im smiles, "and done
things," as Billy Bagshot said when it was all over.

But by consent of every man who fought under McNeill that day, the
biggest thing done among the Sikhs happened in the fiercest moment of
the rush on the Berkshire zeriba. Billy Bagshot told the story that
night, after the Lushai dandies had carried off the wounded and the
sands of the desert had taken in the dead.

"Tyke it or leave it, 'e 'ad the honours of the day," said Bagshot,
"'e and Janders--old Subadar Goordit Singh. It myde me sick to see them
Bengalesey, some of 'em 'ookin' it to Suakim, some of 'em retirin' on
the seraphim, which is another name for Berkshires. It ain't no sweet
levee a-tryin' to rally 'eathen 'ands to do their dooty. So we 'ad to
cover 'em back into the zeriba of the seraphim--which is our glorious
selves. A bloomin' 'asty puddin' was that tournamong, but it wasn't so
bloomin' 'asty that the Subadar and William Connor didn't finish what
they started for to do when the day was young."

"Did Janders stick the b'y?" asked Coolin, who had just come in from
Suakim with the Commissariat camels. "Shure, I hope to God he didn't!"
He was pale and wild of eye.

"Did a bloomin' sparrow give you 'is brains when you was changed at
birth? Stick William Connor--I believe you not! This is what 'appened,
me bloomin' sanitary. When I got back be'ind the 'eavenly parapet, there
was William Connor in a nice little slaughter-house of 'is own. 'E was
doin' of 'isself proud--too busy to talk. All at once 'e spies a flag
the Osnum Digners 'ad planted on the 'eavenly parapet. 'E opens 'is
mouth and gives one yell, and makes for that bit of cotton. 'E got
there, for 'e would not be denied. 'E got there an' 'e couldn't get
back. But 'e made a rush for it--"

"A divil he was on rushes," broke in Private Coolin, wiping his mouth
nervously.

"'E's the pride of 'is 'ome and the bloomin' brigade, bar one, which is
the Subadar Goordit Singh. For w'en the Subadar sees Connor in 'is
'ole, a cut across 'is jaw, doin' of 'is trick alone, away goes Subadar
Goordit Singh and two of 'is company be'ind 'im for to rescue. 'E cut
with 'is sword like a bloomin' picture. 'E didn't spare 'is strength,
and 'e didn't spare the Osnum Digners. An' 'e comeback, an' he brought
with him William Connor--that's all what come back."

"How long did William live?" asked Coolin. "He was a good frind to me
was Connor, a thrue frind he was to me. How long did the b'y li