"Back, Karbir, you must not touch him!" and the little man reluctantly obeyed. Ted rose, now as white as he had before been red. The major laughed.
"Consider yourself fortunate, young man, if I take no further notice of your insolence. Do you know that you have been guilty of mutiny--rank mutiny--and that I could have you dismissed from the service? Now, you may go, and explain the loss of your teeth as you best please. No--stay! I've not done with you yet. I'll teach you the difference in our rank. Order that corporal of yours to tie up that beast again, and then command each of your men to give him half a dozen strokes."
Ensign Edward Russell cared a deal for his commission, and had no wish to be broken for disobedience, but this order he would not obey. His eyes gleamed as he scornfully cried:
"You great detestable brute! Break me if you can! I'd rather lose my commission as an officer than forget my duty as a gentleman!"
"Did you hear my command?" the major repeated.
Ted was silent. He glanced around, and beheld a tall, bearded man, whom he had never seen before--a man with stern and forbidding look, in untidy civilian attire. The major's glance followed, and an expression of annoyance came into his face as he noticed the stranger.
"Well, my good fellow, what do you want here?" he exclaimed.
"Oh! Then you'd better get back to whatever your business may be."
"Won't that lad obey you?" he asked presently.
"No, that I shall not," Ted asserted firmly, though feeling very miserable.
"What right have you, lad," continued the stranger sternly, "to question your superior officer's commands? Your business is to obey."
"And obey he will," the major declared with an oath, "or I'll know the reason why!"
"That's right, sir," agreed the tall man. "Always insist on obedience from your juniors."
Ted was becoming nervous and feeling very lonely. Though assured he was in the right, the boy could not but feel unhappy.
The batteries of the Mori Bastion once more commenced their horrible work. Round-shot and grape whistled overhead.
"What does it matter to you, young man, whether you obey the command or not?" asked the tall man harshly. "That _bhisti_ will be flogged just the same; he won't benefit by your refusal."