“You think he’s dead?” he said softly.
“Yes, sahib, quite dead. Ram Dad fess doctor?”
“No,” said Dick sharply. “I’ll soon see whether he’s dead. Here, Burnouse!”
He rushed to the horse’s head and began to unfasten the horse’s head-stall, but before he could unbuckle a strap Dondy Lal uttered a cry of horror, sprang to his feet, and ran, leaving Ram Dad grinning with delight.
“Now you go on with your work,” cried Dick sharply; “and if ever I find you ill-use my horse, I’ll thrash you till you can’t stand.”
“Ram Dad never hurt the sahib’s horse,” protested the man. “Burnouse good friends. See.”
He raised a hand to pat the horse, which gave a gentle snort.
“But you were cowardly enough to stand by and see the poor brute knocked about.”
“Ram Dad never dare say a word, sahib; Dondy Lal too big man.”
“Has this been going on long?” asked Dick.