"I say, Bob," said Lawrence during the men's absence, "there was a miss-fire a few miles back."
"Whew! it's beginning to play tricks then. We've been very lucky so far. Need you go back?"
"Oh yes! I told the Major I'd return to cover his march."
"Let me have a look at it."
He opened up the engine, examined all its parts, started it.
"It seems to be working all right. I don't see any grit; if there was any it's been got rid of. If it should happen again you had better plane down and wait till the Major reaches you; but I don't think you'll have any trouble."
As Lawrence got into his place, he recollected the bombs that lay beneath the seat that Fazl had occupied.
"Shift those, Bob, will you?" he said. "It will be rather awkward without Fazl if I have to use them. Put them as closely within reach as you can. I shall have to steer with one hand and drop them with the other."
"Probably you won't have to use them at all. The Major and four men will be more than a match for those Kalmuck fellows, who must be getting famished by this time."
"The Afghans may be in pursuit, though."