And gives the battle to his hands.’
...
‘Like fire he meets the foe,
And strikes him dead for thine and thee.’”
“If you deliver that safely, it will mean another hundred rupees,” he said, giving the note to the chaprasi with a smile. “You had better be off at once. It will be pretty hot here presently.”
The man still lingered. “Is there going to be a battle, sahib?” he asked.
“Doesn’t it look like it?” Bullets were flying round Colonel Keeling as he spoke, and he laughed again.
“You are certain you are just going into battle, sahib?”
“Certain; but I am not asking you to go into it with me. Get out of the way of the bullets as fast as you like.”
Rahim Khan retired, but with dragging steps, and made his way slowly to Sir Dugald, who was in charge of the gun. To him he gave a second note, which he took from his turban. Sir Dugald tore it open, and for the moment his heart stood still, for he thought it referred to his own wife; but on turning it over he saw that it also was addressed to Colonel Keeling.