“Well, is Dunn Brown here?”
“Nay, my lad. He turned tail and left us in the lurch.”
“Oh!” groaned Mark. “But Peter and Bob Bacon?”
“They fought like men, sir, and I hope we all did; but they were too much for us, and if it hadn’t been for our two black fellows I don’t believe Dan and me would have got you two young gents out of it.”
“Ah, then,” cried Mark, “you got us away?”
“That’s right, sir; but it was close work, and it was big Mak kept the brutes off while Dan carried you, and I got Mr Dean up on my back while the little Pig showed us the way through the darkness.”
“Then—then—” cried Mark passionately. “You—two—two strong men came away and left my father and the doctor in the hands of those wretches! Oh, cowards! Cowards! Cowards! How could you! How could you! How—”
The boy fainted.