“I’m not,” said the doctor, going down on one knee. “Why, man, his bayonet was getting close to your breast, and I hate a bayonet wound; it generally beats me. Humph!” he added coolly, after a brief examination of the fallen man, who was lying motionless, “so does this,” and he rose.
“Dead?” said Brace, with a look of pain in his face.
“Quite. Come, soldier, it was in self-defence.”
“Yes,” said Brace slowly; “but I never killed a man before, doctor, even in self-defence.”
Then, drawing himself up, he turned to the sepoys, and giving the regular orders, they obeyed, took a few steps, and then, as if moved by the same spirit, halted, and threw themselves upon their knees with their hands outstretched for mercy, the man whom Brace had temporarily stunned by his blow, uttering a loud appeal, for all thought their end was near.
“Stand!” cried Brace, sternly; and then he told them that if they were faithful and obedient their lives should be spared.
They were grovelling at his feet on the instant, and a driver behind me laughed.
“Well, I don’t think I’d kiss the captain’s boots like that to save myself,” he said. For one of the men was actually kissing the muddy boots Brace wore.
At a second command, they sprung to their feet, and, obeying orders with alacrity, they were drawn up in line, where Brace once more addressed them, announcing that they would be treated without mercy if they attempted to escape.
Then poor Craig’s litter was pointed out to them, and four raised the handles to their shoulders, while the others were placed in front. A guard was detailed to keep watch over them, and armed with carbines, with orders to shoot down the first man who tried to escape.