Rung Ho! | Page 9

are medal ribbons - for campaigns," he answered.
"Three-four-five! Then, you were a soldier a long time? Did you - did
you desert your post when there was danger?"
He flushed, and raised his hand as though about to speak.

"Or did people insult you when you chose to remain on duty?"
"Miss-sahib, I have not insulted you!" said Mahommed Gunga. "I came
here for another purpose."
"You came, very kindly, to ask whether there were letters. Thank you,
Mahommed Gunga-sahib, for your courtesy. There are letters, and I
will give them to your man, if you will be good enough to send him for
them."
He still stood there, staring at her with eyes that did not blink. He was
too much of a soldier to admit himself at a loss what to say, yet he had
no intention of leaving Howrah without saying it, for that, too, would
have been unsoldierly.
"The reason why your countrymen have found men of this land before
now to fight for them -one reason, at least - " he said gruffly, "is that
hitherto they have not meddled with our religions. It is not safe! It
would be better to come away, Miss-sahib."
"Would you like to say that to my father? He is - "
"Allah forbid that I should argue with him! I spoke to you, on your
account!"
"You forget, I think," she answered him gently, that we had permission
from the British Government to come here; it has not been withdrawn.
We are doing no harm here - trying only to do good. There is always
danger when - "
"I would speak of that," he interrupted - "You will not come away?"
She shook her head.
"Your father could remain."
She shook her head again. "I stay with him," she answered.
"At present, Jaimihr is the danger, Miss-sahib; but I think that at

present he will dare do nothing. The Maharajah dare do nothing either,
yet. Should either of them make a move to interfere with you, it would
not be safe to appeal to the other one. You will not understand, but it is
so. In that event, there is a way to safety of which I would warn you."
"Thank you, Mahommed Gunga. What is it?"
"There are men more than a day's ride away from here who are to be
depended on - by you, at least - under all circumstances. Is that old
woman to be trusted?"
"How should I know?" she smiled. "I believe she is fond of me."
"That should be enough. I would like, if the Miss-sahib will permit, to
speak with her."
At a word from Miss McClean the old hag came out into the sun again
and blinked at the Rajput, very much afraid of him. Mahommed Gunga
saluted Miss McClean - swore at the old woman - pointed a wordless
order with his right arm - watched her shuffle half a hundred yards
up-street - followed her, and growled at her for about five minutes,
while she nodded. Finally, he drew from the pocket of his crimson coat
a small handful of gold mohurs - fat, dignified coins that glittered - and
held them out toward her with an air as though they meant nothing to
him - positively nothing - Her eyes gleamed. He let her take a good
look at the money before replacing it, then tossed her a silver
quarter-rupee piece, saluted Miss McClean again - for she was
watching the pantomime from the doorway still - and mounted and
rode off, his back looking like the back of one who has neither care nor
fear nor master.
At the caravansary his squire came running out to hold his stirrup.
"Picket the horse in the yard," said Mahommed Gunga, "then find me
another servant and bring him to me in the room here!"
"Another servant? But, sahib - "

"I said another servant! Has deafness overcome thee? He used a word
in the dialect which left no room for doubt as to his meaning; it was to
be a different servant - a substitute for the squire he had already. The
squire bowed his head in disciplined obedience and led the horse away.
An hour later - evening was drawing on - he came back, followed by a
somewhat ruffianly-looking half-breed Rajput-Punjaubi. The new man
was rather ragged and lacked one eye, but with the single eye he had he
looked straight at his prospective master. Mahommed Gunga glared at
him, but the man did not quail or shrink.
"This fellow wishes honorable service, sahib." The squire spoke as
though he were calling his master's attention to a horse that was for sale.
"I have seen his family; I have inquired about him; and I have
explained