er
shadows--moon-made--wind-driven--knee-to-knee.

"Now, sahib!"

The Risaldar broke silence after fifteen minutes. Neither he nor
Cunningham were of the type that chatters when the time has come to
loosen sabres and sit tight.

"In the matter of what lies ahead--as I said, neither I nor any man
knows what this plan of thine may be, but I and the others have accepted
thy bare word. These men who await thee--and they are many, and all
soldiers, good, seasoned horsemen--have been told that the son of
Cunnigan will lead them. Alwa has given his word, and I mine, that in
the matter of a leader there is nothing left to be desired. And my five
men have told them of certain happenings that they have seen. Therefore,
thou art awaited with no little keenness. They will be all eyes and
ears. It might be well, then, to set the pace a little slower, for a man
looks better on a fresh horse than on a weary one!"

"I'm thinking, Mahommed Gunga, of the two McCleans and of General Byng,
who is expecting us. There is little time to lose."

"I, too, consider them, sahib. It is we Rangars who must do the sabre
work. ALL, sahib--ALL--depends now on the impression created on the men
awaiting thee! Rein in a little. Thy father's name, thine own, and mine
and Alwa's weigh for much on thy side; but have a sound horse between
thy legs and a trumpet in thy throat when we get there! I have seen more
than one officer have to fight up-hill for the hearts of his troopers
because his tired horse stumbled or looked shabby on the first parade.
Draw rein a little, sahib."

So Cunningham, still saying nothing, drew back into an easy canter. He
was conscious of something, not at all like a trumpet, in his throat
that was nearly choking him. He did not care to let Mahommed Gunga know
that what was being mistaken for masterly silence was really emotion! He
did not speak because he did not trust his voice.

"There are three squadrons, sahib--each of about five hundred men. Alwa
has the right wing, I the left. Take thou the centre and command the
whole. The horses are as good as any in this part of India, for each
man has brought his best to do thee honor. Each man carries four days'
rations in his saddle-bag and two days' rations for his horse. More
horse feed is collecting, and they are bringing wagons, to follow when
we give the word. But we thought there would be little sense in ordering
wagons to follow us to Howrah City, knowing that thy plan wou