"I know not!" he answered. "In the days when I was Risaldar in the
Rajput Horse, and Bellairs sahib was colonel, things were different!
But we conquered, and after conquest came security. The English have
grown overconfident; they think that Mussulman will always war with
Hindu, the one betraying the other; they will not understand that
this lies deeper than jealousy--they will not listen! Six months
ago I rode to Jundhra and whispered to the general sahib what I thought;
but he laughed back at me. He said 'Wolf! wolf!' to me and drew me
inside his bungalow and bade me eat my fill."
"Well--what matters it! This land has always been the playground
of new conquerors!"
"There will be no new conquerors," growled the old Risaldar, "so
long as I and mine have swords to wield for the Raj!"
"But what have the English done for thee or us?"
"This, forgetful one! They have treated us with honor, as surely
no other conquerors had done! At thy age, I too measured my happiness
in cattle and coin and women, but then came Bellairs sahib, and
raised the Rajput Horse, and I enlisted.
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