The meal over, the fugitive narrated his adventures since the outbreak of the mutiny until the moment of his rescue. When he came to the account of the explosion he hesitated, and finally said: "We decided to blow it up rather than allow it to fall into the hands of the rebels." Ted Russell had also used the word "we", but from what different motives! "You were senior officer?" questioned the captain. "Yes." "Good!" Hornby held out his hand. "I'm proud to shake hands with you. I heard a rumour yesterday that the Aurungpore arsenal had been blown up." Harry Tynan felt ready to sink into the ground with shame. His hand fell limp from the grasp, and he hastily resumed his story. "I can't make up my mind about Pir Baksh," he said. "He may have been only pretending to fall in with the views of the majority, but if so, he was a very good actor." "You've had a rough time, youngster, so just lie down and sleep as well as you can. There's my mattress, and I'll get another. Good-night! I'm going the rounds." The camp was astir soon after sunrise. Hornby asked how the ensign had slept, and explained that the two rescuers had informed him how they had tracked the party and followed them for nearly a mile, but had not been able to fathom their proceedings until they had seen the white skin. Pir Baksh was conducted before Captain Hornby to be examined with regard to his share in the mutiny. Before any questions could be asked, the traitor drew forth the documents signed by Tynan, and handed them to the Gurkha officer. "There, sahib, they will prove I am a true man. Tynan Sahib has reason, I admit, to doubt me, and I should have whispered my intentions to him as we ran away, had not my comrades kept close at hand all the time, being suspicious." Captain Hornby read the papers, and regarded the ensign with a puzzled expression. "This is your signature?" he asked; and Tynan, who was nervously toying with his sword-hilt, stammered an admission of the fact. "H'm! It certainly seems that the fellow's story is true, though I don't like his looks. However, if he tried to save your lives and to restrain his comrades, it looks as if he really meant to be loyal, does it not?" Tynan agreed that it did, and as he recollected how the treacherous subadar, now bowing and salaaming with an ingratiating smile, had shot down his colonel and helped to murder Lowthian, he cursed the lies he had signed. Yet he had not the moral courage to disavow them, and so lay himself open to the charge of cowardice. "And of course," went on the captain, "of course he treated you badly in the house in order to allay the suspicions of his men, who might otherwise have murdered you. It was rough on you, but probably for the best." Tynan acquiesced with a nod, and felt very uncomfortable. Hornby read for a second time the note added by Pir Baksh, and said: