Loth as he was to disturb his brother’s rest, he felt instinctively that the news brought by Ganda Singh was to affect their destinies vitally. "Wake up, old chap," he said to Lawrence, prodding him. "Slip on your dressing-gown and come into the dining-room." "Are they attacking?" asked Lawrence sleepily. "No. Major Endicott has sent Ganda Singh with a message, telling us to clear out. I’m afraid things are looking very serious. Come on!" Lawrence waited only to plunge his head into a basin of cold water, then followed his brother into the dining-room. "Salaam, sahib," said Ganda Singh with a smile of friendliness. Like everybody else he had a warm feeling towards the chota sahib. "Now, dafadar, tell us all about it; take your time." He bathed and bound up the wounded arm while Ganda Singh talked. The story told by him filled the boys’ cup of anxiety and dismay. He related how Major Endicott, after pacifying the unruly tribe to which Nagdu belonged, had returned slowly to headquarters, visiting on the way several other tribes within his allotted portion of the borderlands. But he had soon been called away again by news of another outbreak, among the very people whom he had just reduced to quietness. Once more he set off, attended as before by his official escort of twelve troopers. This time he had woefully failed to repress their turbulence, which, indeed, swelled into active hostility. One day, attacked by overwhelming numbers, he had been forced to flee for his life. Before the little party got away, it had lost several in killed and wounded, and the Major, refusing to leave the wounded to the tender mercies of the enemy, had lost his chance of making good his escape. He was headed off, and galloped for refuge to a half-ruined hill-tower some little distance west of his route, where he had been since besieged by the tribesmen.