“Without trying to deliver it?”
“No; I tried. I could not get to you or any I could trust unseen; but I know that you Englishmen are all friends, and that if I told one he would tell you, so I thought of the doctor.”
“And told him?” said the Resident. “No; I could not approach an Englishman at all. I waited my chance: two days had gone, and then, after much thinking, I made my plan.”
“Yes, be quick,” said the Resident, impatiently. “I pretended to be hurt.”
“Yes; and went to the doctor,” said Hilton. “Did you tell him?”
“If my masters will let me tell my story,” said the man, with dignity, “it will be best.”
Mr Harley made a sign to his companions to be silent, and the man went on:
“I looked about for a house where I fancied I should not be watched, and went to a lady, saying I was badly hurt, and asking that she would fetch the doctor to me.”
“Why did you not tell her your message?”
“She talked too much—I was afraid,” said the man, quietly. “But she took compassion on me and went to fetch the doctor. ‘Now,’ I said, ‘my task is done.’ But my enemies were too watchful, and soon after my messenger to the doctor had gone, six men entered the house; I was seized, gagged, and carried off to a boat, and rowed away. They questioned me, but I was dumb; and then they kept me prisoner till two days back, when I escaped and came down here.”