Through Three Campaigns | Page 7

service. All the men are delighted at going, and they will run
the same risk as I do."
"Well, sahib," the risaldar said, "I will do it. I would very much prefer
that you had never asked me, but I cannot say 'no' to you. I will think it
over; and tell you, tomorrow morning, what seems to me the best plan.
I don't see, at present, how you are to disappear and join the regiment."
"That is easy enough," Lisle said. "I am going to start tomorrow with
the sick convoy; but shall slip away from them, after I have gone a
short distance. Robah will meet me with my uniform and rifle; and I
shall come into the camp again, in uniform, after it is dark."
"You appear to have thought it all out," the officer said, "and if your
scheme can be carried out, there should be no difficulty, after the first
day or two. You are more likely to pass unnoticed, on a march, than
you would be if you were staying here. The men will have other things
to think about, and you will only have three men marching with you in
the column to ask questions. Indeed, there is very little talking on the
line of march.
"Well, I will think it over, and see you in the morning."
This was as good as consent, and Lisle was highly delighted. In the
morning, the risaldar called again.
"I have spoken," the risaldar said, "to the three officers of the company
to which the soldier Mutteh Ghar belonged; and they all agreed,
willingly, to help you to carry out your scheme, and think that there is
very little probability of the fact that you are a new recruit being

noticed. The general discipline of the regiment is in our hands. The
British officers direct, but we carry out their orders. As the man was
only on parade twice and, on neither of these occasions, came under
general inspection of the white officers, it is probable that they do not
know his face. It is certainly best that you should take Mutteh Ghar's
name, as the soldiers will see nothing strange in our placing a young
recruit in the ranks, after his cousin had died in the regiment. We are all
of opinion, therefore, that you can take your place without difficulty;
and that the chance of the change being detected by the British officers
is extremely slight. We think, however, that it will be next to
impossible for you always to keep up your character, and believe that
you will find it so hard to live under the same conditions as the others
that you yourself will tire of it."
"I can assure you that there is no fear of that," Lisle said earnestly. "I
want to take part in the expedition, and am quite prepared to share in
the habits and hardships of the men, whatever they may be. You know,
if I were discovered I should be sent off at once, even if a fight were
imminent. I think I can say that, when I undertake a thing, I will carry it
through.
"I cannot tell you how grateful I feel to you all, for aiding me to carry
out my wish. Will you kindly convey my thanks to the officers of the
company, and particularly urge upon them that they must show me no
favour, and pay no more attention to me than to the other men?
Anything of that sort would certainly give rise to comment and
suspicion."
"I have already told them that," the officer said, "and I think they
thoroughly understand how they must act.
"The sick party are to start tomorrow morning. How do you wish the
uniform of your supposed cousin to be sent to you?"
"If you hand it over to Robah, he will bring it out to me. The rifle, of
course, should be handed quietly to me when I return to camp. I cannot
march in with it. I shall not come in till after dark. Then the havildar
must take me to one of the sepoy tents, and mention to the men there

that I am Mutteh Ghar's cousin; and that, as a great favour, I am to be
allowed to accompany the regiment."
"Of course, you will take with you the usual underclothes to put on,
when you lay aside your uniform; and especially the loincloth, and light
linen jacket, which the men use in undress."
"I will see to all that, risaldar. I can assure you that, so far from finding
it a trouble to act as a native, I shall really enjoy it; and shall make very
light of any hardships that I may have to undergo. When it comes to
fighting