CHAPTER THE TWENTY-EIGHTH THE LAST FIGHT Lawrence landed in the twilight on his platform. All sounds of combat had ceased. His first care was to see exactly how much petrol was left. There was enough for about twenty minutes’ flight: then the aeroplane would be doomed to inactivity. "Look over the machine," he said to Fazl, "and come after me when you have finished. What did you mean about Nurla Bai?" "He has gone into the river, even as he sent the huzur." "You shot him? But no: you did not fire. What happened?" "He came along with us, sahib. He caught the chassis as we rose, and we were gone before he could let go. He clung to the stay. I cut him down." Lawrence’s blood ran cold with horror. In spite of the man’s brutalities and crimes, he could not but feel moved by the terrible fate that had befallen the revolted miner. It was well deserved: yet Lawrence wished that Nurla could have met his death in open fight. He said no more to Fazl, but went along the pathway now enwrapt in darkness, to discover what had happened during his absence, and to give the garrison his promise of relief. The compounds were deserted. No lights were visible. At first he thought that the men must already have taken refuge in the galleries; but as he came to the end of the pathway he saw them all grouped at the rear of the house under the cliff, behind a mound of tailings. They were very silent. Only a sound like a multitudinous sigh broke from them when he drew near. "Where’s my brother?" he asked anxiously, as Gur Buksh saluted. "Here, sahib: he is hurt." The group parted, and Lawrence saw Bob with his head and one arm bandaged, reclining in a long chair. "Nothing very serious, I hope," said Bob with a smile, as Lawrence bent over him. "A bullet in my arm just below the shoulder, and a whack in the skull from a splinter of rock. Any news, old chap!" "Yes, thank God! Endicott himself is within less than thirty miles, with three or four hundred men, field pieces and mountain batteries. There’s a medico with him, so we’ll soon put you to rights." "Tell the men, will you?" Lawrence gathered the men about him and quickly gave the information. A company of British soldiers would have received it with a ringing cheer: these Asiatics merely murmured praises to Allah, mingled with triumphant execrations of the enemy. "It’ll be as much as we can do to hold out until the Major arrives," said Bob in a low tone. "Is he coming on at once?" "No, unluckily. His horses were dead beat: he said they must have three or four hours’ rest, and I’m afraid he can’t be here until four or five o’clock in the morning at the earliest. But he has sent some ammunition, and a dozen men are coming in advance on a raft; they should arrive about three o’clock. I intend to meet them a little way up, and bring them in on the aeroplane. I’ve just enough petrol left."