ze that you made the taking of Jailpore possible? That
but for you we'd have been trying still to storm the walls without
artillery?"

"I had the chance, sir, and I only did what any other man would ha' done
under like circumstances."

"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. It was on his lips to
call the guard to take the lunatic away.

"Juggut Khan, the Rajput, took them, with nine of my men, and brought
them in to your camp last night, sir. I naturally haven't seen them
since."

"Will the women know you?"

"One of them will, sir."

"Which one?"

"Jane Emmett, sir."

"Well, we'll see!"

The colonel called an orderly, and sent the orderly running for Jane
Emmett. A minute later two strong arms were thrown round Bill Brown from
behind, and he was all but carried off his feet.

"Oh, Bill--Bill--Bill! I knew you'd be all right! Turn round, Bill! Look
at me!"

She was clinging to him in such a manner that he could not turn, but he
managed to pry her hands loose, and to draw her round in front of him.

"I knew, Bill! I felt sure you'd come! And I recognized your voice the
minute that the trapdoor opened and I heard it! I did, Bill! I knew you
in a minute! I didn't worry then! I knew you wouldn't come and talk to
me as long as there was any duty to be done. I just waited! They said
you were killed in the explosion, but I knew you weren't! I knew it! I
did! I knew it!"

"Face me, pl