"Friend," was the reply.
"Advance and give the countersign."
"Who the devil are you?" burst out the Senior Colonel.
"Servants of Her Britannic Majesty, Queen Victoria."
With shouts and laughter officers and men alike rushed forward, and there was a babel of congratulatory voices.
III
Dawn was breaking when Major Blaisby finished his account of what had happened during those four eventful weeks. "It was Chisholme's idea," he concluded, "that I should ask the Brigadier for the fireworks in order to give his system an extended trial." He did not add that the object of the request was to placate his superior, in order to obtain the maxim.
When the light became stronger, the Senior Colonel examined the defences, and complimented Blaisby in his short, gruff manner. "You've made a fine show, Blaisby," he said in conclusion, "A damned sight finer show than I should have made."
Chisholme had his opportunity later, when The Morning Independent printed a series of brilliantly written articles upon the campaign and its ending, and although more moderate in tone than many expected, Brigadier General Mossop saw in those articles the explanation of his receiving no official mark of approval for the way in which he had conducted the —— Punitive Expedition.
"An' where did you come in, sir?" enquired Bindle of the General, when he had finished "leading the applause" with his mallet.