There was a few minutes’ awful silence, during which the low moaning sound went on from different places close at hand.
“Where is Ngati?” whispered Don at last.
“Half killed, or dead, Mas’ Don,” said Jem, sadly. “We’re reg’lar beat. But, my word, Mas’ Don, I am sorry.”
“Sorry? Of course.”
“Ah! But I mean for all I said about the poor fellows. I thought they couldn’t fight.”
“The women and children, Jem?”
“All prisoners, ’cept some as would fight, and they—”
“Yes—go on.”
“They served them same as they did those poor chaps as wouldn’t give in.”
“How horrible!”