"Hulloa, Archer!" croaked the Colonel.
The officer looked at him with the vacant, unresponsive eye of a complete stranger.
"I'm Cochrane, you know! We travelled up together." "Excuse me, sir, but you have the advantage of me," said the officer.
"I knew a Colonel Cochrane Cochrane, but you are not the man.

He was three inches taller than you, with black hair and--" "That's all right," cried the Colonel testily.

"You try a few days with the Dervishes, and see if your friends will recognise you!" "Good God, Cochrane, is it really you?
I could not have believed it.
Great Scott, what you must have been through! I've heard before of fellows going grey in a night, but, by Jove--" "Quite so," said the Colonel, flushing.
"Allow me to hint to you, Archer, that if you could get some food and drink for these ladies, instead of discussing my personal appearance, it would be much more practical." "That's all right," said Captain Archer.

"Your friend Stuart knows that you are here, and he is bringing some stuff round for you.

Poor fare, ladies, but the best we have! You're an old soldier, Cochrane.