g but
little in the conversation.

"I thought Bathurst was going to faint again when the firing began, Miss
Hannay," Captain Forster said, in a low voice. "It was quite funny to
see him give a little start each shot that was fired, and his face was
as white as my jacket. I never saw such a nervous fellow."

"You know he cannot help it, Captain Forster," Isobel said indignantly.
"I don't think it is right to make fun of him for what is a great
misfortune."

"I am not making fun of him, Miss Hannay. I am pitying him."

"It did not sound like it," Isobel said. "I don't think you can
understand it, Captain Forster; it must be terrible to be like that."

"I quite agree with you there. I know I should drown myself or put a
bullet through my head if I could not show ordinary courage with a lot
of ladies going on working quietly round me."

"You must remember that Mr. Bathurst showed plenty of courage in going
out among the mutineers last night."

"Yes, he did that very well; but you see, he talks the language so
thoroughly that, as he said himself, there was very little risk in it."

"I don't like you to talk so, Captain Forster," Isobel said quietly. "I
do not see much of Mr. Bathurst. I have not spoken to him half a dozen
times in the last month; but both my uncle and Dr. Wade have a high
opinion of him, and do not consider that he should be personally blamed
for being nervous under fire. I feel very sorry for him, and would much
rather that you did not make remarks like that about him. We have all
our weak points, and, no doubt, many of them are a good deal worse than
a mere want of nerve."

"Your commands shall be obeyed, Miss Hannay. I did not know that
Bathurst was a protege of the Major's as well as of the estimable
Doctor, or I would have said nothing against him."

"I don't think Mr. Bathurst is the sort of man to be anyone's protege,
Captain Forster," Isobel said coldly. "However, I think we had better
change the subject."

This Captain Forster did easily and adroitly. He had no special feeling
against Bathurst save a contempt for his weakness; and as he had met him
but once or twice at the Major's since he came to the station, he had
not thought of him in the light of a rival.

Just as dinner was over Richards and one of the civilians came down from
the terrace.

"I think that there is something up, Major. I can hear noises somewhere
near where Mr. Hunter's bungalow was."

"What sort of noises, Ric