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Here Ortheris, slowly, with immense pride–“‘E sez, ‘You har my noble preservers,’ sez ‘e. ‘You har a honor to the British Harmy,’ sez ‘e. With that e’ describes the hawful band of dacoits wot set on ‘im. There was about forty of ’em an’ ‘e was hoverpowered by numbers, so ‘e was; but ‘e never lorst ‘is presence of mind, so ‘e didn’t. ‘E guv the hekka-driver five rupees for ‘is noble assistance, an’ ‘e said ‘e would see to us after ‘e ‘ad spoken to the Kernul. For we was a honor to the Regiment, we was.”

“An’ we three,” said Mulvaney, with a seraphic smile, “have dhrawn the par-ti-cu-lar attinshin av Bobs Bahadur more than wanst. But he’s a rale good little man is Bobs. Go on, Orth’ris, my son.”

“Then we leaves ‘im at the Kernul’s ‘ouse, werry sick, an’ we cuts hover to B Comp’ny barrick an’ we sez we ‘ave saved Benira from a bloody doom, an’ the chances was agin there bein’ p’raid on Thursday. About ten minutes later come three envelicks, one for each of us. S’elp me Bob, if the old bloke ‘adn’t guv us a fiver apiece–sixty-four rupees in the bazar! On Thursday ‘e was in ‘orspital recoverin’ from ‘is sanguinary encounter with a gang of Pathans, an’ B Comp’ny was drinkin’ ’emselves into Clink by squads. So there never was no Thursday p’raid. But the Kernal, when ‘e ‘eard of our galliant conduct, ‘e sez, ‘Hi know there’s been some devilry somewheres,’ sez ‘e, ‘but I can’t bring it ‘ome to you three.'”

“An’ my privit imprisshin is,” said Mulvaney, getting off the bar and turning his glass upside down, “that, av they had known they wudn’t have brought ut home. ‘Tis flyin’ in the face, firstly av Nature, secon’ av the Rig’lations, an’ third the will av Terence Mulvaney, to hold p’rades av Thursdays.”

“Good, ma son!” said Learoyd; “but, young mon, what’s t’ notebook for?”

“‘Let be,” said Mulvaney; “this time next month we’re in the Sherapis. ‘Tis immortial fame the gentleman’s goin’ to give us. But kape it dhark till we’re out av the range av me little frind Bobs Bahadur.”

And I have obeyed Mulvaney’s order.