He was very popular in the little village, and was quite at home with the chief's family.

The choicest bits of meat were always sent to him; and he was treated as an honoured guest, in every way.
"When you return to your people," the chief said, one day, "please tell them that, henceforth, we shall regard them as friends; and that, if they choose to march through our country, we will do all we can to aid them, by every means in our power." "I will certainly tell them so," Lisle replied, "and the kindness you have shown me will assuredly be rewarded." "I regret that we fought against you," the chief said, "but we were misled.

They will not take away our rifles from us, I hope; for without them we should be at the mercy of the other tribes.

These may give up many rifles, but they are sure to retain some and, though there are other villages of our clan, we should be an easy prey, if it were known that we were unarmed." "I think I can promise that, after your friendly conduct to me, you will not be required to make any payment, whatever; and indeed, for so small a matter as twenty rifles, your assurances, that these would never again be used against us, would be taken into consideration." When Lisle had been in the village about three months, one of the men came up to him and spoke in Punjabi.
"Why, how did you learn Punjabi ?" he said, in surprise; "and why did you not speak to me in it, before?
It would have saved me an immense deal of trouble, when I first came." "I am sorry," the man said, "but the thought that you could speak Punjabi did not enter my mind.

I thought that you were a young white officer who had just come out from England.