at Jailpore, and you know how many men I have here. And you know
the condition of the road and the number of the mutineers. Would
you, if you were in my place, strike at Jailpore immediately?"

"Nay, sahib. That I would not. I would strike north. And I would
strike so swiftly that the mutineers would wonder whence I came.
In Jailpore, all is over. They have done the harm, and they are
in charge there. They have the powder-magazine in their possession,
and the stands of arms, and the first advantage. Leave them there,
then, sahib, and strike where you are not expected. In Jailpore
you would be out of touch. You would have just that many more miles
to march when the time comes--and it has come, sahib!--to join forces
with the next command, and hit hard at the heart of things."

"And the heart of things is--"

"Delhi!"

"You display a quite amazing knowledge of the game."

"I am a soldier, sahib!"

"You would leave Jailpore, then, to its fate?"

"Jailpore has already met its fate, sahib. The barracks are afire,
and the city has been given over to be looted. Reckon no more with
Jailpore! Reckon only of the others. Listen, sahib! Has any message
come from the next command? No? Then why? Think you that even a
local outbreak could occur without some message being sent to you,
and to the next division south of you? Why has no message come?