asked a
black-bearded soldier of the five.

"He is a man who knows by instinct!" said Mahommed Gunga. "See to it
that thy accounting is correct, and overpay no man!"

Deep-throated as a bull, erect as a lance, and pleased as a little
child, Mahommed Gunga came to him alone that evening to talk, and to
hear him talk, and to tell him of the plans that had been made.

"Thy father gave me this," he told him, producing a gold watch and
chain of the hundred-guinea kind that nowadays are only found among
the heirlooms. Young Cunningham looked at it, and recognized the heavy
old-gold case that he had been allowed to "blow open" when a little boy.
On the outside, deep-chiseled in the gold, was his father's crest, and
on the inside a portrait of his mother.

"Thy father died in these two arms, bahadur! Thy father said: 'Look
after him, Mahommed Gunga, when the time is ripe for him to be a
soldier.' And I said: 'Ha, huzoor!' So! Then here is India!"

He waved one hand grandiloquently, as though he were presenting the
throne of India to his protege!

"Here, sahib, is a servant--blood of my own blood."

He clapped his hands, and a man who looked like the big, black-ended
spirit of Aladdin's lamp stood silent, instant, in the doorway.

"He speaks no English, but he may help to teach thee the Rajput tongue,
and he will serve thee well--on my honor. His throat shall answer for
it! Feed him and clothe him, sahib, but pay him very little--to serve
well is sufficient recompense."

Young Cunningham gave his keys at once to the silent servant, as a tacit
sign that from that moment he was trusted utterly; and Mahommed Gunga
nodded grim approval.

"Thy father saw fit to bequeath me much in the hour when death came on
him, sahib. I am no boaster, as he knew. Remember, then, to tell me if I
fail at any time in what is due. I am at thy service!"

Tact was inborn in Cunningham, as it had been in his father. He realized
that he ought at once to show his appreciation of the high plane of the
service offered.

"There is one way in which you could help me almost at once, Mahommed
Gunga," he answered.

"Command me, sahib."

"I need your advice--the advice of a man who really knows. I need
horses, and--at first at least--I would rather trust your judgment than
my own. Will you help me buy them?"

The Raiput's eyes blazed pleasure. On war, and wine, and women, and a
horse are the four points to ask a man's advice and win his approval