he Pandoo Bridge, but it was a
short one. The force massed there fell back at once when the British
infantry came near enough to rush forward at the charge, and in their
hurry they failed to blow up the bridge."

A consultation was held as to whether they should try to join the
British, but it was decided that as the road down to Allahabad would be
rendered safe by their advance, it would be better to keep straight on.

The next day they proceeded on their journey, walking in the early
morning, halting as soon as the sun had gained much power, and going on
again in the cool of the evening. After three days' walking they reached
the fort of Allahabad. It was crowded with ladies who had come in from
the country round. Most of the men were doing duty with the garrison,
but some thirty had gone up with Havelock's column as volunteer cavalry,
his force being entirely deficient in that arm.

As soon as the Doctor explained who they were, they were received with
the greatest kindness, and Isobel was at once carried off by the ladies,
while Bathurst and the Doctor were surrounded by an eager group anxious
to hear the state of affairs at Cawnpore, and how they had escaped. The
news of the fighting at Dong was already known; for on the evening of
the day of the fight Havelock had sent down a mounted messenger to say
the resistance was proving so severe that he begged some more troops
might be sent up. As all was quiet now at Allahabad, where there had at
first been some fierce fighting, General Neil, who was in command there,
had placed two hundred and thirty men of the 84th Regiment in bullock
vans, and had himself gone on with them.

The Doctor had decided to keep the news of the massacre to himself.

"They will know it before many hours are over, Bathurst," he said; "and
were I to tell them, half of them wouldn't believe me, and the other
half would pester my life out with questions. There is never any
occasion to hurry in telling bad news."

The first inquiry of Bathurst and his friends had been for Wilson, and
they found to their great pleasure that he had arrived in safety, and
had gone up with the little body of cavalry. Captain Forster, whom they
next asked for, had not reached Allahabad, and no news had been heard of
him.

"What are you going to do, Rujub?" Bathurst asked the native next
morning.

"I shall go to Patna," he said. "I have friends there, and I shall
remain in the city until these troubles are over.