"Nothing much, only that man Adong fell down on me and hurt my back against the seat. Doesn't matter; soon be better. But you—does it bleed much?"
"Oh no; it's only like having a big finger cut instead of a little one. I say, do you think they'll find us out here?"
"No; they won't think we should hide so close. If they do, we must use the guns."
"Well, what success?" whispered Mr. Kenyon.
"Got the spears, father," said Harry, with forced gaiety, "but they heard us at last, and one of the barges is coming after us."
"Hist!" whispered Sree. "All get in now."
Long before the pursuing barge came abreast the party were all lying snugly beneath the landing-stage, and preparations for defence were made, the English and Sree with their guns ready to repel and attack, and the boatmen provided with the keenly-pointed spears.
There were breathless moments as the lanthorn-hung barge came steadily along, and every one expected that the crew would turn aside; but there was no check to the rowing, and the fugitives were able to breathe more freely as the lanthorns grew more faint, when the first words said were by Phra,—words which sent a thrill of horror through Mr. Kenyon, for Phra said in a hurried, excited manner:
"Here, Doctor, you must see to Harry: he is wounded."
"Only—a scratch," said the lad in a strange voice, and then he fell over sidewise.