A Bottle in the Smoke: A Tale of Anglo-Indian LifeRae, Janet Milne
History
A Bottle in the Smoke: A Tale of Anglo-Indian Life
Rae, Janet Milne
India -- History -- British occupation, 1765-1947 -- Fiction
Leaving Zynool in the strong grip of the representative of authority,
Mark turned his attention to the injured man. A stretcher was hastily
improvised from the remains of an outside shutter that dangled from a
window hard by. Two Hindus who recognised the Assistant-Collector
volunteered their help. Lifting the prostrate form, they carried it to
the Dispensary, which, fortunately, was at the end of the street, and
more fortunately still, the cavalcade was met by Dr. Campbell. The place
was already full of the wounded brought in from the fray. A brief
explanation sufficed, and Rayner's helpless form was carried to a
mattress in a corner of the large room.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
"This is horrible, Cheveril!" said Dr. Campbell, bending over his
patient. "Every bit of him is mangled except his head. Poor chap, it
seems like the work of a beast of prey."
"So it was, Campbell, a human beast of prey! I actually saw Zynool force
his horse on him, knock him down, and make it trample on his fallen
body," whispered Mark, his eyes still full of the horror of the scene.
"But how in the world did Rayner come to be in the guise of a native
woman, I should like to know? Did he come to assist the Mussulmans, do
you think? I know he's been intriguing with that villain Zynool. Perhaps
he wanted to see the fruits of his handiwork, _incognito_."
"No, I fear it was more than that. Zynool muttered something I only half
understood," returned Mark with a troubled air. "They had quarrelled,
evidently, and Zynool indicated that Rayner was a fugitive from justice.
I only hope it's not true!"
"Well, in a way it don't matter now--not to him, at least, poor fellow.
Every organ is smashed. He's living still, though,--his heart's
flickering. Brandy, Tobias," called the doctor to his Eurasian dresser.
A few drops of the stimulant diluted with water were passed between the
blanched lips. "We'll cut away those red rags," said the doctor, and
adroitly set to work. Presently Rayner was divested of his disguise.
Finding his watch and one or two papers in his pocket, and his store of
gold, the doctor handed them to Mark; and after having arranged as best
he could for the comfort of the patient, he was called away to other
urgent cases.
Mark, on his knees beside the low pallet, continued to watch the
stricken man in the dim light. The dresser had brought a sponge and
carefully washed the stained face, and the ashen features gleamed like
those of a marble profile.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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