“We of the service, sahib,” he answered, “obey orders at the gallop when they come.  When orders come to ride, we ride!"’

Bellairs winced at the thrust.

“That’s all very fine, Risaldar.  But how about my wife?  What’s going to happen to her, if I leave her here alone and unprotected?”

“Or to me, sahib?  Is my sword-arm withered?  Is my saber rusted home?”

“You, old friend!  D’you mean to tell me—­”

The Risaldar saluted him again.

“Will you stay here and guard her?”

“Nay, sahib!  Being not so young as thou art, I know better!”

“What in Tophet do you mean, Mahommed Khan?”

“I mean, sahib,”—­the Indian’s voice was level and deep, but it vibrated strangely, and his eyes glowed as though war-lights were being born again behind them—­“that not for nothing am I come!  I heard what thy orders were and—­”

“How did you hear what my orders were?”

“My half-brother came hurrying with the news, sahib.  I hastened!  My horse lies dead one kos from Hanadra here!”

The lieutenant laughed.

“At last, Mahommed?  That poor old screw of yours?  So he’s dead at last, eh?  So his time had come at last!”

“We be not all rich men who serve the Raj!” said the Risaldar with dignity.  “Ay, sahib, his time was come!  And when our time comes may thou and I, sahib, die as he did, with our harness on!  What said thy orders, sahib?  Haste?  Then yonder lies the road, through the archway!”

“But, tell me, Risaldar, what brought you here in such a hurry?”

“A poor old screw, sahib, whose time was come—­even as thou hast said!”

“Mahommed Khan, I’m sorry—­very sorry, if I insulted you!  I—­I’m worried—­I didn’t stop to think.  I—­old friend, I—­”

“It is forgotten, sahib!”

“Tell me—­what are these rumors you have heard?”

“But one rumor, sahib-war!  Uprising—­revolution—­treachery—­all India waits the word to rise, sahib!”

“You mean—?”

“Mutiny among the troops, and revolution north, south, east and west!”

“Here, too, in Hanadra?”

“Here, too, in Hanadra, sahib!  Here they will be among the first to rise!”

“Oh, come!  I can’t believe that!  How was it that my orders said nothing of it then?”

“That, sahib, I know not—­not having written out thy orders!  I heard that thy orders came.  I knew, as I have known this year past, what storm was brewing.  I knew, too, that the heavenborn, thy wife, is here.  I am thy servant, sahib, as I was thy father’s servant—­we serve one Queen; thy honor is my honor.  Entrust thy memsahib to my keeping!”

“You will guard her?”

“I will bring her in to Jundhra!”

“You alone?”

“Nay, sahib!  I, and my sons, and my sons’ sons—­thirteen men all told!”

“That is good of you, Mahommed Khan.  Where are your sons?”