I have been looking up the list of the deceased sepoys, and I find that a recruit of the same name died, two days before we marched.

In some way young Bullen, if it is really the boy, contrived to take the dead man's place and name.

This could have been very well done, without any of us knowing.

None of us were familiar with the dead man's appearance, and Gholam Singh, and some of the other native officers, must have arranged that he should take his place.

If this has been the case I shall, of course, be obliged to speak sharply to the risaldar major; but in reality I shall not be very angry with him, for he will certainly have done young Bullen a good turn." "I am sure it is Bullen," one of the officers said, "for when I came up suddenly behind him, today, I heard him whistling an English tune.
Of course, it may have been played by the band when we were in camp, but whistling is not a common Punjabi accomplishment, and I don't know that I ever heard native boys whistle before.