The Lives of a Bengal Lancer Page #4

Come on, speed it up, Stone,

or we'll all be

doing stable duty.

I can take care of myself.

Come along, Casanova,

these will make

a new man of you.

Forgot something.

I thought you

might get lonesome.

Get yourself a cobra.

The welcoming committee

from the Emir.

That's his vizier,

bringing gifts

for the ColoneI

from his old paI.

His Highness,

Othman Ali Bahadur,

Emir of Gopal,

bids welcome to his friends

and allies of the Raj.

Welcome, huzoor,

thrice welcome,

in the name of Allah.

Convey my thanks

to your master,

ahem, my old friend.

Uh, m-may he live

a thousand years.

His Highness orders me

to express his wish, huzoor,

that you may live long enough

to be present at his funeraI.

Uh, oh, yes, quite so.

Quite so.

He went the old man

one better that time.

Wicked looking birds,

aren't they?

Hunting falcons, Forsythe.

Swiftest thing in the air.

Full of fight

and trained to kill,

like the rest of these

mangy-looking fellows.

A long-legged man

is always full of wind.

Barrett.

His Highness

invites you, huzoor,

and all the officer sahibs,

to an entertainment

in your honor,

tonight at the palace.

I accept on their

behalf with pleasure.

All my thanks

to His Highness.

His Highness awaits you.

Salaam, Colonel Sahib.

Salaam, Your Highness.

May I present the officers of the 41st

Bengal Lancers, Your Highness?

My poor hovel is yours,

sahiban.

Everything here

is for your pleasure.

Please enjoy yourselves.

Now, this is what

army life should be.

Like the Arabian Nights,

isn't it?

Anything like this

in Canada, Mac?

Quite a teepee, huh?

I sent to London

for that, and you-

My two good friends.

My guest, CoI. Stone.

My guest, Mohammed Khan.

Very glad to

know you Khan sahib.

At last, CoI. Stone.

We almost met once before,

did we not, you and I?

Yes, I-I believe we did.

Just missed you, didn't I?

A blind man wants

nothing except his eyes.

That's an Afghan proverb.

And now,

if you will forgive me,

I must leave

my two good friends together.

I must go to see

my other guests.

Oh, yes,

Your Highness.

No doubt that Khan and I

will find much to talk about.

Highness.

You were not expected

with your lancers.

A hasty trip, wasn't it?

In search of, uh...

Pigs.

There's another proverb:

The little jackal barks,

but the caravan passes.

Won't you sit down,

CoI. Stone?

Yes.

I say, look.

I saw her first.

No, no, no,

no, no, no, Mac.

A direct frontal attack?

That's the wrong tactics.

This requires finesse.

I'll toss you.

The loser stays clear.

Right you are.

Heads.

Now watch closely.

Well, uh, go ahead.

Uh, I'm watching you closely.

Gentlemen.

Uh, two more of my officers

I should like you to meet.

Mr. McGregor, Mr. Forsythe.

This is our friend

and neighbor, Mohammed Khan.

A great pleasure,

gentlemen.

Let me give you some

advice, Mr. Forsythe.

Never make fun of

military Intelligence.

Thank you very much.

And now-

Uh, wait a minute.

That girI and...

I've got some things

to find out.

He plans to leave

tomorrow morning.

I knew he would

as soon as we got here.

We must keep him

here if possible.

I was right.

She came here

with Mohammed Khan.

Aha, so that's how it is.

Diplomatic complications

rear their heads, huh?

Looks like it.

We'd better find them.

Mac, I've been thinking.

I'm very fond

of you, you know.

I have a feeling this is

going to cost me something.

Oh, no, Mac.

Now, you've done

enough for him, really.

This time, I'll take

on the rescue work.

Well, that

touches me deeply,

but how many times have you

told me he was my job?

Uh, we'll both

do it, Mac. Huh?

Mr. Stone,

I'm sorry, but uh,

but Maj. Hamilton

wants to see you.

Very important,

he said.

I beg your pardon. I'll be

back in just a moment.

Surely.

No manners at all,

this younger generation.

Completely forgot

the introductions, didn't he?

My name's Forsythe.

How do you do?

That's McGregor.

Scotch, you know.

Very queer race.

Did you send for me, Major?

No.

I'm sorry.

I made that same mistake

once before.

How are your pigs

this year, Highness?

Pigs?

My land is overrun

with unclean beasts.

Oh, that means

good sport tomorrow.

You'll join us,

Khan sahib, of course?

Oh, I'm sorry,

I'm leaving in the morning.

But if you wish real sport,

you must come to my country.

An invitation?

My land and all it contains

is at your disposaI.

Yes, yes, sahib.

Why, he gives his word,

the word of a prince.

I swear it

upon the Koran.

An oath?

Oh, I'll put it

to the test.

He has you.

What do you

demand of him, sahib?

Postpone your departure.

Join us at

pig-sticking tomorrow.

I- I-I can't.

My affairs demand that-

You must.

You give your oath

upon the Koran.

I am honored, Bahadur.

Tomorrow,

Pig-sticking.

I don't believe

in explaining orders,

but this time

it's necessary.

Mohammed Khan's men

are in these hills,

to seize that

ammunition convoy

before it reaches

our friend, the Emir.

There's no need to tell you

how serious one ill-advised

or careless move

by any of you

might be in this situation.

Oh, of course, we're here

for sport and maneuvers.

And as some of you who are

new to India may not know,

a wounded pig

is a dangerous animal,

so a word of advice

to, uh, the younger officers.

If you wound a pig

and he takes to cover,

do not dismount and follow.

Foolhardiness is not courage.

It's not good soldiering

and it's not good sport.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning.

Good morning.

We shall ride

together, sir?

It will be a pleasure.

You have the advantage

of me, in years.

The older the English fox,

the safer his brush.

Cunning comes with age,

CoI. Stone.

Hunted in the shires, I see.

And you on the border.

We're fairly matched.

But I prefer

your English sport to this.

You prefer hunting the fox?

Mr. Stone.

I'm worried about you.

Such a dangerous sport.

Nonsense. Why,

there's no risk at all.

Good luck.

Old Ramrod's spotted one.

Look at him ride.

He made a direct kill.

Look!

20 Rupees on the first spear.

Right.

" Oh, he flew through the air

with the greatest of ease "

Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.

Did you see old Ramrod

make that kill?

"A wounded pig is

a dangerous animaI."

What rot.

Pig hasn't a chance.

Think so?

Hey, look.

There's your chance to

find out how simple it is.

Stone!

Mr. McGregor!

Mr. McGregor!

You get back on your

horse and stay there.

Mr. Stone! Mr. Stone!

McGregor,

give me your tunic.

No one, you understand,

no one,

must know of this.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Stone, you've seen fit

to disregard my advice.

You will please be good

enough to leave the field.

Yes, sir.

I, uh, I-I should

thank you two.

Well, thank you,

gentlemen.

Now, uh, help me

on my horse.

And you, too,

disobeyed my orders.

I distinctly told

you not to dismount.

Lights out.

How do you

feel, sir?

I, oh, oh, quite

all right, thanks.

They'll be

over at once.

What?

Much better talk to them

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