The patient Bengalis could
endure no more; the oxen were done up, the men refused to go farther
without a rest. Halting at a hamlet some five miles from the river, they
rested and fed till midnight, then set off again. It was not so
insufferably hot at night, but on the other hand they were less able to
avoid obstructions: and the rest had not been long enough to make up for
the terrible exertions of the day.
By daybreak they were some distance past Hugli, still keeping about five
miles from the river. Desmond was beginning to congratulate himself that
the worst was over; Barrackpur was only about twelve miles away. But a
little after dawn he caught sight of a European on horseback crossing
their track towards the river. He was going at a walking pace, attended
by two syces {grooms}. Attracted, apparently, by the sight, unusual at
this time of year, of a string of hackeris, he wheeled his horse and
cantered towards the tail of the convoy, which was under Bulger's charge.
"Hai, hackeriwallah," he said in Urdu to the rearmost driver, "to whom do
these hackeris belong?"
"To the great Company, huzur. The sahib will tell you."
"The sahib--what sahib?" asked the rider in astonishment.
"The sahib yonder," replied the man, pointing to Bulger.
Bulger had been staring at the horseman, and growing more and more red in
the face. Catching the rider's surprised look, he could contain himself
no longer.
"By thunder! 'tis that villain Diggle!" he shouted, and rushed forward to
drag him from his horse.
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