Part 18 (2/2)

”It is an order, sahib”

”Whose order?”

”Ranjoor Singh sahib's order”

”The deuce it is! When did the order coht it?”

”A babu, with a leather apron”

Warrington walked away ten paces in order to get command of himself, and pinch himself, and make quite sure he ake

”A fat babu?” he asked, walking back again

”Very fat,” said one of the troopers, continuing to brush the resentful charger

”So he delivered his e first, and then went to hunt for his loin-cloth!” h, to look for it first in the shay! I' to admire thatof the risaldar-rooencies!'” said the trooper

”Then take hiton ”Groom him where you won't disturb the other horses! How often have you got to be told that a horse needs sleep as much as a man? The squadron won't be fit to ht! Lead him out quietly, now! Whoa, you brute! Now-take him out and keep him out- put him in the end stall in my stable when you've finished hiain With all thesein froood to know at all tier was, as well as a service to Ranjoor Singh to stable the brute comfortably He told himself that was a very sh would some day thank him, provided, of course, that-

”Provided what?” he wondered half aloud ”Seeot hiet out of it by the back-door route and no questions asked! Well, let's hope he gets out! Let's hope there'll be no court-! Ranjoor Singh's a betterin him! Here's to him, thick and thin! Forward- walk-uard, and the particular troop sergeant ho on duty, he ordered hi, froh,” he called, thinking fast and furiously as he led the way

If he made one false move or aroused one suspicion in the ; but if he did not appear to know at least so either

As he turned, at a distance froh not to meet his eyes too keenly, the fact that would not keep out of his brain was that the fat babu had been out in the road, offering to eat Germans, a little while before he and the colonel had started out that evening And, according to what Brammle had told him when they met near the colonel's quarters, it was very shortly after that that the squadron cae that the babu brought this evening?” he asked, still being very careful not to look into the sergeant's eyes He spoke as comrade to comrade-servant of the ”Salt” to servant of the ”Salt”

”Which babu, sahib?” asked Arjan Singh, unblinking

Now, in all probability, this e to grooer,” h, look me in the eyes!” he ordered, and the Sikh obeyed

He was taller than Warrington, and looked down on him

”Are you a true friend of the risaldar-major?”

”May I die, sahib, if I am not!”