you are the man on the spot, holding a commission from
the Granthi Durbar, and obviously the proper person to punish its
rebellious vassal. I am merely accompanying the troops of a friendly
state as a matter of curiosity."

"My dear Hal, it's no end good of you, but I am perfectly content. You
have always been top-sawyer, you know."

"And a precious mess I should have made of things more than once, if
you had not been at hand. Why, Bob, I couldn't conscientiously take
command in an affair like this. It's your idea; I should not have
thought of it, and it isn't likely I should carry it out properly. You
see your point and go straight at it through thick and thin, while I
plot out a plan for getting there on the lines of the best commanders,
with proper care for communications and supplies. But if you will give
your orders, I'll carry them out or burst. If I don't agree with 'em,
I promise you you shall hear about it."

"No doubt whatever about that. Well, Hal, so be it. Even if you don't
agree, you'll obey orders, I know. Just a minute or two to worry out
our immediate moves, then back I go. Got a light? Take a squint at
this map of mine. I propose to cross the Tindar about Kardi, so as to
threaten Agpur from the south-west, throw up such entrenchments as time
allows, and wait there for you. You will cross the Ghara wherever you
find most convenient--the Habshi with his local knowledge will advise
you best there--remembering that if you can get far enough to the east
to give the impression of threatening the city from another side, so
much the better, but remembering also that unless you come up quickly,
I may have the whole Agpur army launched against me."

"My dear Bob, you forget the distance I shall have to march. You will
be annihilated before I can reach you."

"Not if I know you, or myself and my Darwanis. If I can hold the
Agpuris in front, while you come up and deliver a flank attack, I will,
but that circumstances must decide. We will keep open communications
by means of _kasids_ if we can, but it is quite possible we may have to
act independently. At any rate, I will not leave Kardi alive without
letting you know, and you won't let anything short of a signed message
from me persuade you that I have abandoned it?"

"Trust me. But I wish we could both have made forced marches and met
at a point on the Ranjitgarh side of Agpur."

"So do I. But if wishes were horses----! The meanest in