Next day Ted Russell was removed on a doolie to the Dilkusha, and he took no further part in the fighting that ensued before the Mutiny was finally extinguished. Recovery was slow, and a couple of months elapsed before he was able to walk even a short distance without fatigue. But no permanent injury had been caused by the blow, and by the end of July he could get about as usual, both on foot and on horseback; and on the day that he reported himself as fit for duty, he received the intimation that both he and his chum Paterson had been officially gazetted as lieutenants in the corps known as Boldre's Irregular Horse. CHAPTER XXIX Jim Disposed Of That dignity had hardly been attained when an interesting ceremony, in which Ted played but a subordinate part, took place in Simla. Major Russell and Ethel Woodburn, finding how much they had to talk about, and how many thrilling experiences must be related, very sensibly came to the conclusion that their best course would be to marry with as little delay as possible. Colonel Woodburn's natural objections to such haste had first to be overcome, but having at length become reconciled to the idea of losing his daughter, he allowed the date to be fixed. Charlie and Ted were sent for, and at the latter's urgent request, Subadar Goria Tapa was invited to the wedding. The Sirmur Battalion's head-quarters were then, as now, situated at no great distance from Simla, so that neither Captain Dorricot nor the subadar found any difficulty in attending. Captain Spencer was another guest whom Ted was glad to meet again. Rapidly as he had returned from Kashmir on hearing the news of the outbreak, he had been too late to join his regiment and take part in the march to Delhi. John Lawrence had found employment for him with the Movable Column, and he had been badly wounded in the fighting that took place while Nicholson was in command. Three days before the wedding date Ted entered Simla and greeted his brother with a salute. Now that the dull days of exile and inaction had come to an end he was in the merriest of moods. "Come to report myself, sir," said he with a solemn face. "Hullo, Lieutenant Russell, V.C.!" was his brother's greeting as Jim looked up from a table strewn with papers. "Glad you're looking fit again. I'm blest if I know what you want here, but Ethel would have you. Nice nuisance you'll be, I know." The words of this truly fraternal greeting were belied by the hearty handgrip. Ted retorted in kind. "Well, that's brotherly love if you like," said he. "Wretched man! Here I've come, my heart swelling with sympathy and pity for you, and this is your return. I won't be sorry for you any longer, not one bit. Serves you jolly well right. Hope you forget the ring, and gash yourself whilst shaving, and that you're late, and that you get stuck in the service, and that your collar comes undone, and your tie crawls round your neck."