“Tut, tut, tut! Whatever has Mr Murray been about to go astray like that? I did think I could trust him! And now it is quite open to his being taken, boat and men, by these scoundrels before I can get down to him?”
“Yes, sir,” replied the messenger. “I don’t think they’ll be long afore they come up the river after him.”
“Then how could he be so absurd as to send you, when either of the others would have done? He ought to have kept you.”
“Thought I was a bit crippled, sir,” said the man.
“But you didn’t say you were much hurt.”
“No, sir; no good to holloa, as I see.”
“What to do?” muttered the lieutenant; and his first thought was to fire the building, his second to gather his men together and make a start.
He paused for a few moments to glance round in the full expectation of seeing a movement among the trees or some sign of their being watched; but the place was perfectly quiet and apparently deserted.
“Well, May,” he said, as he caught the man’s eyes fixed questioningly upon him, “what is it?”
“Thought perhaps you might be going to give orders to fire the place, sir.”