dier instinct, that is born in a man like statesmanship
or poetry, but that never can be taught, had full command over all his
other senses, and when he spurred out to the front again his voice rang
loud and clear, like a trumpet through the night.

With fifty ground scouts scattered out ahead of them, they drummed out
of the gorge and thundered by squadrons on the plain beyond--straight,
as the jackal runs, for Howrah City. Alwa, leaving his own squadron,
to canter at Cunningham's side, gave him all the new intelligence that
mattered.

"Last evening I sent word on ahead to them of our coming, sahib! I sent
one messenger to the Maharajah and one to Jaimihr, warning each that we
ride to keep our plighted word. At the worst, we shall find both parties
ready for us! We shall know before we reach the city who is our friend!
News reached me, too, sahib, that the Maharajah and his brother have
united against us--that Howrah will eat his promises and play me
false. God send he does! I would like to have my hands in that Hindoo's
treasure-chests! We none of us know yet, bahadur, what is this plan of
thine--"

"You've been guessing awfully close to it, I think" laughed Cunningham.

"Aha! The treasure-chests, then! But--is there--have you information,
sahib? Who knows, then--who has told where they are? Neither I nor my
men know!"

"Send for Mahommed Gunga."

Mahommed Gunga left his squadron, too, to canter beside Alwa.

"I am all ears, sahib!" he asserted, reining his horse until his stride
was equal to the others.

"The key to the situation is that treasure," asserted Cunningham.
"Howrah wants it. Jaimihr wants it. The priests want it. I know that
much for certain, from the McCleans. All right. We're a new factor in
the problem, and they all mistrust us nearly as much, if not more, than
they mistrust one another. Good. They'll be all of them watching that
treasure. It'll be near where they are, and I'm going to snaffle it or
break my neck--and all your necks--in the deuced desperate attempt. Is
that clear? Where the carcass is, there wheel the kites and there the
jackals fight, as your proverb says. The easiest part will be finding
the treasure. Then--"

They legged in closer to him, hanging on his words and too busy
listening to speak.

"If Howrah thinks we're after the treasure and decides to fight without
previous argument, that absolves you from your promise, doesn't it,
Alwa-sahib?"

"Surely, sahib, provided