A few minutes
before the attack, he fancied he heard a movement on the roof of the
house; and running to Charlie's room he had, from the window, seen
some dark figures sliding down the wall. Then he roused Tim, and
rushed up to the rescue.
Tim eloquently described to his master the manner in which Hossein
sprung upon his foes, and cut his way through, in time to drive back
those who were hacking at him as he lay prostrate; and how he found
him standing over him, keeping at bay the whole of his assailants.
Charlie, with difficulty, made his way to the bedside of the brave
Mohammedan. The latter, however, did not know him. He was in the
delirium of fever. He was talking rapidly to himself.
"He trusted me," he said. "He gave me my life. Should I not give mine
for him? Anyone else would have had me hung as a dog. I will watch. I
will watch. He shall see that Hossein is not ungrateful."
Charlie's eyes filled with tears, as he looked at the wasted form of
his follower.
"Is there any hope for him?" he asked the doctor.
"It is possible, just possible that he may live," the latter said.
"Allah only knows."
"Do all you can to save him," Charlie said. "I shall be ever grateful
to you, if you do.
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