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They'd have mounted us on bus-horses if we hadn't brought our own; we'd have had to ring a bell to start and stop a squadron. Who wouldn't be light cavalry?" Kirby put the sealed letter in an inside pocket. "I'm going to sleep," said Brammle, yawning. "Night, sir!" "Night!" said Kirby; but Warrington stayed on.
It took ten minutes to find Warrington, since every job was his, and nearly every responsibility, until his colonel should take charge of a paraded, perfect regiment, and lead it away to its fate. He came at last, however, and on the run, and Brammle with him. "Orders changed!" said Kirby. "March at noon! Man'll be here this morning to take charge of officers' effects.
The aide-de-camp saluted, and a minute later the giant car spurned the gravel out from under its rear wheels as it started off to warn another regiment. "So we've got our route!" said Kirby. "And, thank God, we take our own horses!" said Brammle fervently. "Bet you a thousand the other end's Marseilles!" said Warrington. "We're in luck.
Brammle came in sniffing, and Kirby cursed him through tight lips with words that were no less fervent for lack of being heard. "Hallo! Burning love-letters? The whole mess is doin' the same thing. Haven't had time to burn mine yet was busy sorting things over when you called. Look here!" He opened the front of his mess-jacket and produced a little lace handkerchief, a glove and a powder-puff.
Kirby whipped his horse and took the drive that led to his quarters at a speed there was no overhauling. He wanted to be alone. But his senior major had forestalled him and was waiting by his outer door. "Oh, hallo, Brammle. Yes, come in." "Is it peace, Jehu?" asked Brammle. "War. We'll be the first to go. No, no route yet likely to get it any minute." "I'll bet, then.
Five minutes later Kirby sat at his private desk, while Brammle puffed at a cigar by the window. He handed the orders back to Brammle, and the major eyed the addition with subdued amazement. "What'll D Squadron say?" he asked. "Remains to be seen" said Kirby.
And, according to what Brammle had told him when they met near the colonel's quarters, it was very shortly after that that the squadron came out of its gloom. "What was the first message that the babu brought this evening?" he asked, still being very careful not to look into the sergeant's eyes. He spoke as comrade to comrade servant of the "Salt" to servant of the "Salt."
He went and stood near the window, and when Kirby had seen Brammle to the door, he joined him there. "What now, Warrington?" "Caught 'em grooming Ranjoor Singh's charger in the dark!" "Why?" "Said it was an order from Ranjoor Singh!" "I'm getting tired of this. I don't know what to make of it." "That isn't nearly the worst, sir. Listen to this!
He saw nothing except the road, until he took the last corner into barracks on one wheel, and drew up a minute later in front of the bachelor quarters that had sheltered him for the past four years. "Pack! Campaign kit! One trunk!" he ordered his servant. "Orderly!" An orderly ran in from outside. "Tell Major Brammle and Captain Warrington to come to me!"
"Then I'll get a move on!" he said, starting to hurry out. "Everything's ready, but " "Wait a minute!" commanded Kirby; and Warrington remained in the room after Brammle had left it. "You haven't said anything to anybody, of course, about that incident last night?" "No, sir." "Then she has!" Warrington whistled. "Are you sure she has?" "Quite. I've just had proof of it!"
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