"I never meant to attack that nullah or rescue the fellows in it," the boy replied, now speaking eagerly and hurriedly. "I never knew there was such a place. I had lost a lot of my men, sir, and as the enemy were being reinforced in front, I ordered the men to double back to where I thought our supports were. The ditch was hidden from us by an embankment, and we stumbled into the midst of the rebels, and if it hadn't been that the Gurkhas are so sharp and never get flurried, we'd all have been cut up, sir. As it happened, the pandies were more surprised than we were, and they thought, I suppose, that we were in force, and so they cut away. And everyone thought I had done it on purpose, and they didn't give me a chance to explain. And then, as everyone has been congratulating me, and I hadn't denied it at once, I found it still harder to explain afterwards. And--well, sir, after what you and General Nicholson said just now, I couldn't stand it any longer. And I'm very sorry, sir." General Wilson glanced at General Nicholson, who laughed The former laid his hand on Ted's shoulder. "Don't be alarmed, youngster," he said; "I think I see how it was. Of course I can't send in the recommendation now. You understand that, of course?" "Of course, sir." "Come here, Ensign Russell," said John Nicholson. Ted approached. "I like to shake hands with an honest man. Oblige me by taking my hand--I can't take yours very well." Gently and reverently Ted pressed the hero's hand, then silently turned and left the tent, lighter at heart than when he had entered it. Almost boisterously he greeted his brother, who had anxiously retraced his steps, and was now awaiting him. "I'm all right now, Jim!" he cried, and proceeded to relate the whole story, concluding: "You'll explain to Charlie and the others, won't you? I don't like to. There's a good fellow!" "I'm rather glad it's turned out this way, young 'un," said the elder. "I knew you were plucky enough before, now I know you're something better." "I say, Jim," Ted blurted out after a few moments' silence, "suppose Tynan's been done the same way?" "Done? What way?" asked the slower Jim. "I mean that perhaps someone began praising him for something he'd never done, and didn't give him a chance to put it right at once, and then he stuck to it for fear that people would blame him for not denying it straight off. If it has happened that way I'm sorry for him, for he'll be jolly miserable." "It's hardly likely," said Jim. * * * * * Outside the dying man's tent a few fierce tribesmen from Hazara and wild cut-throats from Bannu (in these two provinces Nicholson had been commissioner) had collected from the various Punjab regiments, and were loudly lamenting the supposed death of their idol. "Jan Nikkulseyn is dead! The great sahib is no more!" they wailed, as Ensign Russell appeared before them.