“I thought so,” the major whispered to me with a chuckle; “that has put them both in a good temper. I did think of going, but I shall send them.”
I went across the square to my bed that night, full of thoughts of the expedition, and not far from my quarters came upon three figures in white, talking eagerly together, but ready to start apart when they caught sight of me, and salaam profoundly. “Ah, Ny Deen,” I said. “Fine night.”
“Yes, sahib,” he said in his soft low voice. “Does the sahib go to the hunt to-morrow?”
“How did you know there was to be a hunt to-morrow?” I said sharply.
“There are orders to have the buggies ready, sahib, before day.”
“Oh,” I said. “Then your master is going?”
“No, sahib; he stays with the men.”
“I don’t think he does,” I said to myself, as I went into my quarters, where I gave orders for all my shooting things to be put out; and then, after making sure that I should be called in time, I dived in behind the mosquito curtains, so as to get all the rest I could, and in half a minute was sleeping heavily, but not until I had repented leaving the mess-room without saying “good night” to Brace, Barton having gone some time before, as he was on duty that evening.
I scarcely seemed to have fallen asleep before a hand was laid upon my shoulder.
“Master’s bath and coffee ready,” said a voice; and I looked up to see by the light of a lamp that my man Dost was gazing down at me, with the curtains held aside, and a curiously troubled fixed look in his face.