“What can I say?” replied the doctor, sadly; “we can go no farther.”
“But we must,” exclaimed the major, impatiently. “The river must be reached, and a message sent down to the steamer.”
“There is only one way,” replied Doctor Bolter.
“How is that?”
“Leave the sick and wounded behind, and push on. The poor fellows can carry them no farther.”
“Then we’ll stop where we are,” said the major, sharply, “for I won’t leave a man behind.”
“Of course you will not. I knew you would say so. Then all I can recommend is that we stay as we are for a few days, and try and recruit.”
“With bad water, and hardly any provisions,” said the major. “Ah, Bolter, this is a terribly bad business.”
“Yes,” said the doctor, holding out his hand, which was eagerly grasped, “it is a terrible business. But you know what the foreigners say of us, Sandars?”
“No: what do you mean?”