So he burned Jundhra, to make it useless to the
rebels, and started for Hanadra with every man and horse and gun
and wagon and round of ammunition that he had.
Now news in India travels like the wind, first one way and then another.
But, unlike the wind, it never whistles. Things happen and men know
it and the information spreads--invisible, intangible, inaudible,
but positive and, in nine cases out of ten, correct in detail. A
government can no more censor it, or divert it, or stop it on the
way, than it can stay the birthrate or tamper with the Great Monsoon.
First the priests knew it, then it filtered through the main bazaars
and from them on through the smaller streets. By the time that General
Turner had been two hours on the road with his command every man and
woman and child in Hanadra knew that the rebels had been beaten back
and that Hanadra was his objective. They knew, too, that the section
had reached Doonha, had relieved it and started back again. And yet
not a single rebel who had fought in either engagement was within
twenty miles of Hanadra yet!
In the old, low-ceilinged room above the archway Mahommed Khan paced
up and down and chewed at his black mustache, kicking his scabbard
away from him each time he turned and glowering at the priest.
Pages:
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227