Peshawur, to rot with fever and ague and the other ninety Indian
plagues.

He wanted to see that garrison again, and estimate it, and make up his
mind what exactly, or probably, the garrison would do in the event of
the rebellion blazing out. And he wanted to try once more to warn some
one in authority, and make him see the smouldering fire beneath the
outer covering of sullen silence.

He received thanks for the letters. He received an invitation to take
tea on the veranda of an officer so high in the British service that
many a staff major would have given a month's pay for a like
opportunity. But he was laughed at for the advice he had to give.

"Mahommed Gunga, you're like me, you're getting old!" said the high
official.

"Not so very old, sahib. I was a young man when Cunnigan-bahadur
raised a regiment and licked the half of Rajputana into shape with it.
Not too old, sahib, to wish there were another Cunnigan to ride with!"

"Well, Mahommed Gunga, you're closer to your wish than you suppose!
Young Cunningham's gazetted, and probably just about starting on his
way out here via the Cape of Good Hope. He should be here in three or
four months at the outside."

"You mean that, sahib?"

"Wish I didn't! The puppy will arrive here with altogether swollen
notions of his own importance and what is due his father's son. He's