"Well now, Kirby, that'll be all right Have the horse left there,
will you? I hope You've been able to dispose of your own horses to
advantage. Two chargers don't seem a large allowance for a commanding
officer of a cavalry regiment, but that's all you can take with you.
You'll have to leave the rest behind."
"Haven't given it a thought, sir! Too busy thinking about Ranjoor
Singh. Worried about him."
"Shouldn't worry!" said the general. "Ranjoor Singh's all right."
"That's the first assurance I've had of it, except by way of a
mysterious note," said Kirby.
"By all right, I mean that he isn't in disgrace. But now about your
horses and private effects. You've done nothing about them?"
"I'll have time to attend to that this afternoon, sir."
"Oh, no, you won't. That's why I'm glad you came! These"--he gave
him a sealed envelope--"are supplementary orders, to be opened when
you get back to barracks. I want you out of the way by noon if
possible. We'll send a man down this morning to take charge of
whatever any of you want kept, and you'd better tell him to sell the
rest and pay the money to your bankers; he'll be a responsible
officer. That's all. Good-by, Kirby, and good luck!"
The general held out his hand.
"One more minute, sir," said Kirby. "About Ranjoor Singh!"
"What about him?"
"Well, sir--what about him?"
"What have you heard?"
"That--I've heard a sort of promise that he'll be with his squadron,
to lead it, before the blood runs.
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