"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.