CHAPTER 5McNab brought Brinklow to Sir Angus’s tent, and at the same time Jim Lockran and Agatha approached from the other side. Greetings were exchanged, and they all sat down around the table. The hoarse voice of the water filled the air. Brinklow was equal to the situation. The sergeant’s position in the force was somewhat anomalous, for while he was in his way a popular hero, he was only a non-commissioned officer. He had refused the offer of an inspectorship. He never forgot the respect due to a gentleman like Sir Angus, but at the same time there was a quizzical gleam in his eye that no Lieutenant-Governor could quench. Brink would have been perfectly at his ease in Buckingham Palace itself.
Sir Angus offered him a cigar. “Smoke up, sergeant,” he said; “we are not on parade now.”
B
