He crept out of the tower after nightfall with his water-skins, crawled down between the sangars--and I can tell you the hill-side was thick with them--to the brink of the Swat river below there, filled his skins, and returned with them." "That man, too, earned the Victoria Cross," said Shere Ali.
"Yes," said the Doctor, "no doubt, no doubt." Something of flurry was again audible in his voice, and this time Shere Ali noticed it.
"Earned--but did not get it ?" he went on slowly; and turning to the Doctor he waited quietly for an answer.

The answer was given reluctantly, after a pause.
"Well! That is so." "Why ?" The question was uttered sharply, close upon the words which had preceded it.

The Doctor looked upon the ground, shifted his feet, and looked up again.

He was a young man, and inexperienced.

The question was repeated.
"Why ?" The Doctor's confusion increased.