And now, lads, it is nearly
two o'clock, and as there is early parade tomorrow, it is high time
for you to be all in your beds. What a blessing it would be if the
sun would forget to shine for a bit on this portion of the world,
and we could have an Arctic night of seven or eight months with a
full moon the whole time!"
A few minutes later the messroom was empty, the lights turned out,
and the servants wrapped up in their blankets had disposed themselves
for sleep in the veranda.
As soon as morning parade was over Major Hannay went back to his
bungalow, looked round to see that his bachelor quarters were as
bright and tidy as possible, then got into a light suit and went
down to the post house. A quarter of an hour later a cloud of dust
along the road betokened the approach of the Dak Gharry, and two
or three minutes later it dashed up at full gallop amid a loud and
continuous cracking of the driver's whip. The wiry little horses
were drawn up with a sudden jerk.
The Major opened the door. A little man sprang out and grasped him
by the hand.
"Glad to see you, Major--thoroughly glad to be back again. Here
is your niece; I deliver her safe and sound into your hands." And
between them they helped a girl to alight from the vehicle.
"I am heartily glad to see you, my dear," the Major said, as he
kissed her; "though I don't think I should have known you again."
"I should think not, uncle," the girl said. "In the first place, I
was a little girl in short frocks when I saw you last; and in the
second place, I am so covered with the dust that you can hardly see
what I am like.
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