"I give you my solemn word of honor on it!"

"It is at least a man who speaks!" swore Alwa.

"It is the son of Cunnigan-bahadur!" growled Mahommed Gunga, standing chin erect. He seemed in no doubt now of the outcome. He was merely waiting for it with soldierly and ill-concealed impatience.

"But, sahib--"

"Alwa-sahib, we have no time for argument. It is yes or no. I must send an answer back by that Sikh. He must--he shall take my answer! Either you are loyal to our cause or you are not. Are you?"

"By the breath of G.o.d, sahib, I am thinking you leave me little choice!"

"I still await an answer. I am calling on you for as many men as you can raise, and I have made you specific promises. Choose, Alwa-sahib. Yes or no?"

"The answer is yes--but--"

"Then I understand that you undertake to obey my orders without question until such time as a senior to me can be found to take over the command."

"That is contingent on the agreement," hesitated Alwa.

"I would like your word of honor, Alwa-sahib."

"I pledge that not lightly, sahib."

"For that very good reason I am asking for it. I shall know how far to trust when I have your word of honor!"

"I knew thy father! Thou art his son! I trusted him for good reason and with good result. I will trust thee also. My word is given, on thy conditions, sahib. First, the guarantees before we ride to the British aid!"

And you obey my orders?

"Yes. My word is given, sahib. The oath of a Rajput, of a Rangar, of a soldier, of a zemindar of the House of Kachwaha; the oath of a man to a man, sahib; the promise of thy father's friend to thy father's son!

Bahadur"--he drew himself to his full height, and clicked his spurs together--"I am thy servant!"

Cunningham saluted. All three men looked in each other's eyes and a bond was sealed between them that nothing less than death could sever.

"Thank you," said Cunningham quite quietly. "And now, Alwa-sahib"--(he could strike while the iron glowed, could this son of Cunnigan!)--"for the plan. There is little time. Jaimihr must escape tonight!"

"Sahib, did I understand aright?"

Alwa's jaw had actually dropped. He looked as though he had been struck.

Mahommed Gunga slammed his sabre ferule on the stone floor. He too, was hard put to it to believe his ears.

"Jaimihr is the key to the position. He is nothing but a nuisance where he is. Outside he can be made to help us."

"Am I dreaming, or art thou, sahib?" Alwa stood with fists clinched on his hips and his legs apart--incredulous. "Jaimihr to go free? Why that Hindoo pig is the source of all the trouble in the district!"

"We are neither of us dreaming, Alwa-sahib. Jaimihr is the dreamer. Let him dream in Howrah City for a day or two, while we get ready. Let him lead his men away and leave the road clear for us to pa.s.s in and out."

"But--"

"Oh, I know. He is your prisoner, and your honor is involved, and all that kind of thing. I'm offering you, to set off against that, a much greater honor than you ever experienced in your whole life yet, and I've put my order in the shape of a request for the sake of courtesy. I ask you again to let me arrange for Jaimihr to escape."

"I was mad. But it seems that I have pa.s.sed my word!" swore Alwa.

"I give you your word back again, then."

"Bismillah! I refuse it!"

"Then I do with Jaimihr as I like?"

"I gave my word, sahib."

"Thanks. You'll be glad before we've finished. Now I've left the raising of as many men as can be raised to you, Alwa-sahib. You will remember that you gave your promise on that count, too."

"I will keep that promise, too, sahib."

"Good. You shall have a road clear by tonight."

He stepped back a pace, awaited their salute with the calm, a.s.sured authority of a general of division, returned it, and left the two Rajputs looking in each other's eyes.

"What is this, cousin, that thou hast brought me to?" demanded Alwa.

Mahommed Gunga laughed and shook his sabre, letting it rattle in its scabbard.

"This? This is the edge of the war that I promised thee a year ago!

This is the service of which I spoke! This is the beginning of the blood-spilling! I have brought thee the leader of whom we spoke in Howrah City. Dost remember, cousin? I recall thy words!"

"Ay, I recall them. I said then that I would follow a second Cunnigan, could such be found."

"And this is he!" vowed Mahommed Gunga.

"Ho! But we Rangars have a leader! A man of men!"

"But this plan of his? This loosing of the trapped wolf--what of that?"

"I neither know nor care, as yet! I trust him! I am his man, as I was his father's! I have seen him; I have heard him; I have felt his pulse in the welter of the wrath of G.o.d. I know him. Whatever plans he makes, whatever way he leads, those are my plans, my road! I serve the son of Cunnigan!"

CHAPTER XXIX

Did he swear with his leg in a spring-steel trap And a tongue dry-cracked from thirst?

Or down on his knees at his lady's lap With the lady's lips to his own, mayhap, And his head and his heart aburst?

Nay! I have listened to vows enough And never the oath could bind Save that, that a free man chose to take For his own good reputation's sake!

They're qualified--they're tricks--they break-- They're words, the other kind!

MAHOMMED GUNGA had long ago determined to "go it blind" on Cunningham.