The sergeant
thrust his grim face closer and peered at their capture.
"Good--, if it ain't an officer!" he exclaimed. "I beg your pardon, sir!"
And at that instant the section rattled, up behind them, with Bellairs
in the lead.
"Halt!" roared Bellairs. "What's this?"
"Bloody murder, arson, high treason, mutiny and death! Blood and
onions, man! Don't your men know an officer when they see one? Who
are you? Are you Bellairs? Then why in God's name didn't you say
so sooner? What have you waited for?
How many hours is it since you got the message through from Jundhra?
Couldn't you see the barracks burning? Who am I--I'm Captain O'Rourke,
of the Thirty-third, sent to see what you're doing on the road, that's
who I am! A full-fledged; able-bodied captain wasted in a crisis,
just because you didn't choose to hurry! Poison take your confounded
gunners, sir! Have they nothing better to engage them than holding
up officers on the Queen's trunk road?
"Supposing you tell me what's the matter?" suggested young Bellairs,
prompt as are most of his breed to appear casual the moment there
was cause to feel excited.
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