"According to my idea, the women had better be lodged here in your
bungalow," Nicholson said. "The surrounding walls make it a good place
of defense. The barracks are too open."
The Colonel nodded. Quite unconsciously he was letting the reins of
command slip into the younger and stronger hands.
"They must be brought over at once," he assented. "Thank Heaven most
of them have gone to the hills. Mrs. Berry and that--that other woman
had better not be told what's up. They will only make a fuss. My wife
will understand--and Lois will be all right. We must get hold of
Travers, if it is only for her sake. It would serve him right if we
left him to his fate."
Stafford took a step forward.
"I have a suggestion to make, Colonel," he said.
Colonel Carmichael looked at him. Throughout the interview Stafford
had acted and spoken like a man who is weighed down by a burden of
terrible doubt and perplexity. He alone of the three men had shown the
first sign of emotion, and emotion in the face of death was for the
Colonel no better than fear. His face hardened.
"Well," he said, "what is it?"
"Rajah Nehal Singh is not a barbarian," Stafford began. "I believe he
would listen to reason if one of us could get hold of him. He seems to
have his country's welfare at heart, and if it was explained to what
horrible bloodshed he was leading it--"
"There must be no cringing!" Colonel Carmichael interrupted sharply.
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