refuse to listen!" wailed the babu. "The blood of your men lies in
street calling aloud for vengeance!" A university education works
wonders for babu vocabulary. "I tell you it is a riot, and most
extremelee serious affair!"

That was the wrong appeal to make, as the babu himself would have
known had he been less excited. In time of riot the place for a Sikh
officer would be at the regiment's headquarters, in readiness for the
order from a civil magistrate without which interference would cost
him his commission. But the babu was beside himself, what with
breathlessness and disappointment. He decided it was expedient to
strengthen his appeal, and his imagination was still working.

"There will be two regiments of Tommees--drunken Tommees,
presentlee. They will take your men to jail. The Tommees are already
on the way. Should they get there first your men will be
everlastinglee disgraced as well as muleted. You should hurry."

Ranjoor Singh ceased from frowning and looked satisfied. If there
were trouble enough in the bazaar to call for the despatch of British
soldiers to the scene, then nothing in the world was more certain
than that any men of his who happened to be in danger would be
rescued with neatness and speed. If there was no trouble yet, there
would very likely be some swearing when the soldiers got there. In
the meantime he was wet through, both with rain and perspiration. The
thought of a bath and dry clothes urged him like the voice of a siren
calling; and he had shown the babu all the courtesy his Sikh creed
and profession demanded.

So he clucked to Bagh, and the big brute plunged into a canter, just