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Henty, G. A. (George Alfred), 1832-1902

"Or, The Beginnings of an Empire"


The stanching of his wounds, and the application of strong
restoratives, presently caused Charlie to open his eyes.
"The Lord be praised, Mr. Charles," Tim said, "that you're coming to
yourself again. Don't you trouble, sir. We've done for the murdhering
rascals; and, plase God, you'll soon be about again. Jist drink this
draught, yer honor, and go off to sleep, if you can. In the morning
I'll tell you all about it.
"You're in the rajah's own room," he continued, seeing Charlie's eyes
wander wonderingly around him, "and all you've got to do is just to
lie still, and get well as soon as you can."
It was a fortnight before Charlie, still very weak and feeble, was
able to totter from his room to that in which Hossein was lying. He
himself knew nothing of what had passed after he fell. The conflict
had, to him, been little more than a dream. Awakened from sleep by the
sound of his assailants, as they dropped from the ropes, he had leaped
up as a rush of figures came towards him, catching up his sword and
pistol as he did so. He had shot the first, and cut down the next who
rushed at him, but at the same moment he had felt a sharp pain, and
remembered no more.
Tim heard from Hossein, when the latter, two days after the fight, was
able to speak, that he had suspected that some renewed attempt might
be made upon his master's life; and that for many nights he had not
slept, contenting himself with such repose as he could snatch in the
daytime, between the intervals of preparing meals.


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