“What? Why, his punishment would be ten times worse,” cried Dick.
“Yes, sir,” said the sergeant, twisting up his fierce mustachios; “much worse.”
“Then why do you wish that?”
“Well, sir, between you and me, you can’t punish a man till you catch him.”
“No; but he would be sure to be caught.”
“India’s a big place, sir,” said the sergeant.
“Of course it is, but no English soldier could hide himself without being caught sooner or later.”
“Depends upon them as is looking for him, sir.”
“What? Oh, I see, you mean that the men wouldn’t try to find him.”
“That’s it, sir. I believe the boys would all go blind when they went after him, and come back time after time to report that they hadn’t seen him.”