The Winds of the World

and he becomes part of it, in thought and word and deed. Distractions such as polo, pig-sticking, tiger-shooting are tolerable insofar as they steady his nerve and tr

magined before he came to them. There was not one black-bearded gentleman who couched a lance behind him but believed Colonel Kirby some sort of super-man; and, in r

the mess-cook spiced the curry so exactly to his taste that more than one cook-book claimed it to be a species apart and labeled it with his name. If he frowned, the troopers knew somebody had tried to flatter him; if he smiled

n. The waler mare-sixteen three and a half, with one white stocking and a blaze that could be seen from the sky-line-brought his big dog-cart thr

, just as he never failed to acknowledge the sentry's salute by raising his whip. It needed the obser

ntry, while he was yet

aw

! Be awak

dy for all contingencies. A civilian might not have recognized the difference, but Kirby's soldier servant awakened from his n

circumstances, or at an ordinary hour, would have been unnecessary. But for a while no orders came. The only sound in those extremely unmarried quarters was the stead

ward into a long chair, and the s

Major Ranjoor Singh sahib, and ask h

t pictures, pieces of furniture and trophies that proclaimed him unmarried. There was nothing whatever in his quarters to decoy him from his love. There were polo sticks in a corner where a w

ain, stiff at the salut

ha

his quarters? Then go and find

re before it was known that Ranjoor Singh was not in barracks. The servant retu

the adjutant, and the ser

Warrington, looking

at

n the morgue in charge of the police. 'Nother man who was with him appar

ttle black mustach

Singh is by any ch

at the scene of the murder, doing detective work on his own. I heard he'd driven away-and,

to find him!"

to have a wo

st grim call should come, the incarnation of efficiency, awake and very glad. A certain number of seconds af

e were announcing some good news that had a touch of humor in it. "By the look of 'em

don't know how near tha

ce was hard. Warrington glanced quickl

u m

said

t brok

N

goin' t

arranged. Our crowd are sparring for time, and the

ce of us-of Outram's Own bein' out of it?

by, and Warring

not too confidential

rin

t after I've had a wo

er go and help

if you

say, belly-to-the-earth, and the fact that the monsoon chose that instant to let pour another Noah'

at the club about the arrogance of all cav

al case in all Delhi, and had the nerve to invite me to set every constable in what he termed my parish on the one job. What did I say? Told him to call to-morrow, of c

nursing a long drink under the

opic that had interest for any one in clubdom, and it was not noticed whether Warrington

*

he himself had sent in search of Ranjoor Singh, rated him soundly in Punjabi for loafing on the way, and galloped on with the troop-horse la

?" asked

ll door down the passage, sahib, where there is no light. I

here the lamps gleamed deceptively in pools of running water. There seemed nobo

d trooper number one pass

it in if you can-but be quic

st surprise. In India, as in lands less "civilized," the cavalry are not allowed to usurp the functions of police, and the off

re is no answer from wi

that case, hurry and report. For instance"-he hesitated, trying to imagine something out of the unimaginable-"suppose the risaldar-major were to come out, then give

oper nodded

then, and keep as dr

e on!" he called

if he rode with despatches through a zone of rifle fire.

st as Warrington arrived, and arranged his w

, hurrying in and standing where the rain

little threadbare. Messengers, orderlies or servants always stood on that spo

d'ye

ton exp

d the po

hey wer

Hetherington, and have a talk with him, and get him

send two constables with it to-morrow

said

our own account we'll

altereth every wee

tweak to his tie and reaching out for his mess-jacket that the servant had laid on a chair, "ther

ve occurred to Warrington before; nor

into his skin, "under the circumstances-and taking into consideration certain private information that has reached me-if I were supposed

tly,

-what'

*

till by the colonel's outer door. A gruff question was answered gruffly, and a man's step sounded on the veranda. Then

proper place. Warrington, humming to himself, began to squeeze the rain out of his tunic to hide impatience. The soldier saluted, faced about and hurried to the waiti

said

r,

ar

under o

ly to be general. Be ready.'

't have sent

e ready written out and sent one to ever

l, s

e room, L

ing up his courage to edge

cing the mirror, with

nd native Indian troop

're ready to a shoe-s

or to guard the Bombay docks and watch the other fellows go. I'm going to the club. You'd better come with me. Hurry into dry c

ared; the noise of his going was as when a sudden windstorm slams all the doors at once. A momen

n he was done with it was unmistakable. And eight minutes aft

ur pist

said

mine along. You nev

for his life, and they shot out of the compound, down the line of useless cannon and out into the street, taking the corner as the honor of the regiment required. Then the two big side-

*

bazaar to find the crowd stir

an hour from now," said Kirb

is in all this talk about Ger

ummm!" sa

, sir!

ed them. But Kirby kept his eyes ahead, and the shadows continued to flash by them in a swi

he is

trooper jumped up behind to kneel on

him at all?"

ehind a shutter above there. It comes an

come out of

sah

gone

on

door to t

That is an old house, and it

try is information," said Warring

ooper, and the man began t

report to the club if anythin

he right and left in front of them; a constable at a street crossing blew his whistle frantically; once the horse slipped in a deep puddle,

! Glad you've com

ing,

nto the club together, leaving the adjutant wondering what to do. He decided to fo

first," said the ge

solutely

es

ntil the Navy's had a chance to clear the road. All that's known-yet-is that Belgium's invaded, and that every living man Jack who

in a voice that the general seemed to think

yet.

n, sir. Any

Good

night,

Warrington as he hurri

ce officer!"

nswered Warrington. "They're headed for po

d not have noticed that he needed it, but Warr

to get them to bring a dozen men and search, that

I find y

e way, we're a sure

e reason why I kept f

saldar-major looks

tial law's proclaimed at once, and I can think of an excuse to search the h

hrough streets that were growing more and yet more thronged instead of silent, they tore barrackward, missing men by a miracle every

din of hoarse excitement reached Kirby's ears, and in a moment more a khaki figure leaped out of a sha

ah

aid Kirby, though he d

re stopped entirely by the crowd, and Colonel Kirby sat motionless; for he had a nearly perfect view of a holocaust.

hails from the

is loud-oh,

death-the de

in death. (Oh

he North for l

e North for ga

re hard, and t

in the North!

fair-who lo

ys wide of the

he world, oh

NI'S