he had
overheard things. Garbed as a man again, she suddenly evaporated in thin
air, and Rosemary McClean was left without a servant or any means of
communication with the outside world.

CHAPTER XXXII

The ringed wolf glared the circle round
Through baleful, blue-lit eye,
Not unforgetful of his debt.
"Now, heed ye how ye draw the net."
Quoth he: "I'll do some damage yet
Or ere my turn to die!"

THE mare that had been a present from Mahommed Gunga was brought out and
saddled, together with a fresh horse for the Risaldar. The veteran had
needed no summoning, for with a soldier's instinct he had wakened at
the moment his self-allotted four hours had expired. He mounted a little
stiffly, and tried his horse's paces up and down the courtyard once or
twice before nodding to Cunningham.

"All ready, sahib."

"Ready, Mahommed Gunga."

But there was one other matter, after all, that needed attention first.

"That horse of mine that brought me hither"--the Risaldar picked out
the man who waited with the gong cord in his hand--"is left in thy
particular charge. Dost thou hear me? I will tell the Alwa-sahib what I
now tell thee--that horse will be required of thee fit, good-tempered,
light-mouthed, not spur-marked, and thoroughly well groomed. There will
be a reward in the one case, but in the other--I would not stand in thy
shoes! It is a trust!"

"Come along, Risaldar!" called Cunningham. "We're wasting an awful lot
of time!"

"Nay, sahib, but a good horse is like a woman, to be loved and treated
faithfully! Neither horse nor woman should be sacrificed for less than
duty! Lead on, bahadur--I will join thee at the gate."

He had several directions to give for the horse's better care, and
Cunningham was forced to wait at least five minutes for him at the foot
of the steep descent. Then for another minute the two sat their horses
side by side, while the great gate rose slowly, grudgingly, cranked
upward by four men.

"If we two ever ride under here again, bahadur, we shall ride with honor
thick on us," remarked Mahommed Gunga. "God knows what thy plan may
be; but I know that from now on there will be no peace for either of
us until we have helped rip it with our blades from the very belly of
rebellion. Ride!"

The gate clanged down behind them as--untouched by heel or
spur--the two spring-limbed chargers raced for their bits
across the sand. They went like shadows, casting oth