“Shall I tell off my men, sir?” said the subaltern sulkily, for he was feeling wet and cold.
“Tell 'em off!” said the Major. “Whip 'em off, by Gad! You're squandering them all over the place. There's a troop behind you now!”
“So I was thinking,” said the subaltern calmly. “I have all my men here, sir. Better speak to Carter.”
“Carter Sahib sends salaam and wants to know why the regiment is stopping,” said a trooper to Lieutenant Halley.
“Where under heaven is Carter,” said the Major.
“Forward with his troop,” was the answer.
“Are we walking in a ring, then, or are we the centre of a blessed brigade?” said the Major.
By this time there was silence all along the column. The horses were still; but, through the drive of the fine rain, men could hear the feet of many horses moving over stony ground.
“We're being stalked,” said Lieutenant Halley.
“They've no horses here. Besides they'd have fired before this,” said the Major. “It's—it's villagers' ponies.”