What came of that was better
than all the wealth of Ind!"
He spread his long legs like a pair of scissors and caught a child
between them and lifted him.
"Thou ruffian, thou!" he chuckled. "See how he fights! A true Rajput!
Nay, beat me not. Some day thou too shalt bear a sword for England,
great-grandson mine. Ai-ee! But I grow old."
"For England or the next one!"
"Nay! But for England!" said the Risaldar, setting the child down
on his knee. "And thou too, hot-head. Before a week is past! Think
you I called my sons and grandsons all together for the fun of it?
Think you I rode here through the heat because I needed the exercise
or to chatter like an ape or to stand in the doorway making faces
at a Hindu woman or to watch thee do it? Here I am, and here I stay
until yet more news comes!"
"Then are we to wait here? Are we to swelter in Siroeh, eating up
our brother's hospitality, until thy messengers see fit to come and
tell us that this scare of thine is past?"
"Nay!" said the Risaldar. "I said that I wait here! Return now
to your own homes, each of you.
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