“Why!” exclaimed the colonel in surprise, “how did you know?”
Ted and Alec laughed.
“This is our daur, colonel. Didn’t you know?”
“Your daur! What on earth do you mean?”
“We brought the news last night that the Nana was there,” Alec replied. “We had it from a spy.”
Colonel Boldre regarded them with interest.
“You never told me,” said Claude.
“We were told to keep it quiet,” said Ted.
“Quite right!” observed their commandant. “Pindijang is about nine miles away, and this is to be a cavalry affair. Our fellows are going, with a detachment of Hodson’s and Probyn’s, and a squadron of the 9th Lancers, and a troop of Horse Artillery.”
“The pater’s in command,” whispered Claude.