| caption: |
Chapter Sixteen. Into the Blue |
| caption: |
across a stony slope, panji goes through foot of scout |
| text: |
Now once more the path leads through the forest. As we pass under the first trees there are excited shouts from the head of the column. "Beware panji" the warning comes back. Now there is no doubt; we are in hostile country, for the bamboo spikes set in the path are freshly pointed, and obviously intended for our feet. The column moves yet more slowly, feeling its way through the thick undergrowth, but all this caution is not enough, and soon there is an angry cry. One of the Chang scouts stands on one leg, with a panji sticking through his other foot,the bloody point protruding some way above the toes. |
| text: |
"Silly of me, to step on a panji," is all the man says as they draw the spike out of his foot, and as soon as the wound is dressed with one of the hitherto decorative bandages, he insists on rejoining his friends at the head of the column. A Gurkha is the next victim. A panji pierces the muscles of his calf, but he too makes light of his misfortune. |
