When the day comes that the Raj has no more
need of him--or thinks that it has no more need of him--he must either
starve or become a prophet. And his own home is no place for a prophet
who would turn his prophesying into silver coin!"
"Ah! Well-now, tell me! What is your opinion, without reference
to what anybody else may think? You have just seen the massacre
at Jailpore, and you know how many men I have here. And you know
the condition of the road and the number of the mutineers. Would
you, if you were in my place, strike at Jailpore immediately?"
"Nay, sahib. That I would not. I would strike north. And I would
strike so swiftly that the mutineers would wonder whence I came.
In Jailpore, all is over. They have done the harm, and they are
in charge there. They have the powder-magazine in their possession,
and the stands of arms, and the first advantage. Leave them there,
then, sahib, and strike where you are not expected. In Jailpore
you would be out of touch. You would have just that many more miles
to march when the time comes--and it has come, sahib!--to join forces
with the next command, and hit hard at the heart of things.
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