e moment the tiger charged, I felt perfectly cool
again, for the row ceased as you fired your first shot. I struck it full
in the chest, and was about to thrust the spear right down, and should,
I believe, have killed it, if you had not fired again and startled me so
that I fell from the elephant."

"I saw that the shouting and noise unnerved you, Bathurst, but I saw too
that you were perfectly cool and steady when you planted your spear
into him. If it had not got hold of the mahout's leg I should not have
fired."

"Is there nothing to be done, Doctor? You know now what it is likely we
shall have to face with the Sepoys and what it will be with me if they
rise. Is there nothing you can do for me?"

The Doctor shook his head. "I don't believe in Dutch courage in any
case, Bathurst; certainly not in yours. There is no saying what the
effect of spirits might be. I should not recommend them, lad. Of course,
I can understand your feelings, but I still believe that, even if you do
badly to begin with, you will pull round in the end. I have no doubt you
will get a chance to show that it is only nerve and not courage in which
you are deficient."

Bathurst was silent, and scarce another word was spoken during the drive
back to Deennugghur.

The place had its accustomed appearance when they drove up. The Doctor,
as he drew up before his bungalow, said, "Thank God, they have not begun
yet! I was half afraid we might have found they had taken advantage of
most of us being away, and have broken out before we got back."

"So was I," Bathurst said. "I have been thinking of nothing else since
we started."

"Well, I will go to the Major at once and see what arrangements have
been made, and whether there is any further news."

"I shall go off on my rounds," Bathurst said. "I had arranged yesterday
to be at Nilpore this morning, and there will be time for me to get
there now. It is only eleven o'clock yet. I shall go about my work as
usual until matters come to a head."

The Doctor found that the Major was over at the tent which served as the
orderly office, and at once followed him there.

"Nothing fresh, Major?"

"No; we found everything going on as usual. It has been decided to put
the courthouse as far as we can in a state of defense. I shall have the
spare ammunition quietly taken over there, with stores of provisions.
The ladies have undertaken to sew up sacking and make gunny bags for
holding earth, and, of course, w