further.

"I understand, sahiba. I, too, will hold thee to thy promise! Thou wilt
come with an escort, as befits a prince's wife! But how should I know
that the Rangars would prove friends of mine? How should I know that it
is not all a trap?"

"You will have my promise to depend on."

"Truly! And there will be how many hundred men to override the promise
of one woman? Nay! My word is good; my promise holds; but on my own
conditions! Help me to escape. Then follow me to Howrah City. Come in
advance of thy Rangar escort. By that I will know that the Rangars and
this Cunningham are my friends--otherwise they would not let thee come.
The Rangars are to exact guarantees from my brother? How should I know
that they do not come to help my brother crush me out of existence? With
thee in my camp as hostage I would risk agreement with them, but not
otherwise. Escape with me now, or follow. But bring no Rangars, sahiba!
Come alone!"

"I will not. I would not dare trust you."

Jaimihr laughed. "I have been reckoning, sahiba, how many hours will
pass before my army comes to rip this nest of Alwa's from its roots, and
defile the whole of it! If I am to spare the people on this rock, then I
must hurry! Should my men come here to carry me away, they will be
less merciful than I! Choose, sahiba! Let me go, and I will spare these
Rangars until such time as they earn punishment anew. Or let me go, and
follow me. Then fight with the Rangars and for the Company, with thee as
the price of my alliance. Or leave me in this cell until my men come to
rescue me. The last would be the simplest way! Or it would be enough
to help me escape and wait until I have done my share at conquering the
British. Then I could come and claim thee! Choose, sahiba; there are
many ways, though they all end in one goal."

"If I am the price of your allegiance," said Rosemary, "then I will pay
the price. Five thousand men for the British cause are dearer to me than
my own happiness. I promise, Jaimihr-sahib, that I will come to you in
Howrah. I shall come accompanied by one servant, named Joanna, and--I
think--by my father; and the Rangars and Mr. Cunningham shall be at
least a day's ride behind me. I give my word on that. But--I can promise
you, on Mr. Cunningham's behalf, and on the Alwa-sahib's, and
Mahommed Gunga's, that should you have made any attempt against my
liberty--should you have offered me any insult or indignity--before
they come--should you ha