I--old friend, I--"
"It is forgotten, sahib!"
"Tell me--what are these rumors you have heard?"
"But one rumor, sahib-war! Uprising--revolution--treachery--all India
waits the word to rise, sahib!"
"You mean--?"
"Mutiny among the troops, and revolution north, south, east and west!"
"Here, too, in Hanadra?"
"Here, too, in Hanadra, sahib! Here they will be among the first
to rise!"
"Oh, come! I can't believe that! How was it that my orders said
nothing of it then?"
"That, sahib, I know not--not having written out thy orders! I heard
that thy orders came. I knew, as I have known this year past, what
storm was brewing. I knew, too, that the heavenborn, thy wife, is
here. I am thy servant, sahib, as I was thy father's servant--we
serve one Queen; thy honor is my honor. Entrust thy memsahib to
my keeping!"
"You will guard her?"
"I will bring her in to Jundhra!"
"You alone?"
"Nay, sahib! I, and my sons, and my sons' sons--thirteen men all told!"
"That is good of you, Mahommed Khan. Where are your sons?"
"Leagues from here, sahib.
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