If we have him, sahib, we have the key
to Jailpore!"
"We, have certainly got him," said Brown. "You can see him, and you
can smell him. I'll order one of the men to prick him with a bayonet,
if you want to hear him, too! I wouldn't feel him, if I were you!"
"He must come, too, to Jailpore!"
"Of course he comes!"
"Then, sahib, let us move away from here to where there is water.
There let us rest until sundown, and then march, in the cool of the
evening. It will be better so. And of a truth I must sleep, or
else drop dead from weariness."
"Does that message put you in command?" asked Brown, a trifle truculently.
"No, sahib! But it orders you to listen to my advice whenever possible."
"That means that you are under my orders?"
"That letter does not say so, sahib!"
"Very well, are you, or are you not?"
"We are supposed to act in concert, sahib."
"It doesn't say so in the letter! Yes, or no? Are you going to obey
orders, or aren't you? In other words, are you coming with me, or
do you stay behind?"
"I come with you, sahib!"
"Then you obey my orders!"
"But the letter says--"
"That I'm to take your advice whenever possible! I don't need advice
just at the moment, thanks! I've got orders here to march, and I'm
off at once! You can please yourself whether you come with me or
not, but if you come you come on my terms.
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