"Allah be praised! We were riding down, and came to the wonderful machine, and when we saw that the bridge was broken we knew that we must wait until the huzur returned. Therefore we got off our horses and were resting and eating when we heard shots afar off, and believed the huzur was doing justice upon Nurla Bai. But looking down the stream we perceived the sahibs running, and the accursed Kalmucks after them, and I said we must hide behind the rocks and fire when the time came. And by the mercy of Allah we were able to save the sahibs, and our hearts are glad; but our joy is turned to grief by this heavy news. Our light is become darkness, and we are as little children." Lawrence then told in detail, as well as he could, the events of the morning. When he spoke of the encampment on the plateau, Fyz Ali at once agreed that Nurla Bai must have known of the proximity of his fellow countrymen, and that an attack upon the mine was clearly intended. "What are we to do, sahib?" he asked. Before Lawrence could reply, the air was rent by the crackle of rifles, and a shower of bullets hissed overhead, some pattering upon the rocks. Some of the Pathans had incautiously shown themselves, and the enemy had opened fire from their position down the river. They instantly ducked under cover, and gathered in a group about their young masters, to consult on their course of action. "How many Kalmucks did you see?" asked Lawrence. "We did not count them, sahib," said Fyz Ali, "but there must have been nearly thirty. There are not so many now," he added with a grim chuckle. "And we number seven all told!" said Lawrence. "Look after the men while I talk to my brother." "We’re in a hole," said Bob. "The fellows aren’t great marksmen, but we can’t move the aeroplane while they command the space in front. They’re only about a quarter of a mile away, and with a score of rifles they couldn’t help hitting us." "What was your idea?" "To get aloft and fly down-stream to reconnoitre. I should like to know whether the rest of them are coming up from the camp. But that’s out of the question." "We’re safe for the present, anyhow. They can’t cross while we command the bridge." "That’s true. I wonder whether they can climb the hills, and get at us from above. You might ask Fyz Ali whether he knows of a path." The Pathan consulted with his companions. One of them said that he knew of a rough path a mile lower down the river, which led by a tortuous and difficult course over the hills; but it involved a round of nearly ten miles, and the march would take at least five hours. "By that time it will be dark," said Bob. "It’s something to know that we are safe till then, and it gives us time to think out a plan. The one thing that’s clear at present is that we must get back to the mine." "And Uncle?"