Each of them had a pistol, and their intention didn't admit of doubt.
"Are you there, sahib ?" Narayan Singh whispered.
But Jeremy and I were aware of them almost as soon as he, and rather than make a noise by vaulting the veranda rail, we took the longer route by way of the front steps.

Jeremy, who was wearing sandals, kicked them off and not having to creep so carefully, moved faster.
Of course, the obvious question is, why didn't Narayan Singh shoot?
I had a pistol too; why didn't I use it?
Well, I'll tell you.

None but the irresponsible criminal shoots a man except in obedience to orders or in self-defence.
You may argue that those three night-prowlers might have shot Ticknor and his wife and Grim through the window while we aired our superior virtue.

The answer to that is, that they didn't, although that was their intention.

Narayan Singh, already once that night in danger of his life, and a "godless, heathen Sikh," as I have heard a missionary call him, pocketed the pistol I had given him before proceeding to engage, he being also a white man by the proper way of estimating such things.
Jeremy was first on the scene of action, with Narayan Singh close behind him, and I was quite a bit behind, for I tripped against the top step in my hurry.