Walking slowly with the assistance of Sahanderry and Kasba, for he would not hear of being carried, David was brought to the hut. Then, leaving Kasba to attend to the wounded boy, Sahanderry rushed in blind, impetuous haste to the Fort, his whole frame trembling with passion—and with what result we already know.
With infinite tenderness the girl washed and dressed David’s bruised face. Then she assisted the boy to her own bed. He at first strongly objected to this, but Kasba was obdurate, and with a sigh of content he at last laid his aching head on the pillow.
Leaving him to fall asleep, the girl sank upon a seat in utter dejection. She remained seated a long time, fearing to move lest she wake the boy, who had quickly fallen asleep; then an explosion shook the little house to its foundations. Kasba started to her feet and stood petrified with fear. With a heart beating rapidly she waited and listened, but could detect no further sound.
A scared cry from the bed brought her to her senses. She flew to David, whom the noise had rudely awakened, and throwing her arms protectingly around him she turned her scared face to the door.
The situation was nerve-trying. Except for their own audible breathing the darkness of the hut was as silent as the tomb. Clasped in each other’s arms the two waited tremulously, expectantly, with fearful apprehensions, but of what they could not know, for only silence followed, silence becoming painful as it lengthened into minutes.
Choking down the hysterical sobs which threatened to overcome her, Kasba gently released herself from the boy’s embrace. A pale gleam of light relieved the gloom from pitchy blackness. Moving cautiously about, she found the lamp and lit it. The light gave her additional courage. She went to the window and looked out. All was quiet. The view was bleak and cold, the dim light outside revealed the desolate waste but indistinctly; objects took phantom forms, appearing weird and out of all proportion. With a shudder of undefined dread, the girl turned away from the casement and went back to the boy.
David received her with a keenly expectant look. Kasba shook her head with a wan smile in answer to his mute inquiry.
“There’s nothing, that I can see, dear,” she declared with relief, sinking on the bed beside him.
“Was it an earthquake or an explosion?” he asked, in an awed whisper.
“An explosion, dear, and at the Fort, I’m afraid.”