Rung Ho! Part 23

"I preferred to have confirmation of the matter from the Maharajah's lips in person, so--since I had this other matter to attend to--I combined two visits in one trip."

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 sc.r.a.ps 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. So--so I am interested to have word with you."

Alwa laughed ironically.

"And the tiger asked the wolf pack where good hunting was!" he mocked.

"I and my men strike which way suits us when the hour comes."

"My palace has many chambers in it!" hinted Howrah. "There have been men who wondered what the light of day was like, having long ago forgotten!"

"Make me prisoner!" laughed Alwa. "Count then the hours until three thousand blades join Jaimihr and help him grease the dungeon hinges with thy fat!"

"Having looted Jaimihr's palace, you speak thus?"

"Having whipped a dog, I wait for the dog to lick my hand."

"What is your purpose with these missionaries?"

"To redeem my given word."

"And then?"

"I would be free to pledge it again."

"To me?"

"To whom I choose."

"I will give thee the missionaries, against thy word to fight on my side when the hour comes."

"Against whom?"

"The British."

"I have no quarrel with the British, yet."

"I will give thee the missionaries, against thy word to support me on this throne."

"Against whom?"

"Against all comers."

"If I refuse, what then?"

"Jaimihr--who by this time must surely be thy very warmest friend!--shall attack thee unmolested. Pledge thy word--take thy missionary people--and Jaimihr must oppose thee and me combined."

"Should Jaimihr ride after me, what then?"

"If he takes many with him, he must leave his camp unguarded, or only weakly guarded. Then I would act. If he goes with few, how can he take thy castle?"

"Then I have your protection against Jaimihr, and the missionaries, against my promise to support you on the throne?"

"My word on it."

"And mine."

Howrah rose, stepped forward to the dais edge, and held his hand out.

"Nay!" swore Alwa, recoiling. "My word is given. I take no Hindoo's hand!"

Howrah glared for a moment, but thought better of the hot retort that rose to his lips. Instead he struck a silver gong, and when the doors swung open ordered the prisoners to be produced.

"Escape through the palace-grounds," he advised Alwa. "A man of mine will show the way."

"Remember!" said Alwa across his shoulder with more than royal insolence, "I swore to help thee against Jaimihr and to support thee on thy throne--but in nothing did I swear to be thy tool--remember!"

CHAPTER XXI

Howrah City bows the knee (More or less) to masters three, King, and Prince, and Siva.

Howrah City comes and goes-- Buys and sells--and never knows Which is friend, and which are foes-- King, or Prince, or Siva.

THAT that followed Alwa's breakaway was all but the tensest hour in Howrah City's history. The inevitable--the foiled rage of the priests and Jaimihr's impudent insistence that the missionaries should be handed over to him--the Maharajah's answer--all combined to set the murmurings afoot. Men said that the threatened rebellion against the rule of Britain had broken loose at last, and a dozen other quite as false and equally probable things.