“I’m pretty much alive, sir, thank you!”

“D’you realize that you made the taking of Jailpore possible?  That but for you we’d have been trying still to storm the walls without artillery?”

“I had the chance, sir, and I only did what any other man would ha’ done under like circumstances.”

“Go and tell that to the Horse Marines—­or, rather, tell it to Colonel Kendrick!  Go and report to him at once.  Possibly he’ll see it through your eyes!”

So Brown marched off to report himself, and he found Colonel Kendrick nursing a badly wounded arm before a torn and mud-stained tent.

“Who are you?” said the colonel, as Brown saluted him.

“I’m Sergeant Brown, sir.”

“Not Bill Brown of the Rifles?”

“Yes, sir!”

“You lie!  He was blown up on the roof of the powder-magazine!  I suppose every man who’s gone mad from the heat will be saying that he’s Brown!”

“I’m Brown, sir!  I had written orders from General Baines to enter Jailpore and rescue three women and a child.”

“Where are your orders?”

“Lost ’em, sir, in the explosion.”

“For a madman, you’re a circumstantial liar!  What happened to the women?”

The colonel sat back, and smothered an exclamation of agony as the nerves in his injured arm tortured him afresh.  He had asked a question which should settle once and for all this man’s pretentions, and he waited for the answer with an air of certainty.  It was on his lips to call the guard to take the lunatic away.

“Juggut Khan, the Rajput, took them, with nine of my men, and brought them in to your camp last night, sir.  I naturally haven’t seen them since.”

“Will the women know you?”

“One of them will, sir.”

“Which one?”

“Jane Emmett, sir.”

“Well, we’ll see!”

The colonel called an orderly, and sent the orderly running for Jane Emmett.  A minute later two strong arms were thrown round Bill Brown from behind, and he was all but carried off his feet.

“Oh, Bill—­Bill—­Bill!  I knew you’d be all right!  Turn round, Bill!  Look at me!”

She was clinging to him in such a manner that he could not turn, but he managed to pry her hands loose, and to draw her round in front of him.

“I knew, Bill!  I felt sure you’d come!  And I recognized your voice the minute that the trapdoor opened and I heard it!  I did, Bill!  I knew you in a minute!  I didn’t worry then!  I knew you wouldn’t come and talk to me as long as there was any duty to be done.  I just waited!  They said you were killed in the explosion, but I knew you weren’t!  I knew it!  I did!  I knew it!”

“Face me, please!” said Colonel Kendrick.  “Now, Jane Emmett, is that man Sergeant William Brown, of the Rifles?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Is he the man who entered Jailpore with nine men and a Rajput, and came to your assistance?”