"What does it matter to you, young man, whether you obey the command or not?" asked the tall man harshly. "That _bhisti_ will be flogged just the same; he won't benefit by your refusal."

"No, that he most certainly won't!" asserted the major with a repulsive laugh. "Nor will he thank you for your interference."

"I'm an officer, not a hangman," said Ted stoutly.

"Well, you will not be an officer long," declared the major.

The stranger had approached, and now stood by their side.

"If you won't obey him," he said in tones of authority, "you must obey me! I order you to place that man under arrest," pointing to the major.

"Do you hear me, boy?" as Ted hesitated in his bewilderment.

The major swore furiously. "Who on earth may you be? What do you mean by this impertinence, you drunken civilian?"

The tall man took not the slightest notice. He looked at the boy with stern set face, and there was something in his look that enforced obedience. Still doubtful, but unable to resist the tone of authority, Ensign Russell stepped towards the bully, saying:

"You must consider yourself under arrest, sir."

Naik Karbir understood some English, and was attentively following the course of events. He whispered to his men, and a couple at once placed themselves, with bayonets fixed, on either side of the Englishman. The prisoner foamed at the mouth.

"What do you mean by this outrage, you young whipper-snapper? Take your men away! You'll repent this, you impertinent hound!"

Our hero looked towards the stranger, who fixed his eyes on the boy, but took no further notice. Then the major appealed to his men.

"My lads, drive these Gurkhas away, and take that English cub prisoner.

Kill those little fiends if they resist!"

Nothing loth, ten men of the 15th Derajats sprang forward, and the Gurkhas closed round their officer. The stranger raised his hand imperiously.

"Stop, my children! Come back!" cried a shrill voice, that quavered with fear; and the Punjabis pulled up short and regarded the speaker with amazement as profound as that of Ted. His new ally was the native officer of the party, a grizzled Waziri from the Bannu district.

"It is an order, my children; we must obey," the old man continued to the wondering sepoys.

Their own subadar and chieftain on the side of the Gurkhas and of that infidel dog of a _bhisti_! What could it mean? But most astounded of all were the major and the ensign.

"What! Ahmed Khan!" exclaimed the bully. "Wilt thou suffer me to be insulted in this way?"

"What can I do, sahib? It is an order," the Waziri answered in troubled tones.

Then the stranger spoke again.

"Ensign, you are on duty here, and here you had better remain. I relieve you of the prisoner." Turning to the Waziri subadar he continued: "Ahmed Khan is thy name?"

The subadar fell on his knees. "It is thy servant's name, O Hakim[18]!"

[18] Lord.

"Ahmed Khan, I see that thou dost know me, and therefore thou wilt obey.

I charge thee to escort this officer--thine officer no longer, whose commands thou must not obey--to the tent of General Wilson, and there say who sent thee. Also, see that this _bhisti_ is carried gently to the hospital, and treat him well. It is my command."

The Waziri salaamed.

A shell whistled overhead and burst some way in front. A second quickly followed, and splinters flew around.

"This is becoming warm, youngster," remarked the tall man, smiling.

"Ahmed Khan, begone quickly!"

The subadar whispered to his men, who thereupon glanced hurriedly, with awe-stricken eyes, at the bearded Englishman, placed two on each side of the prisoner, with bayonets fixed, and gave the word to march. The escort moved rapidly away, the major too dazed and cowed to attempt resistance.

The stranger advanced and placed a hand on Ted's shoulder. His face was no longer stern and forbidding; it was the face of a great and good man.

"My lad," he said kindly, "let this be the last time you disobey your senior officer. On this occasion you were right No gentleman, no Christian, could have obeyed his brutal order. But such a case rarely happens, and you must beware lest you take too much upon yourself."

Ted bowed his head. He knew already that he was in the presence of the greatest and noblest man he had ever seen.

The stranger continued:

"I see you are with the Sirmur Battalion. I have heard of their glorious deeds."

Ted, full of the subject, and more at his ease now, poured forth for five minutes an account of the valour displayed by Rifles, Guides, and Gurkhas, then stopped, ashamed at having spoken so much. But, moved thereto by the kind expression of interest in the man's face, he added:

"When are we to make the assault, sir?"

The stranger's countenance lighted up.

"It will not be very long now, lad; the time is at hand. Well, I have much to do; good-bye, ensign!"

The man held out his hand, adding, "Remain a true, God-fearing gentleman, of whom your country may be proud, as it is not of that man who has just left us."

"Good-bye, sir!---- But would you tell me your name?"

"I am Brigadier Nicholson," was the simple reply.

Ted's heart glowed with pride and pleasure. He had shaken hands with this famous man; he had actually enjoyed ten minutes' private talk with him--a thing half the officers in the camp would have given much for.

The name of the young general was on everyone's lips. Over the heads of his seniors in rank John Nicholson had been given the command of the Punjab Movable Column, and wherever that column had marched victory had crowned its arms, no matter what the odds. Along the frontier of the Indus, amidst the wild robber clans of Bannu, he was worshipped as a deity; and Ted now understood what had been incomprehensible before, namely, the strange behaviour of the subadar, and the sudden awe that had fallen upon the Pathans as soon as Ahmed Khan had whispered the magic words "Jan Nikkulseyn".

CHAPTER XXI

"Wombwell's Menagerie"

On his return in the early morning of the following day, Ted related his adventures to brother and cousin, and told of his interview with the hero of the Punjab.

"Yes," replied Jim, "Nicholson has been here inspecting our defences and examining our men. He's left his column behind and galloped on to confer with our general. Lucky for you, young 'un, that he happened to be present. But, then, you are such a lucky beggar!"

"I wonder what they'll do to your friend the major?" observed Charlie, whose splendid constitution was doing wonders for him.