it, sahiba?"

"Yes!" she answered savagely, swishing at his charger again to make
him keep his distance. "You have told me of it twice. You have told
me that you know where it is, and you have offered to show it to me.
You have told me that you and your brother Maharajah Howrah and the
priests of Siva are the only men who know where it is, and you lust for
that treasure! I can see you lust! You think that I lust too, and you
make a great mistake Jaimihr-sahib! You see, I remember what you have
told me. Now, go away and remember what I tell you. I care for you
and for your treasure exactly that!" She hit his charger with all her
might, and at the sting of the little whip he shied clear of the road
before the Rajah's brother could rein him in.

Again her effort to destroy his admiration for her had directly the
opposite effect. He swore, and he swore vengeance; but he swore, too,
that there was no woman in the East so worth a prince's while as this
one, who dared flout him with her riding-whip before his men!

"Sahiba!" he said, sidling close to her again, and bowing in the saddle
in mock cavalier humility. "The time will come when your government
and my brother, who--at present--is Maharajah Howrah--will be of
little service to you. Then, perhaps, you may care to recall my
promise to load all the jewels you can choose out of the treasure-house
on you. Then, perhaps, you may, remember that I said 'a throne is
better than a grave, sahiba.' Or else--"

"Or else what, Jaimihr-sahib?" She reined again and wheeled about and
faced him--pale-trembling a little--looking very small and frail
beside him on his great war-horse, but not flinching under his gaze for