The Way of an Eagle. Ethel M. Dell

CHAPTER XLIX

       CHAPTER L

       CHAPTER LI

       CHAPTER LII

       CHAPTER LIII

       CHAPTER LIV

       CHAPTER LV

       CHAPTER LVI

PART I

       Table of Contents

      CHAPTER

      I.—THE TRUST

      II.—A SOLDIER'S DAUGHTER

      III.—THE VICTIM OF TREACHERY

      IV.—DESOLATION

      V.—THE DEVIL IN THE WILDERNESS

      VI.—WHEN STRONG MEN FAIL

      VII.—THE COMING OF AN ARMY

      PART II

       Table of Contents

      VIII.—COMRADES

      IX.—THE SCHOOL OF SORROW

      X.—THE EAGLE SWOOPS

      XI.—THE FIRST FLIGHT

      XII.—THE MESSAGE

      XIII.—THE VOICE OF A FRIEND

      XIV.—THE POISON OF ADDERS

      XV.—THE SUMMONS

      XVI.—THE ORDEAL

      PART III

       Table of Contents

      XVII.—An Old Friend

      XVIII.—The Explanation

      XIX.—A Hero Worshipper

      XX.—News from the East

      XXI.—A Harbour of Refuge

      XXII.—An Old Story

      XXIII.—The Sleep Called Death

      XXIV.—The Creed of a Fighter

      XXV.—A Scented Letter

      XXVI.—The Eternal Flame

      XXVII.—The Eagle Caged

      XXVIII.—The Lion's Skin

      XXIX.—Old Friends Meet

      XXX.—An Offer of Friendship

      XXXI.—The Eagle Hovers

PART IV

       Table of Contents

      XXXII.—The Face in the Storm

      XXXIII.—The Lifting of the Mask

      XXXIV.—At the Gate of Death

      XXXV.—The Armistice

      XXXVI.—The Eagle Strikes

      XXXVII. THE PENALTY FOR SENTIMENT

      XXXVIII. THE WATCHER OF THE CLIFF

      XXXIX. BY SINGLE COMBAT

      XL. THE WOMAN'S CHOICE

      XLI. THE EAGLE'S PREY

      XLII. THE HARDEST FIGHT OF ALL

      XLIII. REQUIESCAT

      XLIV. LOVE'S PRISONER

      PART V

       Table of Contents

      XLV. THE VISION

      XLVI. THE HEART OF A MAN

      XLVII. IN THE NAME OF FRIENDSHIP

      XLVIII. THE HEALING OF THE BREACH

      XLIX. THE LOWERING OF THE FLAG

      L. EREBUS

      LI. THE BIRD OF PARADISE

      LII. A WOMAN'S OFFERING

      LIII. THE LAST SKIRMISH

      LIV. SURRENDER

      LV. OMNIA VINCIT AMOR

      LVI. THE EAGLE SOARS

      "There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

      The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid."

      Proverbs xxx, 18–19.

THE WAY OF AN EAGLE

       Table of Contents

PART I

       Table of Contents

CHAPTER I

       Table of Contents

      THE TRUST

      The long clatter of an irregular volley of musketry rattled warningly from the naked mountain ridges; over a great grey shoulder of rock the sun sank in a splendid opal glow; from very near at hand came the clatter of tin cups and the sound of a subdued British laugh. And in the room of the Brigadier-General a man lifted his head from his hands and stared upwards with unseeing, fixed eyes.

      There was an impotent, crushed look about him as of one nearing the end of his strength. The lips under the heavy grey moustache moved a little as though they formed soundless words. He drew his breath once or twice sharply through his teeth. Finally, with a curious groping movement he reached out and struck a small hand-gong on the table in front of him.

      The door slid open instantly and an Indian soldier stood in the opening. The Brigadier stared full at him for several seconds as if he saw nothing, his lips still moving secretly, silently. Then suddenly, with a stiff gesture, he spoke.

      "Ask the major sahib and the two captain sahibs to come to me here."

      The Indian saluted and vanished like a swift-moving shadow.

      The Brigadier sank back into his chair, his head drooped forward, his hands clenched. There was tragedy,