When the three men and their wives fled from Meerut they took with them enough food to last for several days.  There is little excuse for people dying of starvation in any part of India, though sad to say it is only recently that thousands were swept away by famine.  Fruit is abundant and little meat is necessary in hot countries.  Before the morning meal was partaken of Jack Everson asked Dr. Marlowe to explain the cause of the low moaning noise that had been in his ears for moat of the night.  The elder listened for a minute and replied: 

“What I expected!  We are very near the head of navigation; that sound comes from falls or rapids, above which we cannot go with this boat.”

This announcement precipitated a discussion as to what was the best course to follow.  The physician left no doubt of his sentiments.

“The devils will be prowling up this stream within a few hours; I should not be surprised if they are near us this moment; the boat is of no further use to us.”

The three, Anderson, Turner and Wharton, did not agree with him.  The craft had served them so well that they were unwilling to abandon it.  They seemed to believe that it offered a much safer means of defense than they could find anywhere on land.

“But you cannot stay forever on it,” protested the doctor impatiently.

“We do not expect to,” replied Anderson; “we may decide to descend to the Ganges again, and continue down the river.”

“Whither?”

“To Cawnpore or some point nearer.”

The doctor was aghast.

“You mean to leap straight into the hornet’s nest; those are the places, of all others, that must be avoided.”

“It may be as you say, but I am hopeful that the English garrisons have been able to hold out against the mutineers.”

“It is a woeful mistake, my friend; if you persist in it we must part company.”

CHAPTER XIV.

The sound of firing.

Jack Everson was hardly less impatient than the doctor over the obstinacy of their lately made friends.  He reminded them that the physician had spent a score of years in that part of the world, with which he was so familiar that his judgment ought to outweigh theirs, but the argument was useless.  They had decided to stick to the boat that had served them so well and could not be dissuaded.  Their plan, as they had intimated, now that they found they could go little further up stream, was to descend to the Ganges, with a view of working their way down to some of the cities, where they hoped to find the English had succeeded in holding out against the mutineers.

Could this be done, and could such a haven be reached, all would be well, but the doctor assured them they were leaning upon a broken reed.  When it became evident that all persuasions were useless the parties separated.  A common peril had brought them near to one another and it was impossible that that they should part except as friends.  All felt the solemnity of the hour.  Each wife kissed and embraced Mary Marlowe, and like her shed tears at what they felt was probably the final parting, so far as this world was concerned.  The men warmly shook hands and there was more than one tremulous voice when the three passed over the side of the boat and said farewell.