on for talking in riddles still
to Cunningham. The silence went straight to his Oriental heart--so
to speak, set the key for him to play to. But he knew, too, that
Cunningham's youth would be a handicap should it come to argument; what
he was looking for was not a counsellor or some one to make plans, for
the plans had all been laid and cross-laid by the enemy, and Mahommed
Gunga knew it. He needed a man of decision--to be flung blindfold into
unexpected and unexpecting hell wrath, who would lead, take charge,
decide on the instant, and lead the way out again, with men behind him
who would recognize decision when they saw it. So he spoke darkly.
He understood that the sword meant "Things have started," so with a
soldier's courage he proceeded to head Cunningham toward the spot where
hell was loose.

"Say ahead!" smiled Cunningham.

"Yonder, sahib, lies Abu. Yonder to the right lies thy road now, not
forward."

"I have orders to report at Abu."

"And I, sahib, orders to advise!"

"Are you advising me to disobey orders?"

The Rajput hesitated. "Sahib, have I anything to gain," he asked, "by
offering the wrong advice?"

"I can't imagine so."

"I advise, now, that we--thou and I, sahib, and my five turn off
here--yonder, where the other trail runs--letting the party proceed to
Abu without us."

"But why, Mahommed Gunga?"

"There is need of haste, sahib. At Abu there will be delay--much talk
with Everton-sahib, and who knows?--perhaps cancellation of the plan to
send thee on to Howrah."

"I'd be damned glad, Mahommed Gunga, not to have to go there!"

"Sahib, look! What is this I wear?"

"Which?"

"See here, sahib--this."

For the first time Cunningham noticed the fine European workmanship on
the sword-hilt, and realized that the Rajput's usual plain, workmanlike
weapon had been replaced.

"That is Byng-bahadur's sword of honor! It reached me a few minutes ago.
The man who brought it is barely out of sight. It means, sahib, that the
hour to act is come!"

"But--"

"Sahib--this sending thee to Howrah is my doing? Since the day when I
first heard that the son of Pukka Cunnigan-bahadur was on his way I have
schemed and planned and contrived to this end. It was at word from me
that Byng-bahadur signed the transfer papers--otherwise he would have
kept thee by him. There are owls--old women--men whom Allah has deprived
of judgment--drunkards--fools--in charge at Peshawur and in other
places; but there are