g it the two women rode at a foot's pace; for
Evelyn still had much to say, and the girl was a notable listener. But
even so the parade-ground below them came rapidly into view--a level
expanse of brown earth, hard as a usurer's heart, varied only by lines
of featureless mud huts, and backed by the dragon's teeth of the
hills, brown also, save where sharply defined shadows broke the
prevailing monotony of hue.

But the foreground of this toneless setting vibrated with life,
movement, colour.

Groups of native troopers, in blue belted tunics and turbans of blue
and gold, occupied the central space. English officers, in undress
uniform, rode to and fro among them, criticising, encouraging, and
generally directing the course of events. In an open _shamianah_,[4]
eight or ten men divided their attention between a table at the back
of the tent and the four ladies of the station, who perforce converted
military events into those friendly gatherings which are the mainstay
of Anglo-Indian life. Native onlookers, of all races and ranks, formed
a mosaic border to the central theme; and a jumble of rollicking Irish
airs from the Sikh band set Honor's foot tapping the air with brisk
precision.

[4] Marquee.

"Wait, Evelyn," she said. "I would like to see those four Pathans take
the pegs from here. One gets the effect better from rising ground."

And Evelyn, whose knowledge of effects was limited to hats and
hairdressing, drew rein obediently, her eyes probing the crowd for the
one figure, to whom the rest were mere accessories, and rather
troublesome accessories at that.

But Honor's eyes and mind were set upon the four Pathans drawn up in
line at the starting-point, the sunlight flashing from their
lance-heads, and from every link of eight steel shoulder-chains; their
faces inscrutable; their eyes points of living fire. A pathway of
straw softened the ground for galloping, and in the midst of it four
pegs awaited the furious onset.

The horses, all eagerness to be off, tossed impatient heads, straining
impotently at the tightened rein. On a given word they sprang forward
with a thundering rush of hoofs, swooping down upon the pegs at
lightning speed, the men's faces level with the flying manes, their
lance-heads skimming the ground. Followed the stirring moment of
impact, the long-drawn shout, steadily rising to a yell of triumph, as
four lances whirled aloft, each bearing the coveted morsel of wood
spiked through the ce