et that the men whom you will lead
are gentlemen."
Cunningham reported to his Colonel, only to discover that he, too, knew
all about him. The Colonel was less inclined to be restricted as to
topic, and less mindful of discretion than the Brigadier.
"I hear they couldn't stand you in Peshawur. That's hopeful! If you'd
come with a recommendation from that quarter, I'd have packed you off
back again. I never in my life would have believed that a dozen men
could all shut their eyes so tightly to the signs--never!"
"The signs, sir?"
"Yes, the signs! Come and look your troop over."
Cunningham found that the troop, too, had heard about his coming. He
did not look them over. When he reached the lines, they came out in a
swarm--passed him one by one, eyed him, as traders eye a horse--and then
saluted him a second time, with the greeting:
"Salaam, Chota-Cunnigan-bahadur!"
"Yes! You're in disgrace!" said his Colonel, noticing the color rising
to the youngster's cheeks.
CHAPTER XII
Sons of the sons of war we be,
Sabred and horsed, and whole and free;
One is the caste, and one degree,--
One law,--one code decreed us.
Who heads wolves in the dawning day?
Who leaps in when the bull's at bay?
He who dare is he who may!
Now, rede ye who shall lead us!
THE check that Ralph Cunningham's management of his police had caused,
and the subsequent resumption of night looting, served to whet the
appetites of the hungry crowd beyond the border. Those closest to
Peshawur, who had always done the looting, were not the ultimate
consignees by any means; there were other tribes who bought from
them--others yet to whom they paid tribute in the shape of stolen
rifles. Cunningham's administration had upset the whole modus vivendi of
the lower Himalayas!
Though it all began again the moment he was superseded, there had been,
none the less, a three-month interregnum, and that had to be compensated
for. The tribes at the rear were clamorous and would not listen to
argument or explanation; they had collected in hundreds, led by the
notorious Khumel Khan, preparatory to raiding in real earnest and with
sufficient force to carry all before them at the first surprise attack.
They were disappointed when the pilfering resumed, for a tribal Hillman
would generally rather fight than eat, and would always prefer his
dinner from a dead enemy's cooking-pot. They sat about for a lon
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