"
He lied, as he walked and fought, like a soldier, and the weary man who
watched him from the throne detected no false ring.
"I informed you that I had extended my protection to the two
missionaries, man and daughter."
"You did. Also, you did well." He tossed that piece of comfort to the
despot as a man might throw table scraps to a starveling dog! "I have
come to take away the missionaries."
"With a guard of ten!"
It was the first admission of astonishment that either man had made.
"Are you not aware that Jaimihr, too, has eyes on the woman?"
"I am aware of it. I have shown Jaimihr how deep my fear of him lies!
I know, too, how deep the love lies between thee and thy brother, king
of Howrah! I am here to remind you that many more than ten men would
race their horses to a stand-still to answer my summons--brave men,
Maharajah-sahib--men whose blades are keen, and straightly held, and
true. They who would rally round me against Jaimihr would--"
"Would fight for me?"
"I have not yet said so." There was a little, barely accentuated
emphasis on the one word "yet." The Maharajah thought a minute before
he answered.
"How many mounted troopers could you raise?"
"Who knows? A thousand--three thousand--according to the soreness
of the need."
"You have heard--I know that you have heard--what, even at this
minute, awaits the British? I know, for I have taken care to know,
that a cousin of yours--Mahommed Gunga--is interested for the
British.
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