The shuttered carriage
passed on, but stopped in the shadow of the gate.
"Look!" said the German. "I thought that officer--the adjutant,
isn't he--recognized you. Now he is pointing you out to the colonel!
Look!"
Ranjoor Singh did look, and he saw that Colonel Kirby was waiting to
let the regiment go by. He knew what was passing through Kirby's
mind, since it is given to some men, native and English, to have
faith in each other. And he knew that there was danger ahead of him
through which he might not come with his life, perhaps even with his
honor. He would have given, like Kirby, a full year's pay for a hand-
shake then, and have thought the pay well spent.
Kirby began to canter back.
"He has recognized you!" said the German.
"And he is coming to cut me down!" swore Ranjoor Singh.
He dragged the German back behind the nearest cart, and together
they ran for the gloom of the big gate, leaving the driver of the
bullock-cart standing at gaze where Ranjoor Singh had stood. The door
of the shuttered carriage flew open as they reached it, and Ranjoor
Singh pushed the German in. He stood a moment longer, with his foot
on the carriage step, watching Colonel Kirby; he watched him question
the bullock-cart driver.
Then a voice that he recognized said, "Buffalo!" and he followed
into the carriage, shutting the door behind him.
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