I certainly should not, myself, have dreamed of taking a civilian with me on such an expedition." Lisle nodded.
"The colonel did not give me leave, sir.

With the aid of one of the native officers, with whom my father was a favourite, I obtained a native uniform; and went through the campaign as a private." The officers all looked upon him with astonishment.
"Do you mean to say that you cooked with them, fought with them, and lived with them, as one of themselves ?" "That was so, sir; and it was only at the last fight that the truth came out, for then one of the officers heard me make a remark to myself, in English.

Fortunately, the native officers gave a very good account of my conduct.

I was one of a small party that descended a cliff with ropes, and did a good deal towards driving the Chitralis out of their position." "But how was it that you were not recognized by the soldiers ?" "I speak the language as well as I speak my own," Lisle said quietly.

"Having lived with the regiment all my life, I learned to speak it like a native." "Well," the colonel said, "it was a plucky thing for you to do.