"Who art thou, Armenian, to frame a test for thy betters?" he demanded,
throwing a very military chest. And Will promptly bridled at the
Rajput's attitude.

"You've no call to make yourself out any better than he is!" he
interrupted. And at that Maga Jhaere threw a kiss from across the
room, but one could not tell whether her own dislike of Rustum Khan,
or her approval of Will's support of Kagig was the motive.

Fred began humming in the ridiculous way he has when be thinks that
an air of unconcern may ease a situation, and of course Rustum Khan
mistook the nasal noises for intentional insult. He turned on the
unsuspecting Fred like a tiger. Monty's quick wit and level voice
alone saved open rupture.

"What I imagine Rustum Khan means is this, Kagig: My friends and
I have engaged you as guide for a hunting trip. We propose to hold
you strictly to the contract."

Kagig looked keenly at each of us and nodded.

"In my day I have seen the hunters hunted!" he said darkly.

"In my day I have seen an upstart punished!" growled the Rajput,
and sat down, back to the wall.

"Castles, and bears!" smiled Monty.

Kagig grinned.