Lawrence got up more slowly, every muscle and nerve quivering. He had just seen that the space around was empty of living men, when a film seemed to fall upon his eyes. He tottered, and sank fainting upon the ground. When he reopened his eyes, the flush of morning lay upon the valley. He raised his head. "That’s right," said Major Endicott, stepping from behind him. "How do you feel?" "Rather groggy, Major," replied Lawrence. "Those fellows struck me, I think." "A gash or two: nothing to speak of. What bowled you over was hunger and fatigue, I suspect. We’ve got a few scraps left, which will keep you going until we reach your mine." "Is Fazl all right?" "As jolly as a sandboy, though rather dilapidated. It’s lucky I carry a case of sticking plaster with me; he’s pretty considerably patched--much more than you are. You slept pretty soundly through my amateur surgery." "And the Kalmucks?" "Gone elsewhere--all that were left of them. That machine of yours played you false then?" "Yes, the engine failed, and I had to come down. I was rather bothered with getting rid of my bombs and controlling the thing at the same time, and made a hash of it--sprained my ankle, too. I was waiting for you, and the beggars stalked me. I was a silly ass to let them take me unawares." "What were they going to do with you?" "Offer me and the aeroplane in exchange for the mine--as if Bob would listen to any rot like that! "Well, the aeroplane isn’t worth much now, I suspect, but I fancy Bob might be disposed to think you good value for the mine. However, that’s all off. The aeroplane’s done for, of course?" "Not a bit of it. We can put it to rights in a day." "Warrant it?" "Yes. Our bargain holds if you’ll risk it. I’m more than sorry this happened, if it’s going to dish your plan, Major." "It shan’t do that. Taking risks is part of my job--and yours too, as it happens." "I’m jolly glad you came up when you did. In another minute you would have been too late." "You’ve got to thank your Gurkha for that. We were marching up pretty briskly--had no trouble from the Afghans--and the Gurkha declared he heard the sound of your bombs far ahead. None of us had heard anything, but the little chap was so positive that I thought we’d be on the safe side and hurry up. Judging by the march we made, the sound must have travelled nearly ten miles--not impossible in this air, I suppose; I confess I was sceptical at first, and only began to feel anxious when you didn’t return within the time stated.