ted. There have
been all kinds of stories about suttee being practised in Howrah, and it
very likely won't be difficult to find a plausible excuse for deposing
the Maharajah and putting Jaimihr in his place. In the meantime, if
Mahommed Gunga shows himself in these parts he'll be arrested."

Byng did then the sort of thing that was fortunately characteristic of
the men who rose in the nick of time to seize the reins. He hurried to
his quarters, packed in its case the sword of honor that had once been
given him by his Queen, and despatched it without a written line of
comment to Mahommed Gunga. The native who took it was ordered to ride
like the devil, overtake Mahommed Gunga on the road to Abu, present the
sword without explanation, and return.

Cunningham, in spite of himself, had travelled swiftly. The moon lacked
two nights of being full and two more days would have seen him climbing
up the fourteen-mile rock road that leads up the purple flanks of Abu,
when the ex-trooper of Irregulars cantered from a dust cloud, caught up
Mahommed Gunga, who was riding, as usual, in the rear, and handed him
the sword. He held it out with both hands. Mahommed Gunga seized it by
the middle, and neither said a word for the moment.

In silence Mahommed Gunga drew the blade--saw Byng's name engraved close
to the hilt--recognized the sword, and knew the sender--thought--and
mistook the meaning.

"Was there no word?"

"None."

"Then take this word back. 'I will return the sword, with honor added to
it, when the peace of India is won.' Say that, and nothing else."

"I would rest my horse for a day or two," said the trooper.

"Neither thou nor yet thy horse will have much rest this side of Eblis!"
said Mahommed Gunga. "Ride!"

The trooper wheeled and went with a grin and a salute which he repeated
twice, leaning back from the saddle for a last look at the man of his
own race whom Byng had chosen to exalt. He felt himself honored merely
to have carried the sword. Mahommed Gunga removed his own great sabre
and handed it to one of his own five whom he overtook; then he buckled
on the sword of honor and spurred until he rode abreast of Cunningham, a
hundred yards or more ahead of the procession.

"Sahib," he asked, "did Byng-bahadur say a word or two about listening
to me?"

"He did. Why?"

"Because I will now say things!"

The fact that the Brigadier had sent no message other than the sword
was probably the Rajput's chief reas