ng flying and hit you."

"Isn't it just as risky for you, dear?" said Mrs Morley quietly.

"Oh, but I am a doctor, and doctors don't count."

"Nor doctors' wives," said Mrs Morley quietly. "I shall stay. Now,
tell me, isn't it very strange that neither of the detachments have made
their way back?"

"No, my dear. They are right out in the jungle, and that explains
everything. Perhaps they are being lured farther and farther on by the
Rajah; or perhaps," he added to himself, "the poor fellows have been
surrounded and speared.--Oh," he added aloud, "we may hear a bugle at
any moment, and see the lads come in with a dash. Don't you bother your
head about military matters, but help me to bring the wounded round."

"I will, dear," said the poor woman quietly; "but tell me this--"

"Is it military?" said the Doctor.

"No, no, no, no. I was only going to say, have any of the men seen
anything of that big fellow, Dula's husband?"

"No," said the Doctor. "He and his wife disappeared during the attack,
didn't they?"

"Yes," said Mrs Morley. "I'm afraid they lost their lives."

"Humph! Maybe," said the Doctor. "It is quite enough for them to be
seen here with us to bring upon them the enemy's spears. But don't,
please, my dear--don't! I've never said a word, but you know that I
have felt it as cruelly as you, and I would have done anything to have
gone up the river with those two people to try to bring back our poor
child."

"Yes, yes, I know; and I have tried, dear, to keep my sorrow to
myself.--Hush, hush! Here's Archie Maine. Not a word before him."

Mrs Morley held out her hand to the young man as he came up, and the
Doctor nodded shortly as he saw the lad's contracted, anxious face.

"Anything fresh, boy?" said the Doctor.

"No; only the old bad news: we are coming down to the last cartridge for
the rifles, and we officers have only too few for our revolvers."

"Well," said the Doctor, "you know what the Major said. There are the
bayonets."

"Last cartridges," said Mrs Morley thoughtfully.

"Yes, my dear. It's no use to hide anything from you. The poor
fellows' pouches are pretty well empty."

"Oh, by the way," said Archie quickly, "those three poor fellows who
were just brought in--what about their pouches?"

"Oh, the bearers pretty well fought for them," said the Doctor bitterly,
"and divided the spoil. Two men got one apiece, the other a couple."

"But, Henry dear," said the Doctor'