Shortly after nine o'clock, while Mrs Olliver was persuading her semi-delirious patient to swallow two tablespoonfuls of chicken-broth, quick footsteps and the clink of spurs made her sit suddenly upright, with a listening look in her eyes. She knew the country of her service well enough to be prepared for anything at any hour of the day or night--and she was barely surprised when, two minutes later, Desmond stood before her in his forage cap, his sword buckled on over his mess-jacket and held high to prevent it from clanking. "What is it?" she asked in a hurried whisper. "A beacon fire alight?" He nodded, and passed a handkerchief across his forehead, for he had come at lightning speed. "A raid of sorts--out Hangu way. Can't tell if it'll be a big thing or not. The whole garrison's ordered out." It was a matter of seconds, and he spoke in a breathless rush. "I dashed on ahead to give you a few instructions. Olliver is ordering Griselda to be saddled and brought across at once. If the affair looks serious we'll send an orderly back to fetch a doolie from the hospital, come on here for you and the Boy, and see you safely to the Fort, where you must stay till further orders. Get all possible necessaries together, and be ready to leave at a moment's notice." "If we move him to-night, Theo, 'twill be--the end of it all." A spasm of pain crossed his face. "I hope to God it mayn't be necessary. But we must take our chance of that. It won't be safe for you to have a light in the house, with every door open, and the city full of _budmashes_.[24] Can you manage with just a night-light carefully screened?" [24] Bad characters. "Sure I can. I'll manage to see with me fingers well enough!" "Right! Amar Singh'll sit outside the door. He'll not sleep a wink, I promise you." The suspicion of a tremor in her brave smile caught at his heart. He pressed her shoulder with a reassuring hand. "Sorry Olliver couldn't see you before leaving," he said gently. "Hullo, there's Paul; I must be off. God bless you for a plucky woman, Frank. We'll all get back--sometime, never fear." And in an instant she was alone. Nothing remained but to blow out the lamp and set the screened night-light on a table farthest from the outer doors. Its uncertain flicker served to make darkness visible and through the darkness she crept back to her station by the bed. Denvil, who had fallen into an unrefreshing sleep, stirred and tossed with broken mutterings that threatened every moment to break out into the babble of delirium; and for a while she sat beside him in a stunned quietness, her ears strained to catch the sounds that came up from below--the hasty gathering of men and horses and mules; the jingle of harness; brisk words of command; the tramping of many feet. Comforting sounds, since they spoke of the protective presence of Englishmen.