"
"Go and tell that to the Horse Marines--or, rather, tell it to Colonel
Kendrick! Go and report to him at once. Possibly he'll see it through
your eyes!"
So Brown marched off to report himself, and he found Colonel Kendrick
nursing a badly wounded arm before a torn and mud-stained tent.
"Who are you?" said the colonel, as Brown saluted him.
"I'm Sergeant Brown, sir."
"Not Bill Brown of the Rifles?"
"Yes, sir!"
"You lie! He was blown up on the roof of the powder-magazine! I
suppose every man who's gone mad from the heat will be saying that
he's Brown!"
"I'm Brown, sir! I had written orders from General Baines to enter
Jailpore and rescue three women and a child."
"Where are your orders?"
"Lost 'em, sir, in the explosion."
"For a madman, you're a circumstantial liar! What happened to the
women?"
The colonel sat back, and smothered an exclamation of agony as the
nerves in his injured arm tortured him afresh. He had asked a question
which should settle once and for all this man's pretentions, and
he waited for the answer with an air of certainty.
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