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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?" "Leagues from here, sahib. I must bring them. I need a horse." "And while you are gone?"

Her orders were either to wait until she knew by questioning that the section would not return or else, when it had returned, to wait until the memsahib and Bellairs sahib slept, and then to make a sign. They grow tired of waiting now, for there is news! At Jundhra the rebels are defeated, and at Doonha likewise." "How know you this?"

Mahommed Khan pointed to the waiting guns and smiled. "In my days, sahib," he answered, "men seldom exercised the guns at night!" "I received orders more than three hours ago to bring my section in to Jundhra immediately immediately and not a word of explanation!" "Orders, sahib? And you wait?" "They seem to have forgotten that I'm married, and by the same token, so do you!

So he burned Jundhra, to make it useless to the rebels, and started for Hanadra with every man and horse and gun and wagon and round of ammunition that he had. Now news in India travels like the wind, first one way and then another. But, unlike the wind, it never whistles.

The rebels at Jundhra had been worsted and scattered after an eight-hour fight, and General Turner had made up his mind instantly to sweep down on Hanadra with all his force and relieve the British garrison at Doonha on his way. Jundhra was a small town and unhealthy. Hanadra was a large city, the center of a province; and, from all accounts, Hanadra had not risen yet.

A woman's tears are they heart-meat for a soldier when the bits are champing? Nay! See, sahib; they bring thy second charger! Mount! I will bring thy wife to Jundhra for thee! The Service waits!" The lieutenant turned and mounted. "Very well, Mahommed Khan!" he said. "I know you're right! Section! Prepare to mount!" he roared, and the stirrups rang in answer to him. "Mount! Good-by, Mahommed Khan!

Life isn't worth that price!" She spoke rapidly, urging him with every argument she knew; but the grim old Mohammedan shook his head. "Better die here," he answered her, "than on the road! No, memsahib. With thirteen blades behind me, I could reach Jundhra, or at least make a bold attempt; but single-handed, and with you to guard, the feat is impossible.

"How many hours is it since you got the message through from Jundhra? Couldn't you see the barracks burning? Who am I I'm Captain O'Rourke, of the Thirty-third, sent to see what you're doing on the road, that's who I am! A full-fledged; able-bodied captain wasted in a crisis, just because you didn't choose to hurry! Poison take your confounded gunners, sir!

"This'll be another untrustworthy Mohammedan!" said Colonel Carter in a pointed undertone, and Bellairs blushed crimson underneath the tan. "He's ridden through from Jundhra, with torture waiting for him if he happened to get caught, and no possible reward beyond his pay. Look out he doesn't spike your guns!" The trooper rode straight up to Colonel Carter and saluted.

"By listening to the priests' talk while I lay in wait to snare the priestling. Nothing is known as yet as to what the guns or garrison at Doonha do, but it is known that they of Jundhra will march on Hanadra here. They search now for their High Priest, being minded to march out of here and set an ambush on the road." "They have time. From Jundhra to here is a long march!