Love for his own security forbade his taking the rash step he had for the moment contemplated, for the consequences, he reflected, would be disastrous to himself as well as to his fellows. But later; yes, he would open that box; that is, if he were still living. For the ship was plunging furiously onward, and every few minutes the wireless operator telephoned his news of an impending British disaster. There were a thousand dusky natives hemming in but fifty Gurkha soldiers and one British officer. Their ammunition was almost spent. The enemy were within charging distance of them. "Tell 'em we're coming fast," was Joe's curt answer. "And, Major, just make all ready for action." CHAPTER XIV A Brush with Pathans "There! At last! Listen!" The Major held up a hand for silence while he hung out of the window of the gallery running beneath the huge framework of the airship. "Look! You can see the flashes from the guns of the Pathans," he called. "A circle of them, getting very close too. What's the latest message?" "Officer hit, sir," reported the wireless operator. "Several men hurt since we were first called up. Ammunition gone completely. They expect to be rushed at any instant, and in any case once night has completely fallen." "In fact a dangerous if not desperate situation," said Andrew, his voice anxious. "Now, what do we do? I am prepared to make any sacrifice that may be necessary. But wait; could we not direct our searchlights on the enemy and so scare them away? They are sure to be ignorant savages, and a beam from above might very well throw them into a panic." But Major Harvey shook his head decidedly, though one could not see the movement, for all lights aboard the ship had been switched off. Outside there was darkness, getting more intense every minute, while, as the Major had informed them, one could detect flashes spurting from a hundred points in a circle, while the rattle of musketry came faintly to the ear. The position of the dusky enemy was, in fact, clearly outlined by those flashes, and looking downward Dick could imagine the position of the gallant little band of Gurkhas stationed somewhere in the centre awaiting the rush of the enemy. "With bayonets ready fixed," he told himself. "But it'd be short work in the darkness. Those Pathans would creep in--are creeping in even now--and outnumber our fellows by twenty to one. Yes, this is a tough little business." It was obvious that the Major viewed it in a similar light, while he was emphatic in his reply to Andrew.