We followed him a few yards into the darkness, and Brace whispered to us to sit down, setting the example himself; but though we waited he did not speak, and at last the doctor whispered to me to say something to the captain.
He heard the whispering and spoke at once, hurriedly.
“I beg your pardon,” he said; “I was thinking hard about our position.”
“Yes? Well?” said the lieutenant with us.
“What have you decided?” whispered the doctor.
“To act,” said Brace, with decision. “This mutinous rising may be one that is extending, or merely a local trouble here, at Rajgunge; but that is no affair of ours, gentlemen. We were away from our duties, on our own pleasure. We allowed ourselves to be inveigled—”
“No, no,” said the doctor. “Poor Lacey gave us leave after accepting the invitation.”
“The major kept to his post, and died defending it, sir,” said Brace, sternly. “We were away, and the position in which we find ourselves is a disgrace which we must wipe off.”
“How?” cried my brother-officers.
“As men should,” replied Brace, sternly. “As I have said, the rising is nothing to us, whether great or small. We have only one thing to study.”