to wear round
my neck. Such medals are reckoned holy among the French. He was a very
holy man and it averts the Evil Eye. The Women also carry holy beads to
help keep count of their prayers.

"Certain men of our Regiment divided among themselves as many as they
could pick up of the string of such beads that used to be carried by
the small maiden whom the shell slew. It was found forty yards distant
from the hands. It was that small maiden who begged us for our buttons
and had no fear. The Regiment made an account of it, reckoning one life
of the enemy for each bead. They deposited the beads as a pledge with
the regimental clerk. When a man of the guarantors became killed, the
number of his beads which remained unredeemed was added to the
obligation of the other guarantors, or they elected an inheritor of the
debt in his place." [_He will understand that. It was all very correct
and business-like, Sahib. Our Pathan Company arranged it._] "It was
seven weeks before all her beads were redeemed because the weather was
bad and our guns were strong and the enemy did not stir abroad after
dark. When all the account was cleared, the beads were taken out of
pawn and returned to her grandfather, with a certificate, and he wept.

"This war is not a war. It is a world-destroying battle. All that has
gone before this war in this world till now has been only boys throwing
coloured powder at each other. No man could conceive it! What do you or
the Mohmunds or anyone who has not been here know of war? When the
ignorant in future speak of war, I shall laugh, even though they be my
elder brethren. Consider what things are done here and for what
reasons.

"A little before I took my wounds, I was on duty near an officer who
worked in wire and wood and earth to make traps for the enemy. He had
acquired a tent of green cloth upon sticks, with a window of soft glass
that could not be broken. All coveted the tent. It was three paces long
and two wide. Among the covetous was an Officer of Artillery, in charge
of a gun that shook mountains. It gave out a shell of ten maunds or
more [eight hundred pounds]. But those who have never seen even a
rivulet cannot imagine the Indus. He offered many rupees to purchase
the tent. He would come at all hours increasing his offer. He
overwhelmed the owner with talk about it." [_I heard them often,
Sahib._] "At last, and I heard this also, that tent-owner said to that
Artillery Officer:--'I am wearied with