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Achilles had a tender spot That even guarding gods forgot, When clothing him in armor; And I have proved this charge o' mine For fear, and sloth, and vice, and wine, But clear forgot the charmer! THE Alwa-sahib knew more English than he was willing to admit.
Word of all this came before dawn today, by a messenger from Maharajah Howrah to my cousin here. My cousin stands pledged to uphold Howrah on his throne; Howrah is against the British; Jaimihr, his brother, is in arms against Howrah." "Why did the Alwa-sahib pledge himself to Howrah's cause?" Mahommed Gunga who knew quite well saw fit to translate the question.
"My party can start off with this man and our answer, if your answer is no. If your answer is yes, then the Sikh can bear that answer for us." "You would none of you ride half a mile alive!" laughed Alwa. "I none the less require an answer, Alwa-sahib." Alwa stared hard at him. That was the kind of talk that went straight to his soldier heart.
McClean, and a purdah for your daughter you'll travel as a Hindoo merchant and his wife. If you get stopped, say very little, but show this." He produced the letter written once by Maharajah Howrah to the Alwa-sahib and sent by galloper with the present of a horse. It was signed, and at the bottom of it was the huge red royal seal.
"Then I understand that you undertake to obey my orders without question until such time as a senior to me can be found to take over the command." "That is contingent on the agreement," hesitated Alwa. "I would like your word of honor, Alwa-sahib." "I pledge that not lightly, sahib." "For that very good reason I am asking for it. I shall know how far to trust when I have your word of honor!"
"Do you understand, Alwa-sahib, that if Jaimihr keeps his promise to her, she must keep hers to him? Do you realize that?" "Allah! Listen to him! Yes, sahib. Truly, bahadur, I appreciate! I also know that I have given certain promises which I, too, must fulfil! She is not the only bargainer!
"At the most at a pinch in case of direst need, and for a cause that all agreed on?" "Two thousand." "Horsed and armed?" "And ready!" "And you, Alwa-sahib are you pledged to fight against the British?" "Not in so many words. I swore to uphold Howrah on his throne. He is against the British." "You swore to help smash his brother, Jaimihr?" "If I were needed."
Down at its foot, where the stream of rushing water splashed in a series of cascades to the thirsty, sandy earth, there were an acre or two of cultivation sufficient, in time of peace, to support an attenuated garrison and its horses. But for his revenues the Alwa-sahib had to look many a long day's march afield.
"Mother of corruption! Listen! Alwa must know! Canst thou escape from here? Canst thou reach the Alwa-sahib?" "If the price were four mohurs, there might be many things that I could do." "The price is three! I have spoken!" "'I would eat honey were I outside! said the bear." "Hag! The bear died in the cage, and they sold his pelt for how much?
Dost thou hear me? I will tell the Alwa-sahib what I now tell thee that horse will be required of thee fit, good-tempered, light-mouthed, not spur-marked, and thoroughly well groomed. There will be a reward in the one case, but in the other I would not stand in thy shoes! It is a trust!" "Come along, Risaldar!" called Cunningham. "We're wasting an awful lot of time!"
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