“I can’t imagine so.”

“I advise, now, that we—­thou and I, sahib, and my five turn off here —­yonder, where the other trail runs—­letting the party proceed to Abu without us.”

“But why, Mahommed Gunga?”

“There is need of haste, sahib.  At Abu there will be delay—­much talk with Everton-sahib, and who knows?—­perhaps cancellation of the plan to send thee on to Howrah.”

“I’d be damned glad, Mahommed Gunga, not to have to go there!”

“Sahib, look!  What is this I wear?”

“Which?”

“See here, sahib—­this.”

For the first time Cunningham noticed the fine European workmanship on the sword-hilt, and realized that the Rajput’s usual plain, workmanlike weapon had been replaced.

“That is Byng-bahadur’s sword of honor!  It reached me a few minutes ago.  The man who brought it is barely out of sight.  It means, sahib, that the hour to act is come!”

“But—­”

“Sahib—­this sending thee to Howrah is my doing?  Since the day when I first heard that the son of Pukka Cunnigan-bahadur was on his way I have schemed and planned and contrived to this end.  It was at word from me that Byng-bahadur signed the transfer papers—­otherwise he would have kept thee by him.  There are owls—­old women—­men whom Allah has deprived of judgment—­drunkards—­fools—­in charge at Peshawur and in other places; but there are certain men who know.  Byng-bahadur knows.  I know—­and I will show the way!  Let me lead, sahib, for a little while, and I will show thee what to lead!”

“But—­”

“Does this sword, sahib, mean nothing?  Did Byng-bahadur send it me for fun?”

“But what’s the idea?  I can’t disobey orders, and ride off to—­God knows where—­without some excuse.  You’ll have to tell me why.  What’s the matter?  What’s happening?”

“Byng-bahadur sent not one word to me when he sent this sword.  To thee he said:  ‘Listen to Mahommed Gunga, even when he seems to lie!’ I know that, for he told me he had said it.  To me he said:  ’Take charge, Mahommed Gunga, when the hour comes, and rub his innocent young nose hard as you like into the middle of the mess!’ Ay, sahib, so said he.  It is now that I take charge.”

“But—­”

“‘But,’ said the nylghau, and the wolf-pack had him!  ‘But,’ said the tiger, and the trap door shut!  ‘But,’ said the Hindoo, and a priest betrayed him!  But—­but—­but—­I never knew thy father make much use of that word!”

“Yes—­but—­I have my orders, Mahommed Gunga!”

“Sahib—­this sword is a sword of honor—­it stands for Byng-bahadur’s honor.  I have it in my keeping.  Mine own honor is a matter somewhat dear to me, and I have kept it clean these many years.  Now I ask to keep thine honor, too, awhile—­making three men’s honor.  If I fail, then thou and I and Byng-bahadur all go down together in good company.  If I fail not, then, sahib—­Allah is contented when his honor stands!”