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 our intention is not to evade the promise.”

“Our intention is to prevent Howrah and his brother from fighting, to insure peace and protection on this whole countryside, and, if possible, to ride away with Jaimihr’s army to the Company’s aid.”

“Good, sahib.”

It seemed to occur to none of the three that fifteen hundred mounted men were somewhat few with which to accomplish such a marvel.

“If they are fighting already, we must interfere.”

“We are ready, bahadur.  Fighting is our trade!”

“But, before all things, we must keep our eyes well skinned for a hint of treachery on Jaimihr’s part.  I would rather quarrel with that gentleman than be his friend, but he happens to hold our promise.  We’ve got to keep our promise, provided he keeps his.  I think our first objective is the treasure.”