to the Lushkars, and opened his eyes as he regarded. They were
lighter men than the Hussars, and they carried themselves with the
swing that is the peculiar right of the Punjab Frontier Force and
all Irregular Horse. Like everything else in the Service it has to
be learnt, but, unlike many things, it is never forgotten, and
remains on the body till death.

The great beam-roofed mess-room of the White Hussars was a sight
to be remembered. All the mess plate was out on the long table -
the same table that had served up the bodies of five officers
after a forgotten fight long and long ago - the dingy, battered
standards faced the door of entrance, clumps of winter-roses lay
between the silver candlesticks, and the portraits of eminent
officers deceased looked down on their successors from between the
heads of sambhur, nilghai, markhor, and, pride of all the mess,
two grinning snow-leopards that had cost Basset-Holmer four
months' leave that he might have spent in England, instead of on
the road to Thibet and the daily risk of his life by ledge, snow-
slide, and grassy slope.

The servants in spotless white muslin and the crest of their
regiments on the brow of their turbans waited behind their
masters, who were clad in the scarlet and gold of the White
Hussars, and the cream and silver of the Lushkar Light Horse.
Dirkovitch's dull green uniform was the only dark spot at the
board, but his big onyx eyes made up for it. He was fraternising
effusively with the captain of the Lushkar team, who was wondering
how many of Dirkovitch's Cossacks his own dark wiry down-
countrymen could account for in a fair charge. But one does not
speak of these things openly.