‘But the man escaped and is now in the hospital here,’ said the Subadar-Major.  ‘The doctor says he will live in spite of all.’

’Not Rutton Singh’s fault.  Rutton Singh left him for dead.  Then Rutton Singh returned to the housetop, and the three brothers together, Attar Singh being dead, sent word by a lad to the police station for an army to be dispatched against them that they might die with honours.  But none came.  And yet Patiala State is not under English law and they should know virtue there when they see it!

’So, on the third day, Rutton Singh also made shinan, and the youngest of the brethren shot him also in the head, and he abandoned his body.

’Thus was all correct.  There was neither heat, nor haste, nor abuse in the matter from end to end.  There remained alive not one man or woman of their mother’s kin which had oppressed them.  Of the other villagers of Pishapur, who had taken no part in the persecutions, not one was slain.  Indeed, the villagers sent them food on the housetop for those three days while they waited for the police who would not dispatch that army.

’Listen again!  I know that Attar Singh and Rutton Singh omitted no ceremony of the purifications, and when all was done Baynes Sahib’s revolver was thrown down from the housetop, together with three rupees twelve annas; and order was given for its return by post.’

‘And what befell the two younger brethren who were not in the service?’ the Havildar-Major asked.

’Doubtless they too are dead, but since they were not in the Regiment their honour concerns themselves only.  So far as we were touched, see how correctly we came out of the matter!  I think the King should be told; for where could you match such a tale except among us Sikhs? Sri wah guru ji ki Khalsa!  Sri wah guru ji ki futteh!’ said the Regimental Chaplain.

‘Would three rupees twelve annas pay for the used cartridges?’ said the Havildar-Major.

’Attar Singh knew the just price.  All Baynes Sahib’s gear was in his charge.  They expended one tin box of fifty cartouches, lacking two which were returned.  As I said—­as I say—­the arrangement was made not with heat nor blasphemies as a Mussulman would have made it; not with cries nor caperings as an idolater would have made it; but conformably to the ritual and doctrine of the Sikhs.  Hear you! "Though hundreds of amusements are offered to a child it cannot live without milk.  If a man be divorced from his soul and his soul’s desire he certainly will not stop to play upon the road, but he will make haste with his pilgrimage.”  That is written.  I rejoice in my disciples.’

‘True!  True!  Correct!  Correct!’ said the Subadar-Major.  There was a long, easy silence.  One heard a water-wheel creaking somewhere and the nearer sound of meal being ground in a quern.

‘But he—­’ the Chaplain pointed a scornful chin at the Havildar-Major—­’he has been so long in England that—­’