But the corps, though not particularly British, was neither French nor Japanese and was very glad of the rest while the General talked.  And Colonel Dearman, instead of falling on his sword, fell on General Murger (in spirit) and swore to be revenged tenfold.

He would have his own back, cost what it might, or his name was not Dearman—­and he was going Home on leave immediately after the Volunteer Annual Camp of Exercise, just before General Murger retired....

“I shall inspect your corps in camp,” General Murger had said, “and the question of its disbandment may wait until I have done so.”

Disbandment!  The question of the disbandment of the fine and far-famed Fusiliers of Gungapur could wait till then, could it?  Well and good!  Ha! and likewise Ho!

On Captain John Robin Ross-Ellison’s return from leave, Colonel Dearman told that officer of General Murger’s twofold insult—­to Colonel Dearman’s wife and to Colonel Dearman’s Corps.  On hearing of the first, Captain Ross-Ellison showed his teeth in a wolfish and ugly manner, and, on hearing of the second, propounded a scheme of vengeance that made Colonel Dearman grin and then burst into a roar of laughter.  He bade Captain Ross-Ellison dine with him and elaborate details of the scheme.

* * * * *

To rumours of General Murger’s failing health and growing alcoholism Colonel Dearman listened with interest—­nay, satisfaction.  Stories of seizures, strokes and “goes” of delirium tremens met with no rebuke nor contradiction from him—­and an air of leisured ease and unanxious peacefulness pervaded the Gungapur Fusiliers.  If any member had thought that the sad performance of the fatal Saturday night and the winged words of General Murger were to be the prelude to period of fierce activity and frantic preparation, he was mistaken.  It was almost as though Colonel Dearman believed that General Murger would not live to carry out his threat.

The corps paraded week by week, fell in, marched round the ground and fell out again.  There was no change of routine, no increase of work, no stress, no strain.

All was peace, the corps was happy, and in the fullness of time (and the absence of the Adjutant) it went to Annual Camp of Exercise a few miles from Gungapur.  And there the activities of Captain John Robin Ross-Ellison and a large band of chosen men were peculiar.  While the remainder, with whom went Colonel Dearman, the officers, and the permanent staff, marched about in the usual manner and enjoyed the picnic, these others appeared to be privately and secretly rehearsing a more specialized part—­to the mystification and wonder of the said remainder.  Even on the great day, the day of the Annual Inspection, this division was maintained and the “remainder” were marched off to the other side of the wood adjacent to the Camp, some couple of hours before the expected arrival of the General, who would come out by train.