He was looking with absorbed interest into
Sunni's eyes. He came out of his instant of abstraction with a
start, while Jones went on with respectful volubility.
'Beggin' pardon, sir, Peters says as 'ow 'e were all struck of a
heap, sir, at 'earin' the young 'un call out in English, sir, an'
bein' so light complected fer a native, sir, an' even lighter in
that light, Peters didn't rightly know wot 'e might be firin' at,
sir. Peters do be a bit superstitious.'
'Peters took him then, I suppose?' The Colonel smiled ironically.
'Beggin' YOUR pardon, sir, it was rather 'im as took Peters. 'E
walked strite up to 'im, an' "Ware is the burra[1] sahib?" says 'e.
Peters sends 'im into the guard tent to me as 'e passed on his
beat, and pris'ner says "YOU ain't the burra sahib," says he. Then
I says to pris'ner, "You bito[2] an' give an account of yerself,"
says I. Says 'e quite 'aughty like, "I'll account fer myself to
the burra sahib," an' wouldn't take no chaff. But 'e bitoes, an'
curls 'isself up in the sand, an' goes sound asleep in no time--an'
'ere 'e is, sir.'
[1] 'Principal.'
[2] 'Sit down on the ground.'
'Also,' corrected Sunni, 'he gave me some coffee. He is a good
man. Are you the burra sahib?' he asked the Colonel.
But Colonel Starr was not in a mood to answer questions regarding
his dignity.
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