d
yourself. You've been badly knocked about, and you need careful seeing
to at once."

"Won't you leave me out of the programme, sir? You know I'm hard as
nails; I'm sure I could manage to hang on to the saddle, and be fit
for light duty in a few days' time. Give me the chance, anyway. I'll
do my level best."

"Never knew you do anything else," Buchanan answered gruffly.

Then there was a short silence. Hard as he was, the man rebelled
against the thing he had to say; and Desmond's unconquerable spirit
put him in no better humour for his task.

"My dear fellow," he began, "I'm no hand at beating about the bush; I
can only tell you straight that for the present you must give up all
hope of getting back to duty, light or otherwise. Mackay is not
satisfied about that wound in your face. The slug went too close to
the eye, and may possibly--have injured the nerve."

Desmond started and clenched his hand.

"Good God, Colonel!" he broke out hoarsely. "D'you mean--blindness?"

The ring of open fear in a brave man's voice is not a pleasant thing
to hear. Buchanan felt he had been too blunt, and regretted not having
allowed Mackay to speak.

"Don't jump to hasty conclusions, man," he said quickly. "We have to
recognise the possibility in order to prevent it,--that's all. Mackay
returns with you. He'll get a second opinion, if necessary; and we've
signalled the news to Wyndham in full. All you've got to do now is to
knock under like a man, and give your eyes every possible chance; even
if it means lying in the dark for a week or two; you understand?"

"Yes--I understand."

There was bitterness in the studied resignation of his tone.

Colonel Buchanan put out his hand and kept firm hold of Desmond's arm
while he spoke.

"You'll be reasonable then, and--obey orders? You ought to find the
coast clear going back and have no trouble. Young Spence commands the
party, and Rajinder Singh takes thirty of your men. The old chap
begged for permission to accompany you. See you again in a fortnight,
if not sooner. Keep up a good heart; and take every possible
precaution, for your own sake and--for the sake of the Regiment."

The final injunctions, jerked out brusquely, were in the nature of an
achievement for this man of few words; and Desmond knew it. He wrung
the iron-hard hand that held his own with all the force still left in
him; and Colonel Buchanan returned to his waiting charger.

That afternoon, under a brilliant sk