“I’ve lost Govind Singh, the risaldar, and a good many men, sir, and we just missed the Nana. He unhorsed me, and I should have shot him if I’d had the sense to reserve a bullet for him.”
“Unhorsed you? Dundu Pant himself?” exclaimed the commandant.
Ted reported the affair, and Colonel Boldre, uncertain whether to praise or blame, remained deep in thought.
“You had a narrow squeak,” said he at last.
CHAPTER XXVIII
The Final Scene at Lucknow
Lieutenant Boldre lolled back in his camp-chair and smiled a superior smile, while Ted Russell scratched his head and gazed with puzzled expression at the carved pieces upon the chess-board.
It was undoubtedly checkmate, and he asked himself, almost angrily, how on earth he could have allowed himself to be outmanœuvred and surrounded, and his communications cut off, in so absurdly simple a manner. Now that it was too late to avert defeat, he could clearly see how his opponent’s attack could have been met and repulsed.
“You’ve licked me this time,” he acknowledged. “I’m playing like an oont this morning.”