Rung Ho! Part 25

"None."

"Then take this word back. 'I will return the sword, with honor added to it, when the peace of India is won.' Say that, and nothing else."

"I would rest my horse for a day or two," said the trooper.

"Neither thou nor yet thy horse will have much rest this side of Eblis!"

said Mahommed Gunga. "Ride!"

The trooper wheeled and went with a grin and a salute which he repeated twice, leaning back from the saddle for a last look at the man of his own race whom Byng had chosen to exalt. He felt himself honored merely to have carried the sword. Mahommed Gunga removed his own great sabre and handed it to one of his own five whom he overtook; then he buckled on the sword of honor and spurred until he rode abreast of Cunningham, a hundred yards or more ahead of the procession.

"Sahib," he asked, "did Byng-bahadur say a word or two about listening to me?"

"He did. Why?"

"Because I will now say things!"

The fact that the Brigadier had sent no message other than the sword was probably the Rajput's chief reason for talking in riddles still to Cunningham. The silence went straight to his Oriental heart--so to speak, set the key for him to play to. But he knew, too, that Cunningham's youth would be a handicap should it come to argument; what he was looking for was not a counsellor or some one to make plans, for the plans had all been laid and cross-laid by the enemy, and Mahommed Gunga knew it. He needed a man of decision--to be flung blindfold into unexpected and unexpecting h.e.l.l wrath, who would lead, take charge, decide on the instant, and lead the way out again, with men behind him who would recognize decision when they saw it. So he spoke darkly.

He understood that the sword meant "Things have started," so with a soldier's courage he proceeded to head Cunningham toward the spot where h.e.l.l was loose.

"Say ahead!" smiled Cunningham.

"Yonder, sahib, lies Abu. Yonder to the right lies thy road now, not forward."

"I have orders to report at Abu."

"And I, sahib, orders to advise!"

"Are you advising me to disobey orders?"

The Rajput hesitated. "Sahib, have I anything to gain," he asked, "by offering the wrong advice?"

"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 d.a.m.ned 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--G.o.d 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!"

Cunningham drew rein and looked him in the eyes. Gray eyes met brown and neither flinched; each read what men of mettle only can read when they see it--the truth, the fearlessness, the thought they understand because it lives with them. Cunningham held out his hand.

Some thirty minutes later Cunningham, Mahommed Gunga, and the five, with a much-diminished mule-train b.u.mping in their wake, were headed westward on a dry, hot trail, while the time-expired and convalescent escort plodded south. The escort carried word that Cunningham had heard of trouble to the west, and had turned off to investigate it.

CHAPTER XXIII

Quoth little red jackal, famishing, "Lo, Yonder a priest and a soldier go; You can see farthest, and you ought to know,-- Which shall I wander with, carrion crow?"

The crow cawed back at him, "Ignorant beast!

Soldiers get glory, but none of the feast; Soldiers work hardest, and snaffle the least.

Take my advice on it--Follow the priest!"

IT was two hours after sunrise on the second day that followed Cunningham's desertion of his party when he and Mahommed Gunga first caught sight of a blue, baked rock rising sheer out of a fringe of green on the dazzling horizon. It was a freak of nature--a point pushed through the level crust of bone-dry earth, and left to glitter there alone.

"That is my cousin Alwa's place!" exclaimed Mahommed Gunga, and he seemed to draw a world of consolation from the fact.

The sight loosed his tongue at last; he rode by Cunningham, and deigned an explanation now, at least, of what had led to what might happen. He wasted little breath on prophecy, but he was eloquent in building up a basis from which Cunningham might draw his own deductions. They had ridden through the cool of the night in easy stages, and should have camped at dawn; but Mahommed Gunga had insisted that the tired animals could carry them for three hours longer.

"A soldier's horse must rest at the other end sahib," he had laughed.

"Who knows that they have not sent from Abu to arrest both thee and me?"

And he had not vouchsafed another word until, over the desert glare, his cousin's aerie had blazed out, beating back the molten sun-rays.