The ladies saw and understood, and in a few moments Jim and Ethel were left alone. They were grateful, yet for some moments not a word was uttered by either. The precious time was not exactly wasted, though.
"My poor girl, what you must have suffered!" Jim murmured as he held her hands within his own and fondled them.
"Are you really here, Jim, or am I dreaming? It seems too good to be true."
"I think I really am here," was the reply, and Jim set to work to convince her.
"You have heard how poor Markham was killed, and Tynan and Lewis and Arden?"
Jim nodded and tightened his grip of the hands until she winced.
"What a brute I am!" he penitently exclaimed, covering the little hands with kisses.
"I--I liked it, Jim.---- But you know you oughtn't to reward yourself for being a brute."
"And so the young 'un has behaved like a brick!" said Jim at length. "I'm proud of the kid."
"I should just think he has. I really believe I shall have to marry you, Captain Russell, if only to have Ted for a brother. I think he likes me now."
"I'll punch the young 'un's head if he doesn't," declared the brutal Jim. "It's very decent of the others to give us this good time, little woman."
"It is, indeed. Oh, Jim, are you sure we're not dreaming? Can you stay here with your men?"
"I don't know what to do until I have consulted Munro and Fletcher and your father. We must follow the rest of the corps as quickly as possible, and I think the best plan will be for you all to come with us, if we can obtain horses and ekkas for the wounded and the ladies, until we can drop you at the first safe place."
"Cannot Sir Arthur, as head of the district, countermand your orders to join the Guide Corps at once? If he says that you are needed here, I should think he has authority to detain you. Besides, you and your men are now under father, or rather under Major Munro, whilst you remain here, and you will have to do as they order."
"I wish it were so; but it happens to be John Lawrence himself who has sent us to Delhi, and he said he wanted us to get there quickly. And when Jan Larens says 'do this' you've got to do it, and do it smartly. The major is a brave man, and so is Fletcher, but I shall be very much surprised if either of them dare trifle with Jan."