alongside my battalion. Between him and me is a certain understanding
based on past happenings in which we both had a hand. He is not as some
other sahibs, but a man who opens both ears and his heart, and when I
knocked on his door he opened it and recognized me.

"'Well?' said he. 'Why not come and see me in the morning?

"'Sahib,' said I, 'for the sake of El-Arish, let me in quickly, and
close the door!'

"So he did, wondering and not pleased to be disturbed by a Sikh at such
an hour. And I said to him:

"'Sahib,' said I, 'am I a badmash? A scoundrel?'

"'No,' said he, 'not unless you changed your morals when you left the
service.'

"Said I, 'I am still in the service.'

"'Good,' said he. 'What then?'

"'I go listening again in no-man's land,' said I, and he whistled
softly. 'Is there not a roof below your window?' I asked him, and he
nodded.

"'Then let me use it, sahib, and return the same way presently.'

"So he threw back the shutter, asking no more questions, and I climbed
out. The window of the room where Yussuf Dakmar and the five were stood