'That wouldn't be any use at all, Chinnock; we shan't begin till dark.'
'Then I'm afraid I can't be of no sarvice to 'ee, sir.'
The poor General turned away: evidently the coachman had no intention of risking his life. He remembered Joe, the gardener's boy and stable-help—he was better than no one. Joe was rolling the tennis-court, and grinned sheepishly on being pressed to join.
'Noa, sur,' he said, 'it doan't lay in my work fur to fight no Injins. I see one onst at Reading Vair, I did, a nippin' about he wur, and a roarin'! I bain't goin' to hev naught to do with the likes o' he!'
Tinling saw only one hope left. If he could see Mrs. Jolliffe and tell her of the danger which threatened him, she might refuse permission to fight at all, or, at the very least, she would see that he had proper assistance. So into the house he went, and the first person he found was Hazel, who was knitting her pretty forehead over the Latin exercise which had been given her as a holiday task.
'I say, Hazel,' he said, with a trembling voice; but she interrupted him:
'Oh, perhaps you can help me. What's the Latin for "Balbus says it is all over with the General"?'
He shivered; it sounded so like an omen. 'No, but Hazel, listen,' he said; 'the Indians are coming again to-night.'
'If you're not going to talk sensibly,' said Hazel, 'go out this instant.'