Two days later he sat up in bed and demanded information. There was a young doctor with him when he woke, who had providentially arrived from headquarters.
"The king?" he hesitated. "Well, they finished the king, but he saved your life. I suppose you know that?"
Sanders said "Yes" without emotion.
"A plucky little beggar," suggested the doctor.
"Very," said Sanders. Then: "Did they catch the chief of the Akasava?"
"Yes; he was so keen on finishing you that he delayed his bolting. The king threw himself on you and covered your body."
"That will do."
Sanders' voice was harsh and his manner brusque at the best of times, but now his rudeness was brutal.
"Just go out of the hut, doctor—I want to sleep."