hadur!" echoed Mahommed
Gunga. "Let us hear a plan worth hearing!" And Alwa looked into a pair
of steady eyes that seemed to see through him--past him--to the finished
work beyond.

"Speak, sahib."

"You are pledged to uphold Howrah on his throne?"

"Ha, sahib."

"Then, I guarantee you shall! You shall not go to the Company's aid
until you have satisfactory guarantees that your homes and friends will
not be assailed behind your backs."

"Guarantees to whose satisfaction, sahib?"

"Yours!"

"But with whom am I dealing?" Alwa seemed actually staggered. "Who makes
these promises? The Company?"

"I give you my solemn word of honor on it!"

"It is at least a man who speaks!" swore Alwa.

"It is the son of Cunnigan-bahadur!" growled Mahommed Gunga, standing
chin erect. He seemed in no doubt now of the outcome. He was merely
waiting for it with soldierly and ill-concealed impatience.

"But, sahib--"

"Alwa-sahib, we have no time for argument. It is yes or no. I must send
an answer back by that Sikh. He must--he shall take my answer! Either
you are loyal to our cause or you are not. Are you?"

"By the breath of God, sahib, I am thinking you leave me little choice!"

"I still await an answer. I am calling on you for as many men as you can
raise, and I have made you specific promises. Choose, Alwa-sahib. Yes or
no?"

"The answer is yes--but--"

"Then I understand that you undertake to obey my orders without
question until such time as a senior to me can be found to take over the
command."

"That is contingent on the agreement," hesitated Alwa.

"I would like your word of honor, Alwa-sahib."

"I pledge that not lightly, sahib."

"For that very good reason I am asking for it. I shall know how far to
trust when I have your word of honor!"

"I knew thy father! Thou art his son! I trusted him for good reason
and with good result. I will trust thee also. My word is given, on thy
conditions, sahib. First, the guarantees before we ride to the British
aid!"

And you obey my orders?

"Yes. My word is given, sahib. The oath of a Rajput, of a Rangar, of a
soldier, of a zemindar of the House of Kachwaha; the oath of a man to
a man, sahib; the promise of thy father's friend to thy father's son!
Bahadur"--he drew himself to his full height, and clicked his spurs
together--"I am thy servant!"

Cunningham saluted. All three men looked in each other's eyes and a bond
was sealed between them that nothing less than