“Me, sir.”
“I didn’t know you, my man. What is it, Sergeant?”
“Well, sir, I was only going to say, as I was so near, what about them there squibs and crackers as was to be let off to-night?”
“Oh, the rockets and fireworks,” said the Major. “They haven’t gone off in the heat, have they? No accident?”
“No, sir; but there won’t be nobody left to see them pop.”
Chapter Twelve.
See the conquering Heroes.
The line closed up, and marched “easy” back towards the upper end of the parade-ground, with not a single stranger to represent the spectators, and, half ironically, they were received by the band with “See, the Conquering Hero Comes.” The review and sham-fight were over, and as the officers and weary men were dismissed, and the officers gathered where the ladies and others of the station were assembled, one of the first upon whom they set eyes was the young Rajah Hamet, who had just joined the Resident.