Outside in the black night, where the hot wind was sighing, and the great stars blinking down, we left one man on guard at the mess-room door, and hurried round to the stables, where, to our great delight, we were saluted by a low whinnying from the horses, my two and Brace's being safe and eagerly waiting for their supply of food. Leaving the men to feed them, we hurried to the next stables, where the major's horses should have been, in company with the doctor's, but the place was empty; and on continuing our quest, Barton's and Haynes's were all missing, while the men's troopers were gone, and a glance at the sheds showed that not a gun or limber was left. "Back to the mess-room," said Brace, after we had come upon several of our dead men, but had seen no trace of either of the women attached to the corps. "Heard anything?" he whispered to the sentry. "Woman scream, sir." "No, no." "Yes, sir; I swear to it. Heard it twice quite plain." "Jackals on the prowl, man," said Brace. "Must have been a female jackal, then," I heard the man mutter, as I passed in and found the doctor and my Hindu servant by the couch. "How is he?" whispered Brace. "Well, he's alive, and that's all," replied the doctor. "Dost here says that if we have him carried to a house in the town about a quarter of a mile away, he knows people who will nurse him. Will you give orders. There are plenty of light dhoolies." "Will he be safe?" said Brace, quickly. "My life upon it, sahib," said Dost. "I can attend him too when the master does not want me. But I can be useful to him still." "This is no time for wanting servants," said Brace, shortly. "Let it be as he proposes. I will get the men and the dhooly at once." "Where will the master be when I want to follow him?" Brace hesitated for a few moments, and seemed to be about to speak out, but he altered his mind, and said slowly: "I cannot say yet. But we will keep communicating with you where the major is." "But the master had better take me," said Dost, quickly. "The place will be full of budmashes, and the people all about will be enemies now. How are the sahibs to know where to get food or shelter, or to get news without me? I can go anywhere--you nowhere." "Not yet," said Brace, meaningly; "but you are right, Dost, you shall go with us, and keep open our communications." We went out and across to the gate, where Haynes was fretting with anxiety, but a thrill ran through the men as they found there was work on hand. The orders were given, and a corporal and four men were told off to carry the dhooly, which was found at once, and borne to the mess-room. Then the major was carefully lifted in, and with the doctor in charge and Dost as guide, the little party sallied forth with the understanding that they were to return as quickly as possible.