“Ah!” gasped the Major, as he caught at the flimsy wrapper, now partially dry. “And—and—you were going to say something else, sir?”
“Yes,” said the young Rajah, with something like a groan. “But tell me, do you know whose was this?”
He brought forward from behind him an officer’s forage-cap, about which a torn puggaree clung like a wisp.
“Great heavens!” panted the Major. “Oh, my poor, dear boy!—Where did you find this, sir?”
“Part of the boat’s bows were crushed in as if by a blow. This cap was held down by one of the splinters.”
Just then voices came floating down the river, indicating that some of the party were returning from their search to the upper landing-place; and soon after the Resident’s naga had reached the stage, and the principal occupants sprang out to hear about the missing sentry, and to give no news. The last discovery was whispered to them in broken tones, and as what seemed to be the terrible fate of the small boat’s occupants was told by the Major to Sir Charles, he literally reeled away from where he had been standing, and staggered onwards with extended hands, as if making for the bungalow. But before he had gone many steps he stopped short, to whisper hoarsely, “Who is that?”
“I, Sir Charles,” said Captain Down.
“Thank you. Take my hand, please. I am giddy, and half-blind. Something seems to have gone wrong. I cannot think. Please help me, and lead me home.—No; stop,” he added. “That poor woman! Some one must tell her. She must know; and I can’t—I can’t be the bearer. Oh, it is too horrible! My fault, too.—Ah! Who is that? You, Down? I thought you had gone. Don’t let me fall. This giddiness again. Yes, I remember now. The Doctor! He was called away to go to the Rajah’s help. Has he returned? Has he—”
His lips parted to say more, but his words were inaudible, and at a signal from the Captain four of the men hurried up, to lace their hands into a bearing, and, keeping step, they bore the insensible man to the Residency.
It was late in the burning afternoon, after the overturned and much-damaged boat had been lying to dry in the hot sun for hours, and the terrible mishap had been canvassed in every detail, when a sentry passed the word that an elephant was approaching with strangers.