I could find out what the little chaps mean."

The explanation, as it seemed to him, came at the change of the moon,
when he received orders to hold himself in readiness to "allay any
possible excitement" among the Satpura Bhils, who were, to put it
mildly, uneasy because a paternal Government had sent up against them
a Mahratta State-educated vaccinator, with lancets, lymph, and
an officially registered calf. In the language of State, they had
"manifested a strong objection to all prophylactic measures," had
"forcibly detained the vaccinator," and "were on the point of neglecting
or evading their tribal obligations."

"That means they are in a blue funk--same as they were at census-time,"
said the Colonel; "and if we stampede them into the hills we'll never
catch 'em, in the first place, and, in the second, they'll whoop off
plundering till further orders. 'Wonder who the God-forsaken idiot is
who is trying to vaccinate a Bhil. I knew trouble was coming. One
good thing is that they'll only use local corps, and we can knock
up something we'll call a campaign, and let them down easy. Fancy us
potting our best beaters because they don't want to be vaccinated!
They're only crazy with fear."

"Don't you think, sir," said Chinn, the next day, "that perhaps you
could give me a fortnight's shooting-leave?"

"Desertion in the face of the enemy, by Jove!" The Colonel laughed. "I
might, but I'd have to antedate it a little, because we're warned for
service, as you might say. However, we'll assume that you applied for
leave three days ago, and are now well on your way south."

"I'd like to take Bukta with me."

"Of course, yes. I think that will be the best plan. You've some kind of
hereditary influence with the little chaps, and they may listen to you
when a glimpse of our uniforms would drive them wild. You've never been
in that part of the world before, have you? Take care they don't send
you to your family vault in your youth and innocence. I believe you'll
be all right if you can get 'em to listen to you."

"I think so, sir; but if--if they should accidentally put an--make asses
of 'emselves--they might, you know--I hope you'll represent that they
were only frightened. There isn't an ounce of real vice in 'em, and
I should never forgive myself if any one of--of my name got them into
trouble."

The Colonel nodded, but said nothing.

Chinn and Bukta departed at once. Bukta did not say that, ever since the
official va