Colonel Starr told him it would be ready in half an
hour.
'Have they given you any breakfast?' he asked.
'No, thank you--not yet,' answered Sunni politely.
The Colonel wrote an order, and gave it to Thomas Jones. 'Be
smart,' he added.
Until Thomas Jones returned with some bread and bacon and a bowl of
milk, and until Sunni had eaten the bread and drunk the milk, the
Colonel looked at the boy as seldom as he could, and said only two
words. 'No bacon?' he asked.
Sunni flushed. 'If it is excusable,' said he, 'I do not eat of the
pig.'
At which Colonel Starr's face expressed curiosity, amusement, and
interest all at once; but he kept silence until Sunni had finished.
'Now,' said he pleasantly, 'listen, my small prisoner. I am sure
you have a great deal to tell me about yourself. Very good, I will
hear it. I should like to hear it. But not now--there is no time.
Since you have taken the trouble to escape from this place, you do
not want to go back again, I suppose?'
'I want to go to my own country--with you,' said Sunni. 'I can
march.'
The Colonel smiled. It was the smile of a brave man, and kindly.
His men knew it as well as they knew his sterner looks. Sunni
thought it a beautiful smile.
'You shall go,' he said, 'but we are not quite ready to start yet.
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