The boys felt overwhelmed by this climax to their embarrassments. There was no certainty that they could reach the nearest British post before the tide of invasion had begun to flow. The way might already be blocked by hordes of tribesmen gathering strength for their swoop upon the Punjab--an adventure which, utterly absurd as it seemed, and foredoomed to disaster, would work havoc on the frontier until it was crushed by the might of the Imperial power. They saw themselves shut up as in a trap between the 20,000 men on the north, and the innumerable host which the scent of plunder would attract to the Afghans’ banner. "We shall have to stick it now, in any case," said Bob to Lawrence. "Khansaman, take Ganda Singh to Gur Buksh: he will find him quarters. Then go to bed. I will ring for you if I want you." When the two men were gone, Bob threw himself into a chair. "Light up," he said. "There’ll be no more sleep for us to-night." "What a brick the Major is!" said Lawrence. "Poor old chap! He won’t cave in without giving those blackguards something to remember, but if things are as bad as Ganda Singh says it’s all up with him. Nothing on earth will induce him to leave his men, or he might make a bolt for it. I wonder if it was too late for him to send for help?" "There’s not much doubt of it. A man couldn’t get away quietly enough on horseback with the tower surrounded, and it would take him four or five days to foot it. Then they’d have to get together an expeditionary force, and if they’ve got wind of what’s on, they would hesitate to send out a small light-marching force that might be smothered. These political officers are always taking their lives in their hands. The Major’s a good sort. I wish to goodness something could be done for him." "I say! I’ve a notion. What about the aeroplane?" "How do you mean?" "Fly to help him. A few of those bombs of yours would work wonders." "That’s all very well, I dare say a little dynamite would set the besiegers flying in panic; but to bring the Major away is quite another matter. He’s in a hill-tower, and if it’s like those we saw occasionally as we came north it’ll be perched in the worst possible place for the machine to alight." "We can find that out from Ganda Singh." "But there’s another thing. Suppose it is possible to come down, will there be time to get the Major out and take him on board before the enemy come back? Their panic won’t last long when they find they can only be hit from the air." "It will take some time to discover that, but I foresee the worst difficulty. That’s the sowars. As I said, he won’t leave them, especially as some are wounded. And the biggest cowards in creation--and the Afghans are not cowards--would recover their courage and their wits long before you could fly to and fro with the sowars as passengers." "And they’d smash the machine too. It would be an easy target most of the time. I’m afraid it’s no go."