.

"Three-four-five! Then, you were a soldier a long time? Did you--did you
desert your post when there was danger?"

He flushed, and raised his hand as though about to speak.

"Or did people insult you when you chose to remain on duty?"

"Miss-sahib, I have not insulted you!" said Mahommed Gunga. "I came here
for another purpose."

"You came, very kindly, to ask whether there were letters. Thank you,
Mahommed Gunga-sahib, for your courtesy. There are letters, and I will
give them to your man, if you will be good enough to send him for them."

He still stood there, staring at her with eyes that did not blink. He
was too much of a soldier to admit himself at a loss what to say, yet
he had no intention of leaving Howrah without saying it, for that, too,
would have been unsoldierly.

"The reason why your countrymen have found men of this land before now
to fight for them--one reason, at least--" he said gruffly, "is that
hitherto they have not meddled with our religions. It is not safe! It
would be better to come away, Miss-sahib."

"Would you like to say that to my father? He is--"

"Allah forbid that I should argue with him! I spoke to you, on your
account!"

"You forget, I think," she answered him gently, "that we had permission
from the British Government to come here; it has not been withdrawn. We
are doing no harm here--trying only to do good. There is always danger
when--"

"I would speak of that," he interrupted--"You will not come away?"

She shook her head.

"Your father could remain."

She shook her head again. "I stay with him," she answered.

"At present, Jaimihr is the danger, Miss-sahib; but I think that at
present he will dare do nothing. The Maharajah dare do nothing either,
yet. Should either of them make a move to interfere with you, it would
not be safe to appeal to the other one. You will not understand, but
it is so. In that event, there is a way to safety of which I would warn
you."

"Thank you, Mahommed Gunga. What is it?"

"There are men more than a day's ride away from here who are to be
depended on--by you, at least--under all circumstances. Is that old
woman to be trusted?"

"How should I know?" she smiled. "I believe she is fond of me."

"That should be enough. I would like, if the Miss-sahib will permit, to
speak with her."

At a word from Miss McClean the old hag came out into the sun again and
blinked at the Rajput, very much afraid of him. Mahommed Gunga saluted
M