but declined, and, reminding them all
of his wife's invitation for the morrow, bade them goodnight.

"That's one av the finest men in India," exclaimed Burke, as they
watched Dermot's figure receding down the road. The doctor had a
pleasant, ugly face and wore spectacles.

"He is, indeed. He keeps the whole Bhutan border in order," said the
commandant, Major Hunt, a slight, grey-haired man with a quiet and
reserved manner. "The Bhuttias are more afraid of a cross look from him
than of all our rifles and machine-guns. Have a drink, Wargrave? Yes?
And you, Burke? Hi, boy!"

A Gurkha servant with the ugly, cheery face of his race appeared and was
ordered to bring three whiskeys and sodas.

"Ranga's not a bad place if you can stand the loneliness," continued the
Major. "Are you fond of shooting."

"Yes, sir, awfully."

"Hooray! That's good," cried Burke. "Now we'll have someone to go down
to the jungle and shoot for the Mess. We want a change from tinned Army
rations and the tough ould hins that these benighted haythins call
chickens."

"Yes, you'll be a Godsend to us if you're a good shot, Wargrave," added
the Commandant. "We never get meat here unless someone shoots a stag or
a buck in the jungle; and for that we generally have to rely on Dermot.
But he is away such a lot, wandering along the frontier, keeping an eye
on the peace of the Border. Now we'll be able to look to you. We have
three transport elephants with the detachment, all steady to shoot
from."

Frank was delighted.

"I'd love to go into the jungle if you'd let me, sir."

"Yes, I'll be glad if you do. There's not much work for you here; and
this is a dull place for a youngster unless he's keen on sport. I'm not,
myself; and Burke's as blind as a bat. But you can always have an
elephant when they aren't wanted to bring up supplies from the railway."

The subaltern thanked him gratefully and inwardly decided that his new
commanding officer was a great improvement on Colonel Trevor.

"Now, Burke, I'm off to my bungalow. Show Wargrave his quarters," said
the Major rising. "See you at dinner."

Burke showed the subaltern his room, one of the four into which the Mess
was divided. Like the doctor's quarters, it was at one end of the
building, the centre apartment being the officers' anteroom and
dining-room. Frank found that his "boy," with the ready deftness of
Indian servants, had unpacked his trunks, hung up his clothes and stowed
his various be