As a usual thing, the Indian attacks take place in the
last hour or two of darkness. Mr. Hardy thought, however, that an
exception would be made in the present case, in order that they
might get as far as possible away before any pursuit took place.
The wives of the peons lay down to sleep on the straw which had
been thrown down for them. The men sat outside the door, smoking
their cigarettes and talking in low whispers. Mrs. Hardy was in her
room; Ethel kept her company, Maud dividing her time between them
and the top of the tower, where Mr. Hardy, Fitzgerald, and the boys
were assembled in the intervals between going their rounds.
At about ten o'clock there was a sharp bark from one of the dogs
fastened up by the fold, followed up by a general barking of all
the dogs on the establishment.
"There they are," Mr. Hardy said. "Charley, bring the mastiffs
inside, and order them, and the retrievers too, to be quiet. We do
not want any noise up here, to tell the Indians that we are on the
watch. Now, Fitzgerald, you go to the sentries behind the house,
and I will go to those in front, to tell them to fall back at
once."
This mission was, however, unnecessary, for the eight peons all
arrived in a minute or two, having fled from their posts at the
first barking of the dogs, and without obeying their orders to send
round to each other to give notice of their retreat.
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