“It did not sound like it,” Isobel said. “I don’t think you can understand it, Captain Forster; it must be terrible to be like that.” “I quite agree with you there. I know I should drown myself or put a bullet through my head if I could not show ordinary courage with a lot of ladies going on working quietly round me.” “You must remember that Mr. Bathurst showed plenty of courage in going out among the mutineers last night.” “Yes, he did that very well; but you see, he talks the language so thoroughly that, as he said himself, there was very little risk in it.” “I don’t like you to talk so, Captain Forster,” Isobel said quietly. “I do not see much of Mr. Bathurst. I have not spoken to him half a dozen times in the last month; but both my uncle and Dr. Wade have a high opinion of him, and do not consider that he should be personally blamed for being nervous under fire. I feel very sorry for him, and would much rather that you did not make remarks like that about him. We have all our weak points, and, no doubt, many of them are a good deal worse than a mere want of nerve.” “Your commands shall be obeyed, Miss Hannay. I did not know that Bathurst was a protege of the Major’s as well as of the estimable Doctor, or I would have said nothing against him.” “I don’t think Mr. Bathurst is the sort of man to be anyone’s protege, Captain Forster,” Isobel said coldly. “However, I think we had better change the subject.” This Captain Forster did easily and adroitly. He had no special feeling against Bathurst save a contempt for his weakness; and as he had met him but once or twice at the Major’s since he came to the station, he had not thought of him in the light of a rival. Just as dinner was over Richards and one of the civilians came down from the terrace. “I think that there is something up, Major. I can hear noises somewhere near where Mr. Hunter’s bungalow was.” “What sort of noises, Richards?” “There is a sort of murmur, as if there were a good many men there.” “Well, gentlemen, we had better go to our posts,” the Major said. “Doolan, please place your watch on the platforms by the wall. I will take my party up onto the terrace. Doctor, will you bring up some of those rockets you made the other day? We must try and find out what they are doing.” As soon as he gained the terrace with his party, the Major requested everyone to remain perfectly still, and going forward to the parapet listened intently. In three or four minutes he returned to the others.