resemblance to him. He had breadth and depth of forehead and a
jowl that lent itself to smiles as well as sternness, and a throat
that expressed manly determination in every molded line.

He slept like a boy until dawn; and he and Hyde had scarcely
exchanged another dozen words when the train screamed next day into
Delhi station. Then he saluted stiffly and was gone.

"Young jackanapes!" Hyde muttered after him. "Lazy young devil!
He ought to be with his regiment, marching and setting a good example
to his men! We'll have our work cut out to win this war, if there
are many of his stamp! And I'm afraid there are--I'm afraid so--
far too many of 'em! Pity! Such a pity! If the right men were
at the top the youngsters at the foot of the ladder would mind their
P's and Q's. As it is, I'm afraid we shall get beaten in this show.
Dear, oh, dear!"

Being what he was, and consistent before all things, Major Hyde
drew out his writing materials there and then and wrote a report
against Athelstan King, which he signed, addressed to headquarters
and mailed at the first opportunity. There some future historian
may find it and draw from it unkind deductions on the morale of
the British army.




Chapter II