"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."

"Then our horses would have neighed and spoilt the attack long
ago. They must have been near us for half an hour," said the
subaltern.

"Queer that we can't smell the horses," said the Major, damping
his finger and rubbing it on his nose as he sniffed up wind.

"Well, it's a bad start," said the subaltern, shaking the wet from
his overcoat. "What shall we do, sir?"