I am not at all afraid of dying, but I will not fall into their
hands again."

"We must carry her, Rujub," Bathurst said; "she is utterly exhausted and
worn out, and no wonder. If we could make a sort of stretcher, it would
be easy enough."

Rujub took the cloth from his shoulders, and laid it on the ground by
the side of Isobel, who had now sunk down and was lying helpless.

"Lift her onto this, sahib, then we will take the four corners and carry
her; it will be no weight."

Bathurst lifted Isobel, in spite of her feeble protest, and laid her on
the cloth.

"I will take the two corners by her head," Bathurst said, "if you will
each take one of the others."

"No, sahib, the weight is all at the head; you take one corner, and I
will take the other.