Chunda Beg sprang off the wall, and bent over it with the havildar, straining his eyes into the darkness. A faint cry reached them from the other side of the ravine. They listened in silence, waiting for a repetition of the sound. In a few seconds they heard it again.
"A trick of the Kalmucks maybe!" murmured Gur Buksh. "Get you swiftly to the house, khansaman, and rouse the sahib. Say nothing but that I wish to speak with him."
The khansaman hurried away. Passing noiselessly into the boys' bedroom, he touched Bob on the shoulder and gave his message. Bob was awake in an instant.
"Tell him I'm coming," he said.
He slipped on his dressing-gown and boots quietly, so as not to disturb Lawrence, and followed the man across the compound. As he reached the havildar's side, the cry was repeated again.
"What are the sahib's orders?" said Gur Buksh.
"Did you hear what he said?" asked Bob.
"No, sahib; it was like the cry of a man for help."
"Are the Kalmucks playing a trick on us? Have you heard anything of them?"
"Nothing, sahib."