two and shade us from this awful sun. Now, Vincent, slit open that
sleeve; never mind damages. Hah! I thought so. That's one exhauster."

As the man's arm was bared, the doctor caught my hand, and made me seize
and press upon an artery high up in the limb; for from a terrible gash
the blood was pumping out in regular pulsations, and as this act checked
the bleeding a little, the doctor rapidly found and tied the divided
artery, and then bandaged the wound.

"That was the most dangerous," he said. "Now, then, what next? Cut on
shoulder, not serious--ugly gash on head, bad--stab in thigh--must have
been mounted--bullet in muscles of shoulder, fired evidently as the man
was escaping. Hah! enough for one poor fellow. Now, Vincent, we'll
stop the bleeding, and then we must have him carried on a litter under
shelter."

"Couldn't he bear the motion of the elephant?" said Brace.

"No! Yes," said the doctor; "perhaps it would be best. While we are
waiting for a litter we could get him to the rajah's. There, I think he
will not hurt. You may try for your despatch now."

Brace and I tried the man's pockets, and the doctor thrust his hand into
the breast, but the result was _nil_.

"No despatch," said Brace, uneasily; and I saw his face wrinkle up, as
if he were puzzled and anxious. "Let's get him on the little pad
elephant; it will be easier."

"Now," said the doctor, who had been bathing the poor fellow's forehead
and trickling water between his parched lips, "he's coming to. Don't
question him; leave it to me."

For at that moment the man's face twitched a little, and he began to
mutter excitedly; his words being plain enough to those near.

"Cowards!" he said. "Treachery--you dog--it's murder! Look out, boys!
Ah--sentry--the gate!"

He uttered a low groan and was silent.

"Not attacked on the road," said Brace, excitedly.

"No," said the rajah, hastily; "my people would not attack him."

"There's something wrong at the barracks," cried Brace, excitedly. "He
said treachery."

I felt the blood thrill through my veins at these words; and then I
stepped closer to Gunner Denny, whose eyes had now opened widely, and he
was staring wildly round, till his gaze rested on me, and he made a sign
to me to bend down.

"Look out, sir," he said, in a faint voice. "Ah! Water!"

His eyes seemed to film over, but as water was trickled between his
lips, he swallowed a little with difficulty, and revived, whil