Gregory again saluted.
"I knew afterwards that I had done wrong, sir; but I did not stop to think, and acted on the impulse of the moment." "That may be," the Sirdar said; "but officers should think, and not act on the impulse of the moment." Gregory again saluted, and fell back.

Three or four minutes later, the two generals separated.

General Hunter came up to him, and shook him warmly by the hand.
"You must not mind what the Sirdar said, Hilliard.

It was a very noble action, and did you credit, and I can assure you that that was the opinion of all who knew you; but to the Sirdar, you know, duty is everything, and I think you are lucky in not being sent down, at once, to the base.

However, he said to me, after you had left him: "'I shall be too busy this evening, but bring the young fellow with you, tomorrow evening.