human
Old boy, said Charteris with emphasis, after reading the letter once more,
gpt
If we succeed, Gerrard reminded him.
human
If not, we drag down James Antony as well as ourselves.
gpt
The Colonel won't be in a forgiving mood, agreed Charteris.
human
Strikes me, Hal, that but for this latest illness of his we should find ourselves in the wrong box even now.
gpt
If he will only let us catch Sher Singh, he can try him as much as he likes when we've got him, said Gerrard.
human
We give no guarantees, but we take him alive if we can. That ought to meet Sir Edmund's wishes.
gpt
Talking of taking Sher Singh alive is just a little bit like selling the bear's skin before you've killed him, ain't it? Any one viewing our present situation impartially would say we were more likely to be taken alive ourselves--and in that case I fear we shouldn't long remain so.
human
We can't very well stay as we are,
gpt
True, O most sapient Hal, and we can hardly expect Chand Singh to attack us unprovoked. He knows too well that his game is to stay quiet in the plain there and wait for us to come down, like Colonel Carter's 'possum. Therefore we must make the plain uncomfortable--not too hot to hold him, for that we can't do, but simply rather warm. I suggest that you take two of your guns to-night round by that nullah on the left, and tickle him up a bit in the morning. It won't be a particularly quiet corner for you, but you can post two other guns in support, and we'll back you up. If Chand Singh retreats again we'll follow him, if he attacks we've got him.
human
Quite so. If he don't see how ill-mannered it is to block the road in this way to two gentlemen in a hurry, he must be politely removed. But listen, Bob! It sounds almost as if---- And yet they can't possibly be attacking.
gpt
Charteris, do you know that Chand Singh is advancing?
human
Advancing? He must be mad.
gpt
Advancing in line, with flags and music. They say Sher Singh is there too, on an elephant.
human
Then he is delivered into our hands,