lations,
and they each within reach of others! Ho! I can hear the thunder of
a squadron at my back again! I am young, sahib--young! My old joints
loosen! Allah send the cloud has burst at last--I bring to two thousand
Rangars a new Cunnigan-bahadur! Thy father's son shall learn what
Cunnigan-bahadur taught!"

He lapsed into silence, watching the advancing horsemen, who swooped
down on them in an ever-closing fan formation. His tired horse sensed
the thrill that tingled through its rider's veins, and pranced again,
curving his neck and straining at the bit until Mahommed Gunga steadied
him. The five behind--even the mule-drivers too--detected excitement
in the air, and the little column closed in on its leaders. All eyes
watched the neck-and-neck approach of Alwa's men, until Cunningham at
last could see their turbans and make out that they were Rangars, not
Hindoos. Then he and the Risaldar drew rein.

There were twenty who raced toward them, but no Alwa.

"It is as I thought!" declared Mahommed Gunga. "It is war, sahib! He has
summoned men from his estates. As a rule, he can afford but ten men for
that fort of his, and he would not send all his men to meet us--he has a
garrison up yonder!"

Like blown dust-devils the twenty raced to them, and drew up thundering
within a lance-length. A sword-armed Rangar with a little gold lace on
his sleeve laughed loud as he saluted, greeting Mahommed Gunga first.
The Risaldar accepted his salute with iron dignity.

"Forgive him, sahib!" he whispered to Cunningham. "The jungli knows no
better! He will learn whom to salute first when Alwa has said his say!"

But Cunningham was in no mood just then to stand on military ceremony or
right of precedence. He was too excited, too inquisitive, too occupied
with the necessity for keeping calm in the face of what most surely
looked like the beginning of big happenings. These horsemen of Alwa's
rode, and looked, and laughed like soldiers, new-stripped of the hobble
ropes of peace, and their very seat in the untanned saddles--tight down,
loose-swaying from the hips, and free--was confirmation of Mahommed
Gunga's words.

They wheeled in a cloud and led the way, opening a little in the centre
to let the clouds of sand their horses kicked up blow to the right and
left of Cunningham and his men. Not a word was spoken--not a question
asked or a piece of news exchanged--until the whole party halted at the
foot of Alwa's fortress home--a great