“Back to the mess-room,” said Brace, after we had come upon several of our dead men, but had seen no trace of either of the women attached to the corps. “Heard anything?” he whispered to the sentry.
“Woman scream, sir.”
“No, no.”
“Yes, sir; I swear to it. Heard it twice quite plain.”
“Jackals on the prowl, man,” said Brace.
“Must have been a female jackal, then,” I heard the man mutter, as I passed in and found the doctor and my Hindu servant by the couch.
“How is he?” whispered Brace.
“Well, he’s alive, and that’s all,” replied the doctor. “Dost here says that if we have him carried to a house in the town about a quarter of a mile away, he knows people who will nurse him. Will you give orders. There are plenty of light dhoolies.”
“Will he be safe?” said Brace, quickly.
“My life upon it, sahib,” said Dost. “I can attend him too when the master does not want me. But I can be useful to him still.”