‘And who was thy father?’
‘The same that had this gun.’ He showed me his weapon—a Tower musket bearing date 1832 and the stamp of the Honourable East India Company.
‘And thy father’s name?’ said I.
‘Timlay Doola,’ said he. ‘At the first, I being then a little child, it is in my mind that he wore a red coat.’
‘Of that I have no doubt. But repeat the name of thy father thrice or four times.’
He obeyed, and I understood whence the puzzling accent in his speech came. ‘Thimla Dhula,’ said he excitedly. ‘To this hour I worship his God.’
‘May I see that God?’
‘In a little while—at twilight time.’
‘Rememberest thou aught of thy father’s speech?’
‘It is long ago. But there is one word which he said often. Thus “Shun.” Then I and my brethren stood upon our feet, our hands to our sides. Thus.’