"Tell me."
"Ah!" said the Colonel playfully, "that--as you so often and so
amusingly say--is 'Another Story'! Yet I would have overlooked the
theft of the opals if they had not substituted two of the Queen's
regimental buttons for the eyes of the god. This, while it did not
deceive the ignorant priests, had a deep political and racial
significance. You are aware, of course, that the great mutiny was
occasioned by the issue of cartridges to the native troops greased
with hog's fat--forbidden by their religion."
"But these three men could themselves alone quell a mutiny," I
replied.
The Colonel grasped my hand warmly. "Thank you. So they could. I
never thought of that." He looked relieved. For all that, he
presently passed his hand over his forehead and nervously chewed
his cheroot.
"There is something else," I said.
"You are right. There is. It is a secret. Promise me it shall go
no further--than the Press? Nay, swear that you will KEEP it for
the Press!"
"I promise."
"Thank you SO much. It is a matter of my own and Mulledwiney's.
The fact is, we have had a PERSONAL difficulty." He paused,
glanced around him, and continued in a low, agitated voice:
"Yesterday I came upon him as he was sitting leaning against the
barrack wall. In a spirit of playfulness--mere playfulness, I
assure you, sir--I poked him lightly in the shoulder with my stick,
saying 'Boo!' He turned--and I shall never forget the look he gave
me.
Pages:
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111