At that moment Griggs, who had raised the sight of his rifle, fired again after a rapid glance.
“Man and horse down,” cried Bourne.
“Why did you fire again when they were in full retreat?”
“To give them a lesson not to come and interfere with us, sir,” said Griggs shortly. “It’s too dangerous to trifle with them, sir, and they’re getting more daring.”
“Yes, I know,” said the doctor, “and I wish we could get away from this place; but I dare not stir, for the enemy would follow us and hang on to our skirts, go which way you chose.”
“Young Chris had an idea about our getting away, sir,” said the man, giving the boy a wink.
“An idea. I should have thought he had only one, and that was connected with getting well again. Well, what is it, Chris?”
The boy explained, his face feeling like fire the while, and his father listened to the end.
“Well,” he said at last, “that sounds perfectly reasonable and good. And you think we could, or you could, or whoever undertook the task, could get to the terraces yonder and escape—if there proves to be a way up there?”
“Yes, father,” said Chris, flushing with excitement now. “I feel sure there is a way there.”