"Where is she?" he asked at length. "I can't see her." "Whom do you mean, sir?" asked Ted in bewilderment. "Why, your nurse, of course; she'll be looking for you everywhere." Our ensign's face flushed, and his temper rose at the insult. He turned to the Gurkha _naik_[17]. [17] Corporal. "Karbir, cut that man loose!" The little man promptly drew his kukri and cut the thongs. One of the Panjabis stepped forward and laid his hand on the naik to prevent him. Karbir turned on him like a tiger, with kukri uplifted, and the Punjabi jumped back. The major could no longer restrain his anger. He stepped up to Ted and struck him across the mouth with clenched fist, loosening a couple of teeth and felling the lad to the ground. Quick as thought Karbir dashed at the Englishman, but Ted, from the ground, shrieked out just in time: "Back, Karbir, you must not touch him!" and the little man reluctantly obeyed. Ted rose, now as white as he had before been red. The major laughed. "Consider yourself fortunate, young man, if I take no further notice of your insolence. Do you know that you have been guilty of mutiny--rank mutiny--and that I could have you dismissed from the service? Now, you may go, and explain the loss of your teeth as you best please. No--stay! I've not done with you yet. I'll teach you the difference in our rank. Order that corporal of yours to tie up that beast again, and then command each of your men to give him half a dozen strokes." Ensign Edward Russell cared a deal for his commission, and had no wish to be broken for disobedience, but this order he would not obey. His eyes gleamed as he scornfully cried: "You great detestable brute! Break me if you can! I'd rather lose my commission as an officer than forget my duty as a gentleman!" "Did you hear my command?" the major repeated. Ted was silent. He glanced around, and beheld a tall, bearded man, whom he had never seen before--a man with stern and forbidding look, in untidy civilian attire. The major's glance followed, and an expression of annoyance came into his face as he noticed the stranger. "Well, my good fellow, what do you want here?" he exclaimed. "I? Oh, I'm just looking round." "Oh! Then you'd better get back to whatever your business may be." The man was silent for a moment. "Won't that lad obey you?" he asked presently. "No, that I shall not," Ted asserted firmly, though feeling very miserable. "What right have you, lad," continued the stranger sternly, "to question your superior officer's commands? Your business is to obey." "And obey he will," the major declared with an oath, "or I'll know the reason why!" "That's right, sir," agreed the tall man. "Always insist on obedience from your juniors." Ted was becoming nervous and feeling very lonely. Though assured he was in the right, the boy could not but feel unhappy. The batteries of the Mori Bastion once more commenced their horrible work. Round-shot and grape whistled overhead.