The other officers stood talking, a short distance off.
Presently Gregory caught the words: "How is it that this young fellow calls himself Bimbashi, which, I believe, means major ?" "He does not call himself that, although that is his rank.

All the white officers in the Egyptian Army have that rank, though they may only be lieutenants, in ours." "I call it a monstrous thing," the drawling voice then said, "that a young fellow like this, who seems to be an Egyptian by birth, should have a higher rank than men here, who have served fifteen or twenty years." The Major got up, and walked across to the group.
"I will tell you why, Mr.Hartley," he said, in a loud voice.

"It is because, for the purpose of the war in this country, they know infinitely more than the officers of our army.

They talk the languages, they know the men.

These blacks will follow them anywhere, to the death.