hrough considerable pantomime of being angry with a
fly. He found it necessary to conceal emotion in some way or other. Alwa
sat motionless and stared straight back at Cunningham.

"I understand, sahib," he repeated.

"You are talking to me, then, on that understanding?"

"Most certainly, huzoor."

"You can raise two thousand men?"

"Perhaps."

"Say fifteen hundred?"

"Surely fifteen hundred. Not a sabre less."

"All horsed and armed?"

"Surely, bahadur. Of what use would be a rabble? I was speaking in terms
of men able to fight, as one soldier to another."

"Will you raise those men?"

"Of a truth, I must, sahib!" Alwa laughed. "Jaimihr's thousands will be
in no mind to lie leaderless and let Howrah ride rough-shod over them!
They know his charity of old! They will be here to claim their Prince
within a day or two, and without my fifteen hundred how would I stand?
Surely, bahadur, I will raise my fifteen hundred."

"Very well. Now I will make you a proposal. On behalf of the Company I
offer you and your men pay at the rate paid to all irregular cavalry on
a war basis. In return, I demand your allegiance."

"To whom, sahib? To you or to the Company?"

"To the Company, of course."

"Nay! Not I! For the son of Cunnigan-bahadur I would slit the throats of
half Asia, and then of nine-tenths of the other half! But by the breath
of God--by my spurs and this sabre here--I have had enough of pledging!
I swore allegiance to Howrah. Being nearly free of that pledge by
Allah's sending, shall I plunge into another, like a frightened bird
fluttering from snare to snare? Nay, nay, bahadur! For thyself, for thy
father's sake, ask any favor. It is granted. But thy Company may stew in
the grease of its own cartridges for ought I care!"

Cunningham stood up and bowed very slightly--very stiffly--very
punctiliously. Mahommed Gunga leaped to his feet, and came to attention
with a military clatter. Alwa stared, inclining his head a trifle in
recognition of the bow, but evidently taken by surprise.

"Then, good-by, Alwa-sahib."

Cunningham stretched out a hand.

"I am much obliged to you for your hospitality, and regret exceedingly
that I cannot avail myself of it further, either for myself or
for Mahommed Gunga or for Mr. and Miss McClean. As the Company's
representative, they, of course, look to me for orders and protection,
and I shall take them away at once. As things are, we can only be a
source of embarrassment