‘More than at our great pilgrimages?’ the Regimental Chaplain demanded.

’Yes.  Those are only cities and districts coming out to pray.  This was the world walking in grief.  And now, hear you!  It is the King’s custom that four swords of Our Armies in Hind should stand always before the Presence in case of need.’

‘The King’s custom, our right,’ said the Subadar-Major curtly.

’Also our right.  These honoured ones are changed after certain months or years, that the honour may be fairly spread.  Now it chanced that when the old King—­the Queen’s son—­completed his days, the four that stood in the Presence were Goorkhas.  Neither Sikhs alas, nor Pathans, Rajputs, nor Jats.  Goorkhas, my father.’

‘Idolaters,’ said the Chaplain.

‘But soldiers; for I remember in the Tirah—­’ the Havildar-Major began.

‘But soldiers, for I remember fifteen campaigns.  Go on,’ said the Subadar-Major.

’And it was their honour and right to furnish one who should stand in the Presence by day and by night till It went out to burial.  There were no more than four all told—­four old men to furnish that guard.’

‘Old?  Old?  What talk is this of old men?’ said the Subadar-Major.

‘Nay.  My fault!  Your pardon!’ The Havildar-Major spread a deprecating hand.  ’They were strong, hot, valiant men, and the youngest was a lad of forty-five.’

‘That is better,’ the Subadar-Major laughed.

’But for all their strength and heat they could not eat strange food from the Sahibs’ hands.  There was no cooking place in the Temple; but a certain Colonel Forsyth Sahib, who had understanding, made arrangement whereby they should receive at least a little caste-clean parched grain; also cold rice maybe, and water which was pure.  Yet, at best, this was no more than a hen’s mouthful, snatched as each came off his guard.  They lived on grain and were thankful, as the saying is.

’One hour’s guard in every four was each man’s burden, for, as I have shown, they were but four all told; and the honour of Our Armies in Hind was on their heads.  The Sahibs could draw upon all the armies in England for the other watchers—­thousands upon thousands of fresh men—­if they needed; but these four were but four.

’The Sahibs drew upon the Granadeers for the other watchers.  Granadeers be very tall men under very tall bearskins, such as Fusilier regiments wear in cold weather.  Thus, when a Granadeer bowed his head but a very little over his stock, the bearskin sloped and showed as though he grieved exceedingly.  Now the Goorkhas wear flat, green caps—­’

‘I see, I see,’ said the Subadar-Major impatiently.

’They are bull-necked, too; and their stocks are hard, and when they bend deeply—­deeply—­to match the Granadeers—­they come nigh to choking themselves.  That was a handicap against them, when it came to the observance of ritual.