Major Sandars and the doctor stood talking together beneath the shade of a silk-cotton tree, whose leaves seemed to keep off a portion of the heavy falling dew, and the former was waiting for an answer from his companion, who, however, did not speak. "Come, say something, doctor," exclaimed the major; "what do you think of affairs?" "What can I say?" replied the doctor, sadly; "we can go no farther." "But we must," exclaimed the major, impatiently. "The river must be reached, and a message sent down to the steamer." "There is only one way," replied Doctor Bolter. "How is that?" "Leave the sick and wounded behind, and push on. The poor fellows can carry them no farther." "Then we'll stop where we are," said the major, sharply, "for I won't leave a man behind." "Of course you will not. I knew you would say so. Then all I can recommend is that we stay as we are for a few days, and try and recruit." "With bad water, and hardly any provisions," said the major. "Ah, Bolter, this is a terribly bad business." "Yes," said the doctor, holding out his hand, which was eagerly grasped, "it is a terrible business. But you know what the foreigners say of us, Sandars?" "No: what do you mean?" "That the English never know when they are beaten. We don't know when we are beaten, and our lads are like us. God bless them, poor fellows, for they are as patient as can be!" "What do you advise, then?" said the major. "It is your duty to advise." "I did advise," said the doctor, laughing. "I proposed lopping off the bad limb of our little party, so as to leave the rest free to hobble on." "And suppose I had consented to it," said the major; "made the sick and wounded as comfortable as we could, and pushed on with the rest, what would you do?" "Do?" said Doctor Bolter; "I don't understand you." "I mean, of course you would have to come with us; for the Malays would butcher the poor fellows as soon as they came up." "Come with you, major? Are you mad? Why, who would tend the poor boys, and see to their bandages? No, my dear Sandars. Your place is with the sound, mine is with the unsound. Go on with your lot--poor fellows--and see if you can reach the river. You might perhaps send help in time to save us. If you didn't, why, I should have made them comfortable to the end, and done my duty." "My dear doctor," said Major Sandars, holding out his hand. "My dear major," said the doctor. "Good-bye, then; and God bless you!" "What!" cried the major. "And did you think I was going?" "Of course!" "More shame for you, then, for thinking me such a cur. Leave you and these poor fellows here in the midst of the jungle, to be murdered by those cowardly pirates? Not I. Why, the men would mutiny if I proposed such a thing. No; we'll wait a few hours, and then get on a few miles and rest again, the best way we can." "But you will only get the poor fellows killed if you stay," said the doctor.